David Chabeaux Speaker | Enterprise & Creative & PHSCE & Lifestyle & Music & Teacher CPD

David Chabeaux

Find Your 'Voice'. Fulfil Your Potential.

Internationally renowned speaker, creative thinker, film actor/producer (Peaky Blinders, Gold, Bulletproof, Hollyoaks, Red Rose) and musician, David is a chameleon, the very embodiment of creative change and a leading global thinker on its practical application.

Building what he calls an ‘emotional glue’, David is passionate about empowering humanity to see the ‘truth’; that we are all inherently creative and have the capacity to change, to use that creativity to build and lead cultures that unleash our most powerful and positive potential.

Known for the “inspiring, provocative, often funny and slightly irreverent” way he promotes permission and possibility in people, David continues to work globally with the most amazing diversity of people, from indigenous tribal elders to gang leaders, huge corporates to startup entrepreneurs, elite athletes to Academy Award winning actors and directors.

Growing up “on the tour bus of my grandfather’s band”, David’s career began, inevitably, as a renowned musician and performer. Yet, wanting to deepen his understanding of how creativity could help unleash human potential, he spent 4 years working for, and studying under the wisdom of, global change guru Stephen R Covey (author of the seminal book The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People) becoming one of the most sought after speakers and change facilitators in Europe.

In 2015, recording with members of Grammy winning African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo and cast of the West End’s The Lion King, David wrote and released the social change album SPARK and his song Lionhearts became the anthem for a movement which changed history. Picked by legendary anti-apartheid activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and working with schools, charities and organisations around the world, David and his music led and galvanised a community tens of thousands strong behind the campaign to ban the trophy hunting of Lions and other wild animals in South Africa.

As an actor and performer, David has international film and TV credits for BBC1, BBC2, Netflix, Sky Atlantic, Amazon Prime and Channel 4 and his current directorial project, Moz’s Band - a feature film documentary reigniting the worldwide marching band movement he grew up in - is already acting as a catalyst for social change, inspiring thousands of children, educators and families in communities around the UK.

Areas of Specialty:

Leading Change (at the Personal, Cultural and Organisational Levels)

Learning To Listen (The greatest skill in the world)

Creativity, Innovation and Design Thinking

Managing Uncertainty

Building Resilience

Sustaining Great Performance

Cultivating a High Trust Culture

Empowering Young & Emerging Leaders

Retaining and Unleashing Talent

Testimonials from Teachers

“The way that David engaged with the audience of students, staff and dignitaries was superb. The way he used music and performance to inspire is nothing short of breathtaking. It was funny, passionate, hard-hitting but more than anything authentic. He lifted horizons, let everyone know that it’s OK to be who they are, OK to not know and that we can all fulfil our potential if we focus on what really matters most to us. Amazing.”

– Elaine Downs, Event Manager

“There are no words to describe what was achieved in the three days spent here. The infectious, passionate and authentic approach with the students was mesmerising. To see how Frank, a child that no other teacher had been able to engage with at all really, smiled and opened up to David when he suggested he have a go on the drums brought tears to the eyes. The students are still talking about the show and it was six months ago. Truly life changing stuff.”

– Deben High School

“What a great session. We were able to have entirely open, honest, powerful dialogue that moved us firstly to resolution and then collaboration.”

– Althea Efunshile, Chief Operating Officer, Arts Council England (ACE)

“I would have no hesitation in recommending the event to other schools. The event achieved more in one day than I could possibly have imagined, and I was hugely impressed with the calibre of people in the team, which no doubt led to the event having the impact it did.”

– Murray Fowler, Head of 6th Form, Wellington College

“Whether it’s his stunning performances, songs and scores or it’s in the way he uses the metaphors of music to help people and organisations all over the world create real change in their lives, David and his music change people. He really is unique.”

– BBC Radio

“David’s powerful, inspirational and challenging master class caused me to have a huge shift. He has completely changed my mindset for the better. I’ll never be the same again”

– Graduate, Jaguar Land Rover South Africa

“The work with David has transformed my approach to the challenges of our sector. I have been impressed not only with his methodology but also the way he keeps us all on track resulting in clarity of process as well as of thought. Fantastic!"

– James Dickinson, Head of Hertfordshire Music Service, Hertfordshire County Council

“David’s keynote was electrifying. The response from the delegates has been overwhelmingly positive and they loved his philosophies and real-world experience of change, of performance and of ‘executing on ‘that which matters most’. Absolutely Brilliant."

– Chartered Institute of Housing

"The event on Wednesday was a real success. David Chabeaux was engaging, inspirational and thought provoking. He really addressed some key issues and highlighted some problems leaders are faced with and effective ways of addressing them. Alongside his important and serious messages, David was also very entertaining, which created a good atmosphere for colleagues to relax and work together."

– Kate Allerston, The Heath School

"I would like to thank you for your participation in our recent DAPH 2017 Annual School Leadership Conference in the capacity of Keynote Speaker. Early feedback from delegates has noted that there were thought-provoking concepts and ideas on creativity that would be interesting to explore further. Comments include ‘we will change how we approach leadership’; the presentation included some really good nuggets to take away’ and ‘a lot of what David said resonated with me’....Thank you once again for all the time and effort involved in your contribution and for helping to make the event such a success."

– Paul Walker, Chair of DAPH, Devon Association of Primary Headteachers

"The event went really well, thank you. David did a great job."

– Lorraine Richards, Headteacher, Perry Hall Primary School