With over 25 years pioneering the intersection of sociology, ethnography, and experience design, Dr. Gary C. David brings transformative insights to sports organizations seeking competitive advantage through systematic stakeholder engagement. As a Certified Clinical Sociologist and Professor of Sociology and Experience Design at Bentley University, Gary specializes in uncovering the hidden dynamics that shape organizational cultures and identifying opportunities for proactive conflict prevention through intentional design. His innovative post-event experience assessment methodology helps athletic programs identify friction points before they escalate into crises, potentially saving organizations significant resources in conflict resolution while building stronger stakeholder relationships.

Gary’s unique approach combines rigorous ethnographic research with practical experience design frameworks to help sports organizations map stakeholder journeys, understand emotional touchpoints, and create systems where athletic excellence and human flourishing reinforce rather than compromise each other. His work spans from ultramarathon culture studies to healthcare system transformations, bringing cross-industry insights that reveal patterns invisible to those embedded within single sectors. As co-host of the Experience by Design podcast, he explores how intentional design can transform everyday interactions into competitive advantages, interviewing leading thinkers across psychology, business, and social sciences to understand what makes experiences memorable, meaningful, and effective.

Through his consulting firm ethno-analytics, LLC, and as Senior Advisor at the Sports Conflict Institute, Gary partners with organizations to implement comprehensive experience audits that go beyond surface-level improvements. His six-component framework—examining expectations, interactions, perceptions, emotions, belonging, and ethics—provides athletic departments with actionable insights for reducing transfer portal losses, improving mental health outcomes, and aligning coaching practices with institutional values. Gary’s philosophy centers on the belief that measuring what matters drives behavior change: “If you show me a metric, I’ll show you behavior. If I want to understand behavior, let me look at the metrics.” This systems approach has helped organizations across sectors achieve measurable improvements in stakeholder satisfaction, retention, and performance.