About Me

David A. Wendt, PhD helps executives, innovators, and tech leaders turn uncertainty about AI into actionable trust and clarity. With 30+ years guiding Fortune 100/200 organizations through strategic change, he blends systems thinking, storytelling, and practical frameworks to make AI governance accessible and impactful. His presentations leave audiences better equipped to lead responsibly, navigate complexity, and make confident decisions.

After decades of building models and systems, David made the intentional choice to step away from the keyboard and focus on people. His work today centers on helping others become successful in their own endeavors—whether that means leading responsibly with AI, navigating change, or finding better ways to work together.

(Generative) AI in Our Lives

A clear-eyed look at how AI is reshaping classrooms, workplaces, and communities—and what leaders can do to respond with care and confidence.

Games and Governance

Surprising lessons from collaborative play that reveal how we can navigate rules, relationships, and improvisation in professional life.

From Rules to Better Choices

Why governance isn’t about bureaucracy—it’s about creating systems that invite trust and better decisions, even in uncertain times.

What (Generative) AI in Our Lives covers

What we’ll explore

Where AI already shapes everyday decisions at work, school, and home
Why fear and confusion are rational responses to probabilistic systems
How leaders can separate real risks from imagined ones

What participants leave with

A clearer mental model of modern AI
Shared language for productive conversations
Practical questions to guide responsible adoption

Session style

Story-driven, interactive presentation
Real-world examples drawn from lived experience
Facilitated discussion and Q&A

What Games and Governace covers

What we’ll explore

Why rule systems break down under pressure
What games reveal about trust, cooperation, and power
How governance actually works when rules are incomplete

What participants leave with

New ways to think about governance as relationship
Tools for navigating ambiguity and competing incentives
Insights applicable to teams, policy, and leadership

Session style

Interactive examples and thought experiments
Group discussion and reflection
Optional participatory exercises

What From Rules to Better Choices covers

What we’ll explore

Why policies alone don’t create trust
How systems shape behavior for better or worse
Where intentional design matters most

What participants leave with

A reframed understanding of governance
Practical lenses for evaluating systems
Confidence to design for better choices, not just compliance

Session style

Conversational lecture format
Real-world scenarios and case framing
Audience Q&A and application

Testimonials

"David is a kind and insightful speaker who is capable of tailoring his message to any audience. He generously donated his time to speak about AI for our Women in IT employee resource group and it was one of our most popular tech talks."

-- Mary Odenthal, AI Data Products Manager

"I had the pleasure of collaborating with David when he delivered a lunch-and-learn session for my team. He is an exceptionally clear and engaging speaker who brings both PhD-level technical rigor and decades of real-world industry experience. David has a rare ability to translate complex concepts into actionable insights that connect technology, business processes, and the human side of change. His sessions are thoughtful, relevant, and full of practical takeaways that bridge strategy and execution. I highly recommend David as a speaker."

-- Yash Puranik, Director of Decision Science

Resources

See my interview at Making Better Decisions: Data Empathy and Innovation - Making Better Decisons

Download free one-page guides and conversation starters:

Contact / Booking

Interested in booking a talk or workshop?

📧 Email: David@WendtOnline.net
📅 Schedule a conversation: Calendly

Links: Home | Topics | Contact

Page updated

Report abuse