Following his dynamic conference session, David Woods expands on the practical leadership lessons that have shaped his career — from leading major construction organizations to writing his newest book, Old-Fashioned Leadership: Lessons from the Patio.
Blending construction experience with candid, story-driven insights, Woods offers actionable guidance for navigating today’s toughest people challenges with confidence — and a sense of humor. In the conversation, he explores how leaders can better manage stress (both their own and their teams’), turn “high-fatigue” behaviors into productive energy, and coach employees to think one step ahead instead of constantly reacting to problems.
Woods also shares simple, repeatable behaviors that define strong workplace cultures —helping leaders create environments where accountability, pride, and alignment thrive.
About the Author
Gavin Jenkins, Senior Managing Editor
Senior Managing Editor
Gavin Jenkins is an award-winning journalist based in Pittsburgh. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, VICE, Narrative.ly, Prevention, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Beijing Review.
In 2020, two stories he wrote for Pitt Med Magazine earned three Golden Quill Awards from the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania. “Surviving Survival” won Excellence in Corporate, Marketing and Promotional Communications – Written, Medical/Health, while “Oct. 27, 2018: Pittsburgh’s Darkest Day, and the Mass Casualty Response” won Excellence in Written Journalism, Magazines – Medical/Health, as well as the Ray Sprigle Memorial Award: Magazines, a Best in Show award.
After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in 2003, he covered sports for the Bedford Gazette, in Bedford, Pa., and the Martinsville Bulletin, in Martinsville, Va. In 2006, he returned to Pittsburgh to write for Trib Total Media. Based out of the Kittanning Leader Times, he worked for the Trib for two years, and then he moved to Shenzhen, China, to teach English and freelance. After two years in China, he earned an MFA in nonfiction from the University of Pittsburgh.
When he's not at work, he's usually playing with his border-collie mix, Bob.