EO's Global Board Selects Seattle-based
Founder with Three+ Decades of Leadership Experience and
Entrepreneurial Expertise as Next CEO for the Entrepreneurs'
Organization
ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 10, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Serial entrepreneur and board member Dave Parker has joined the Entrepreneurs'
Organization (EO) as its next Chief Executive Officer. The
Seattle, U.S.-based leader brings
more than three decades of experience as both founder and board
director for startups and learning organizations worldwide. As CEO,
he will lead EO's fully remote team of more than 160 full-time
professional staff from 20 countries to serve the membership
network's nearly 19,000 members worldwide. He additionally takes a
seat on EO's Global Board as Ex-Officio Director.
Parker's appointment follows a global, months-long search
beginning last July with the selection of executive search firm,
Egon Zehnder, and led by a committee
tasked by EO's Global Board of Directors. EO Global Board Chair and
EO Cincinnati member Lynn Anstett
proudly introduced Parker to members assembled at its annual Global
Leadership Conference in Singapore
last month, where 1,800 members gathered for chapter officer
training, inspiration, and connection.
"In Dave, we feel we have found an ideal blend of voice and
vision to propel us forward toward 2030. His clear passion for
entrepreneurship, coupled with his extensive experience and thought
leadership around the founder's journey, align well with our
commitment to a clear strategic direction and operational
excellence for the EO member community," said Anstett.
In his new role as Chief EO'er, Parker will oversee how the
not-for-profit organization executes on its newly board-approved
2030 Strategic Direction, applying members' dues to strengthen
their connection, learning, and continued development as
influencers and leaders. EO offers a wealth of global learning
experiences and regional events to support the network's diverse
222 chapters around the world and enhance their members' sense of
belonging and access across borders and industries. Its educational
partnerships offer members advanced learning through Harvard Business School, London Business School, The Wharton School of the
University of Pennsylvania, INSEAD, and
more.
"Working with EO feels like an extension of what I have been
doing for the last 15 years—building startup communities—just on a
much bigger stage," said Parker. "I believe entrepreneurs have the
power to change the world. We're the crazy ones, or we wouldn't
take on the challenges required to start a new business and leave a
legacy. It's a great chance to work with an amazing community."
As a five-time technology founder himself, Parker has sold three
of his startups and closed two others in an entrepreneurial career
spanning more than three decades. Among the enterprises he founded
are Trajectory Media, OneAccord Partners, and License Online. He
has also worked with under-represented founders as a venture
capitalist with Fearless Fund, where he invested in Women of Color
Founders across the U.S.
Relative to his new role on EO's Global Board, Parker has
previously served as a Board member on dozens of corporate and
nonprofit boards since 2000, guiding organizations such as the
Washington Technology Industry Association, Guidant Financial
Group, Find Ventures, AudiencePoint, and Code Fellows.
"Dave's diverse range of experiences on corporate boards
particularly attracted us to him, given the annual shift that take
place in EO's all-member volunteer board," said EO's incoming
Global Chair for FY 2024/2025, Jamie
Pujara, an EO member from Kenya preparing to serve his third and final
year as a director of that body. "I am confident that all EO member
leaders stepping up to serve this organization through global board
membership will greatly benefit from his vast board experience and
continuity in the role."
In addition to Parker's background as an entrepreneur and
startup catalyst, he is well-versed in nonprofit organizational
management. As former COO & SVP of Programs and People at
since-acquired UP Global (now Techstars), Parker helped organize
entrepreneur events such as Startup Weekend and Startup America.
That company held 1,265 events in 120 countries, serving 74,000+
founders in its final 12 months. Additionally, as past Director
with The Founder Institute in Seattle, Parker ran a 13-week training program
pairing startup founders with tech mentors.
Parker is also the author of Trajectory: Startup-Ideation to
Product/Market Fit and a seasoned traveler, having visited 46
countries and done business in 20 of them. He lives in Seattle with his wife, three grown sons, a
teenage daughter, and their family dog.
Editor's Notes:
The Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) is the world's
largest membership network exclusively by entrepreneurs, for
entrepreneurs everywhere. Since 1987, EO has been supporting the
world's leading builders of business to realize more of their
potential by fostering connection, applying leadership skills, and
creating belonging across industries and borders. More than 18,000
entrepreneurs in 80+ countries make up EO's network of leaders
today, who enjoy local and global membership experiences that go
beyond the business to support the whole entrepreneur. For more
information or to get involved, please visit:
eonetwork.org.
For media inquiries:
Kim
McCabe, Senior Director Global Communications,
Entrepreneurs' Organization
1.917.456.6860
377511@email4pr.com
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SOURCE Entrepreneurs' Organization