Workforce Strategy & Talent Management Expert; President of Smart Workforce Strategies; Author of "Hidden Talent"

Boston, MA, USA
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Dr. David DeLong Biography

David DeLong, PhD is a nationally recognized expert on workforce strategy, talent management, and innovative solutions to critical skill shortages. As president of Smart Workforce Strategies, he has spent more than 25 years helping organizations navigate workforce challenges, preserve institutional knowledge, and develop effective approaches to recruiting and retaining talent.

Today, DeLong focuses exclusively on practical strategies for employing people from traditionally overlooked talent pools, including foreign-born workers, formerly incarcerated individuals, and people with disabilities. His latest book, "Hidden Talent," is the culmination of four years of research and draws on extensive interviews and ten original case studies of businesses successfully employing these workers. The book offers actionable guidance for organizations seeking to strengthen their workforces while expanding employment opportunities for marginalized populations.

DeLong previously served on the research staffs of Harvard Business School and MIT’s Sloan School of Management and conducted research at MIT’s Center for Information Systems Research and MIT AgeLab. He has also served as a research fellow at MIT AgeLab and an adjunct professor at Babson College, where he taught MBA students about leading and managing change.

His other books include "The Executive Guide to High-Impact Talent Management" (co-authored with Steve Trautman), "Lost Knowledge: Confronting the Threat of an Aging Workforce," and "Graduate to a Great Job: Make Your College Degree Pay Off in Today’s Market." His research and expertise have been featured in major publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, and the Financial Times, and he has appeared on NPR.

A researcher, consultant, coach, and occasional keynote speaker, DeLong brings a research-driven yet practical perspective to helping organizations address workforce shortages. His work champions the business value of recognizing overlooked talent and creating effective pathways for more inclusive employment.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/28/2026.

Dr. David DeLong Speaking Topics

  • Practical Solutions for Employing Marginalized Workers

    David DeLong’s keynote presentation shows how innovative employers today are accessing new sources of labor among the formerly incarcerated, those with disabilities, immigrants, economically disadvantaged single mothers and unemployed youth. No one pretends that employing marginalized workers is easy. But the payoffs for your business and company culture can be tremendous. This engaging talk provides a framework for practical action to tap these overlooked talent resources.

    David is the author of the book "Hidden Talent: Lessons From Training and Employing Marginalized Workers." The book is based on more than 20 new case studies of employers who have committed to hiring, developing and retaining talent that has historically been overlooked.

  • Closing the “Skills Gap:” Innovative Talent Management Solutions For a Changing Workforce.

    Prioritize and act on your most serious talent-related risks. Learn how to recruit and retain high potential talent that creates competitive advantage.

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Dr. David DeLong Videos

David DeLong - Why I Wrote “Hidden Talent”

David DeLong - Why I Wrote “Hidden Talent”

This video details the story behind David DeLong's book of innovative solutions for chronic workforce shortages.

David DeLong - Building Tomorrow's Workforce

David DeLong - Building Tomorrow's Workforce

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Dr. David DeLong is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Practical Solutions for Employing Marginalized Workers, Closing the “Skills Gap:” Innovative Talent Management Solutions For a Changing Workforce., The Myths & Realities of the Multigenerational Workforce: Frameworks for Action, Accelerating Leadership Development Lessons From the Bleeding Edge, Change Management: Why the Soft Stuff is Really the Hard Stuff and Tackling the Retention Problem: Strategic Solutions for the High Cost of Turnover. The estimated speaking fee range to book Dr. David DeLong for your event is available upon request. Dr. David DeLong generally travels from Boston, MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Richard Florida, Dr. Jackie Freiberg, Dr. Michael Time, Garrison Wynn and Tim Sanders. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Dr. David DeLong for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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