David Leighton: Building Loyalty Through Leadership and Community

David Leighton’s career spans more than three decades, but one thing has remained constant: relationships come first. From his early days in sales to executive search, and now as cofounder and CEO of WITI, David has built his work around trust, connection, and community. For him, kindness is a way of being, one that strengthens teams, grows companies, and keeps people coming back.

He began in sales as a teenager, eventually turning down a fast-track retail leadership role to co-build a tech research firm with his mother, seizing an early opportunity to shape the future of executive search in technology. That opportunity pulled him into the world of recruitment, and by the late 1980s he was running executive searches for major tech companies. Over the years, he helped build teams for Borland, Oracle, and others at pivotal early stages. What emerged consistently was the power of strong professional relationships. “It’s just all about the relationship,” he said. “I still talk to people I placed in the 1990s.”

His experience in executive search laid the foundation for his next chapter. David helped grow WITI—originally Women in Technology International —into a global force for Workforce Innovation, Trust, and Influence. Today, WITI supports professionals and companies navigating AI integration, leadership development, and community-driven workforce transformation. For David, community-building itself is a kind act. His leadership philosophy emphasizes trust, clarity, and care. “You have to take care of your people,” he said. “In the age of AI, there’s a lot of uncertainty out there. Companies that aren’t communicating with their people and empowering them with tools to help them grow and be successful… that’s going to hurt companies that want to keep their people.”

He believes loyalty is not a given, it is earned. And it is sustained not just through compensation, but through consistent, human-centered leadership. That includes listening, supporting, and aligning people’s goals with meaningful work.

During the pandemic, WITI moved its events online, and David saw virtual tools as a way to increase access and inclusion. Breakout rooms, asynchronous discussions, and international participation became part of the organization’s fabric. “It’s a good time for communities,” he said. “AI allows small, agile teams to deliver large-scale impact—automating operations, enhancing engagement, and driving value.”

As WITI continues to evolve, David remains focused on helping individuals and organizations adapt to the future through community-driven workforce transformation. When asked what “investing in kindness” means to him, he shared: “There is just a mentality a lot of people have where I win, you lose. I know my philosophy has always been, let’s create something where we both win. Looking out for the person you’re doing business with… and approaching it from kindness is just a way of being.”

“If you’re kind, you’ll keep relationships, and it’ll pay big dividends later.”

David Leighton is the cofounder and CEO of WITI and a long-time entrepreneur who believes that meaningful relationships are at the heart of professional success. He wants people in his circle to know that they can count on him and that he leads with integrity.