Davis McAlister

Dr. Davis McAlister is a dynamic keynote speaker, executive coach, and business strategist dedicated to transforming leaders into resilient problem solvers who build high-performing teams. A U.S. Army veteran, he served as an Interrogator, Counterintelligence Specialist, and Linguist, receiving advanced training from the FBI and Mossad and graduating as the Distinguished Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army Leadership and Development Course. With a doctorate, two master’s degrees, and certification as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Dr. McAlister combines academic excellence, military precision, and entrepreneurial insight to help organizations elevate performance, retention, and team dynamics. His expertise has been featured on Ticker News, where he discussed leadership ethics, artificial intelligence, and organizational resilience. As CEO of three companies, a collegiate educator, and host of The Approach—a program featuring elite performers from Navy SEALs to Fortune 500 executives—Dr. McAlister inspires audiences to lead with clarity, confidence, and command presence in every arena.

Sessions for 2026

Trust in the Machine: Leading People Through AI Fear and Change

As AI transforms how we code, collaborate, and make decisions, the greatest challenge isn’t technical—it’s human. In this session, Dr. Davis McAlister, a leadership and AI ethics expert featured on Ticker News, explores how tech leaders can navigate fear, skepticism, and misinformation surrounding AI. You’ll learn how to communicate with empathy, build credibility, and guide your teams and users through change with transparency and trust. Attendees will leave with practical frameworks for bridging the gap between human concerns and technological progress.

When AI Goes Bad: What Every Tech Leader Should Learn from Failure

AI can accelerate innovation—or amplify mistakes at scale. In this session, Dr. Davis McAlister, a military-trained interrogator turned leadership expert featured on Ticker News, shares real-world examples of AI gone wrong and what developers can do to prevent similar failures. Through stories and case studies, you’ll learn how bias, poor data, and blind trust in automation can derail even the smartest systems—and how transparency, testing, and communication can keep your projects (and reputation) intact.