Ten Leaders To Know: Dick Davidson [Full Profile]

Title: ABI Foundation Board Chair

Birth City: Ames

Current City: Pella

Q: Where do you look for inspiration or to generate new ideas?
A: I find new ideas from many sources. Books, current events, colleagues, failures, other business leaders, mentors and especially dreaming about what could be.

Q: What does effective leadership mean to you?
A: Good leadership is based on a foundation of humility, caring, integrity and courage. It involves developing a vision and laying out a pathway that enables people to accomplish worthy things greater than they imagined possible. Wayfinding is a major part of leadership. The way is often not clear. If you lead down the path that is obvious to everyone, that is not really leading. Sometimes the right path is not smooth and has scary things on it. Inspiring people to trust and follow down that path is leadership. Leadership is not about the individual, but the cause, mission and enterprise. If those things don't come first, no one will follow.

Q: What is your favorite thing about Iowa?
A: There are so many things to love about Iowa, but for me it always comes down to the people who live here. Iowans tend to be honest, kind, hard-working people who care about others. That is not the norm everywhere.

Q: What piece of advice would you give your younger self?
A: Trust your gut. It took me many years to fully trust my gut and I wish I had learned that much earlier in my life.

Q: Why are you a member of ABI?
A: Because ABI is truly the voice of Iowa business and the most effective organization representing and advocating for Iowa business.