David Fujimoto Speaking Topics

• Management or Leadership: What's the Difference?

  Clarify the distinction that changes everything.

  Many organizations confuse management with leadership — and pay the price in disengaged teams and missed potential. This presentation draws a sharp, evidence-based line between the two: managers administer systems and processes, while leaders inspire people and drive vision. Participants explore real-world examples from military and corporate settings to understand when each approach is required.

  What You Will Gain

  • Understand the core distinction between management and leadership
  • Identify which mode your organization defaults to — and when to shift
  • Apply practical frameworks to lead people while managing processes
  • Develop a personal leadership identity grounded in purpose

• Bases of (Leadership) Power

  Understand the sources of influence that drive results.

  Effective leaders know that authority alone does not inspire action. Drawing on French & Raven's foundational research and decades of operational experience, this presentation examines the six bases of power — from positional authority to expert and referent power — and teaches leaders how to build genuine influence that motivates teams even in the absence of formal rank.

  What You Will Gain

  • Identify your primary and secondary bases of power
  • Shift from coercive authority to earned influence
  • Build credibility and trust as the foundation of lasting power
  • Apply influence strategies tailored to different team dynamics

• Moral Courage

  Do the right thing — especially when it costs you.

  Moral courage is the willingness to act on your values in the face of personal risk — social pressure, career consequences, or institutional resistance. This presentation explores the distinction between physical and moral courage, the psychology of conformity and groupthink, and the practical steps leaders can take to develop the moral backbone required to speak truth to power, challenge the status quo, and protect those in their charge.

  What You Will Gain

  • Distinguish between moral courage and recklessness
  • Identify the personal and organizational barriers to courageous action
  • Develop strategies to speak up effectively in high-stakes situations
  • Create an organizational culture that rewards moral courage

• "Kitchen Sink" of Organizational Leadership

  A comprehensive survey of the leadership landscape.

  Designed for organizations that want maximum breadth in a single session, this comprehensive presentation covers the full spectrum of leadership topics — from vision and strategy to culture, communication, and change management. It serves as both a standalone overview and a foundation for deeper dives into specific areas. Ideal for leadership kickoffs, annual retreats, or new manager onboarding programs.

  What You Will Gain

  • Survey the full landscape of modern organizational leadership
  • Identify the leadership domains most critical to your organization
  • Establish a shared leadership vocabulary across your team
  • Prioritize development areas for follow-on workshops or coaching

• Through the Eyes of a Veteran: Leadership, Service, and the Human Story Behind the Uniform

  In this powerful keynote delivered at a Phillips 66 Veterans Day corporate event, Lt. Col. (Ret.) David "Fuji" Fujimoto takes audiences on a deeply personal journey from the streets of New York on September 11, 2001, to the mountains of Afghanistan aboard an AC-130 gunship. Drawing on over three decades of military service — including 12 combat deployments and missions protecting Special Operations forces in some of the most dangerous environments on earth — David bridges the gap between the veteran experience and the corporate world.

  This is not a presentation about statistics. It is a human story about duty, sacrifice, teamwork, and the quiet courage of the men and women who serve. David challenges corporate audiences to move beyond headlines and Hollywood portrayals of veterans and instead engage with the real people in their organizations and communities — asking meaningful questions, building genuine connections, and creating workplaces where veterans can thrive.

  What the Audience Will Gain

  • A Deeper Understanding of the Veteran Experience: Veterans are not a monolith. David humanizes the 17.6 million veterans in the United States — 7% of the adult population — and reminds audiences that behind every uniform is a unique individual with a story worth knowing.

  • The True Meaning of Teamwork Under Pressure: Through vivid accounts of combat operations in Afghanistan — from protecting Hamid Karzai to the hunt for Osama bin Laden in Tora Bora — audiences gain a visceral appreciation for what high-performing teams look like when the stakes are life and death. Every role matters. Every person is essential.

  • How to Honor Veterans Beyond Applause: David gives audiences a practical, actionable framework for engaging veterans with respect and curiosity. He encourages people to ask questions like "What are you most proud of?" or "What's the funniest thing that happened?" — simple conversations that build real connection and belonging in the workplace.

  • Resilience and Successful Transition: David's story does not end on the battlefield. His successful transition to graduate school, entrepreneurship, and community service through organizations like Combined Arms demonstrates that resilience is not just a military trait — it is a transferable leadership skill that drives performance in any organization.

  • The Power of Purpose-Driven Leadership: From signing artillery shells in honor of 9/11 first responders to flying through anti-aircraft fire to protect soldiers on the ground, David illustrates how a clear sense of mission transforms ordinary people into extraordinary leaders — a lesson directly applicable to any corporate team.

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