Dr. David Millard Haskell develops all
of the Speak2Lead Institute’s programs
and is the primary instructoR
After David’s undergraduate degree he began work as a newspaper features writer. Following a master’s degree in journalism, he got hired as TV journalist. Over his reporting career, he worked in newsrooms across Ontario covering courts and politics and serving as the host for special entertainment programming. His reporting on cultural trends and spot news earned awards from TV Ontario and the Radio Television News Directors Association.
Along the way, David’s work in journalism piqued his interest in the scholarly side of media and communication so in his 30s he started work on a doctorate.
As a newly minted PhD, David was hired as a professor by Wilfrid Laurier University in 2005. His main appointment was to the budding Journalism Program where, over the years, he worked up to the level of Program Chair. In addition to developing and teaching courses in professional writing and news reporting, he’s been the university’s sole full-time professor of public speaking.
For over 20 years, David has lectured and researched at Wilfrid Laurier University and thousands of students have benefited from his classes. His knowledge of rhetorical techniques is enhanced by his expertise as a social scientist in the field of communications and culture.
His studies examining best practices and pitfalls of public messaging have been published in the world’s top academic journals and have received national and international media attention.
Since 2009, he’s coached lawyers, business owners, real estate agents, corporate leaders and politicians in media training, public speaking and presentation skills.
With a distinctive blend of practical experience and academic insight, David and the programs of the Speak2Lead Institute excel over competitors by moving beyond “how to” to “why this works.”
Speak2Lead Institute is a division of Haskell Strategic Communications Inc.
