David Hutchens

Organizational Storyteller,
Writer, Learning Designer, Business Author,
Speaker, Speech Writer,
Communications Consultant,

(615) 220-0282

Overview:
David Hutchens is a writer and "organizational storyteller" who has helped to create change through innovative learning solutions and products for some of the greatest companies in the world.

A former advertising copywriter, David now writes about organizational structures, strategy, learning, and leadership - always with an eye toward creativity and clarity. David has offered instructional design and corporate communications solutions for organizations such as The Coca-Cola Company, IBM, NationsBank and more.

As a corporate speechwriter, David counts the CEO of The Coca-Cola Company among his clients, and has reached an international audience with messages about corporate responsibility, business ethics, and more.

David is author of the popular Learning Fables books (Pegasus Communications, Cambridge MA) – an expanding series that introduces concepts of organizational learning theory in a fun, metaphorical format. Titles such as Outlearning the Wolves, Shadows of the Neanderthal and The Lemming Dilemma, and others delightfully illustrate concepts of mental models, systems theory, organizational learning and more. Learners from many cultures are drawn to the offbeat and critically praised approach; the titles continue to spread across the globe as the books are translated into Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish and other languages.

David’s first book to a children’s market – titled “PageLand” was published by Broadman & Holman in July of 2003.

Clients have included:

• The Coca-Cola Company
• Wal-Mart
• GE
• IBM
• Eli Lilly
• NationsBank
• BellSouth
• Golden Peanut/ Archer Daniels Midland

Partners have included:

• Solutions House
• VSA Partners
• Plexus Institute
• Right Management Consultants
• Irwin & Browning (consulting and organizational reengineering)
• Paradigm Learning

Key Skills:

• Expertise in the areas of leadership, team building, organizational learning, systems, creativity, complexity theory, mental models and more.
• "Experiential" and discovery-based learning design methodolgies
• Media include: corporate training manuals, speeches, books, video, interactive, and award-winning advertising for radio, t.v., print.
• Strength in positioning difficult organizational and leadership concepts in a very clear, simple and engaging way.

Selected Work Examples:

Co-Developed "The Speed of Trust", a business simulation co-branded with Stephen M.R. Covey's organization CoveyLink, and in partnership with his colleagues at Tampa-based learning company Solutions House.

Developed or co-developed various learning programs for Wal-Mart, including lead design on a program for a strategically critical change in roles for district managers. The experiential program represented a new paradigm of learning for the Wal-Mart corporation's training function, Wal-Mart University, and was applauded (literally and figuratively) within the organization.

Designed several game-based learning programs for Eli Lilly (partnered with his colleagues at Solutions House). The games teach concepts like peer coaching and sales territory management to a global audience of Lilly pharmaceutical sales representatives. The games consistently receive the highest participant ratings within the organization.

Codeveloped "Full Throttle: The Game of Busienss Finance and Strategy." Partnered with Solutions House, providing design, writing, and creative services to develop this experiential learning product which was selected by Human Resources Executive magazine as one of their "Top Training Products of the Year" for 2005.

Wrote 'The New World of Social Responsibility" -- a critically lauded 45-minute speech prepared for Doug Daft, then-CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. The speech explored philosophical foundations of corporate responsibility, and helped define The Coca-Cola Company's voice as a leader on the cutting edge of the subject.

Developed numerous crisis intervention speeches for The Coca-Cola Company -- Helped define key "talking points" and articulate public messages through a series of speeces delivered by Senior management around the world. Speeches covered addressed threats affecting The Company's business, including:

-Charges against the Coca-Cola Company for its role in the global "epidemic of obesity"
-Allegations that The Coca-Cola Company was depleting water resources around the world

Compiled, edited and provided writing for "Edgeware", an influential resource of The Plexus Institute that helped the emerging principles of complexity science gain widespread acceptance within healthcare organizations. The book presented the frequently abstract subject matter in a format that was clear, digestible and even fun to explore.

Wrote "Who We Are" -- A short book for financial services giant TIAA-CREF that presented in clear language key changes required within the organization's culture in order for it to compete in a changing financial landscape.

Wrote "Keeping Our Promise" -- A public communication of The Coca-Cola Company, this full-color document employed a narrative format to detail the many ways The Company is living up to its commitment to be a responsible corporate partner to communities around the world. The report was distributed along with The Coca-Cola Company's Annual Report.

Researched and complied "Operating Framework for The Coca-Cola Company" -- Worked with McKinsey Associates consulting firm to develop this deep and strategically technical document that details operating principles for the entire global organization of The Coca-Cola Company.

Provided support and development services in developing a new vision statement for The Coca-Cola Company -- Participated in the effort to re-articulate the Company's global statements of vision, mission, and purpose, which reflected a new and paradigm-shifting awareness of the nature of the Company's relationship to its many constituent groups.

Wrote and developed TeamPac, a series of 26 just-in-time team training modules for IBM. Used internationally and extensively throughout IBM, as well as Marriott Corporation, Dial Corporation, various school boards and government agencies.

Spoke as a keynote presenter to audiences as large as 2,000 for Miami/Dade County school system, Army Tank Command, Texas Agricultural Division, Andrews University Leadership Program and more. Topics include organizational storytelling, complexity theory, mental models, and organizational learning.

Researcher and writer for various books and white papers on subjects such as working in teams, understanding the learning organization, conducting meetings, managing in a remote environment, project management and more.

Wrote the Annual Report for AmSouth bank for 2004 -- a deeply sensitive year given allegations that the company may not have been in full compliance with The Patriot Act or Sarbannes-Oxley. The Annual Report captured stories of the organization that reinforced its legacy for acting with integrity and uncommonly deep relationships.

Researched, wrote and designed The Remote & Mobile Sourcebook, a handbook for success in a mobile and remote work environment. Now in its third printing, this product is extremely successful in IBM and is being distributed globally.

Wrote and designed The Career Continuation Handbook, A user-friendly “textbook” for associates displaced at NationsBank. Topics include identifying skills, self-positioning, writing a resume, researching the job market, interviewing, etc.

Co-developed many other training programs on diverse topics, including Effective Coaching, 360º Peer Feedback, Leading in a Matrixed Environment, Preparing an Organization for Teams, Effective Facilitation, Exploring Personal Leadership Values (with SYMLOG,), Managing a Sales Territory, etc.

Work History, Schooling, etc:

1994 - Present: Iconoclast Communications • Principal.

• Designed learning and communication solutions for Fortune 100 clientele. Published numerous books and articles. Delivered keynote presentations to audiences as large as 2,000. Developed and wrote executive speeches.

2002 - Present: Solutions House • Developer and learning designer

• Provide design, writing and creative development for "discovery" learning solutions. Develop games, simulations and graphical "Solutions Maps" for a Fortune 100 clientele.
• Co-developed "Full Throttle: The Game of Busienss Finance and Strategy", recognized as a "Top 10 Training Product" for 2006 by Human Resources Executive magazine.
• Co-developed "The Speed of Trust: A Business Simulation", co-branded with Stephen M.R. Covey and based on his bestselling book.

1989 - 1994: Various Advertising Agencies • Advertising Copywriter

• Wrote and produced ads for TV, radio, newspaper, and magazines for legendary ad agencies in the southeast – including The Richards Group (Dallas), HutchesonShutze/BBDO (Atlanta), Earle Palmer Brown (Atlanta), and more.

Coordinates:

• Phone: (615) 220-0282
• E-mail:

References available upon request.