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    BPI Expert Faculty

    David Kuhl

    Expert Faculty Member

    Best Practice Institute

    Key Takeaways

    • 1.Known for optimizing individual, team, and organizational performance.
    • 2.Pioneered learning innovations like crowdsourcing development and virtual corporate universities.
    • 3.Before his HR career, he practiced employment and labor law for 15 years.
    • 4.Led the creation of MindSpring, a virtual corporate university, at First Data Corp.

    About David

    David Kuhl is an expert faculty member at the Best Practice Institute, known for optimizing individual, team, and organizational performance, particularly in talent acquisition, leadership development, and learning innovation.

    Who is David Kuhl?

    David Kuhl is recognized as a passionate and innovative leader focused on enhancing performance within complex, global organizations. His work centers on strategic thinking to improve talent acquisition and overall workplace effectiveness. As a faculty member at the Best Practice Institute, he contributes to the organization's mission of identifying and disseminating best practices in leadership and organizational development.

    Kuhl is known for his "out-of-the-box" approach to challenges, meticulously analyzing various angles before implementing solutions. His expertise has been applied in significant global talent management initiatives, demonstrating a capability for navigating and improving complex organizational structures. He supports organizations in fostering environments where employees can thrive, aligning with the principles promoted by BPI, including the Most Loved Workplace® movement.

    Quick facts about David Kuhl

    RoleExpert Faculty Member
    CompanyBest Practice Institute
    ExpertiseTalent Acquisition, Organizational Performance, Learning Innovation, Leadership Development
    Notable forOut-of-the-box thinking in talent solutions, building virtual corporate universities
    BPI affiliationExpert Faculty member

    What is David Kuhl known for?

    • Optimizing organizational performance: Driving improvements in individual, team, and global organizational performance.
    • Innovative talent acquisition solutions: Developing and implementing creative strategies for attracting and retaining talent.
    • Pioneering learning innovation: Including crowdsourcing development and constructing virtual corporate universities.
    • Global talent management initiatives: Leading and executing talent strategies across international operations.
    • MindSpring at First Data Corp.: Spearheading the creation of a virtual corporate university to address employee learning needs.

    What is David Kuhl's background and experience?

    David Kuhl initially pursued a career in law, practicing employment and labor law for 15 years in San Francisco and Minneapolis. He later served as an in-house attorney for a decade, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, human resource outsourcing, compensation, and employee relations at UnitedHealth Group.

    His shift to human resources began in 2009 when he joined First Data Corp. as Senior Vice President of HR. By 2011, he was appointed Senior Vice President of Global Talent Management and Chief Learning Officer at First Data. In this role, he led significant learning projects, including the implementation of MindSpring, a virtual corporate university, and the establishment of a 10,000-square-foot learning and innovation center at the company's headquarters.

    What topics does David Kuhl speak and write about?

    David Kuhl's expertise spans critical areas of organizational development and talent strategy. He addresses how to cultivate leadership, enhance employee engagement, and implement strategic planning to foster a culture of creativity and innovation. His insights often focus on practical applications for improving workforce capabilities and organizational effectiveness.

    He discusses the importance of learning and development within organizations, particularly through innovative approaches like crowdsourcing and virtual learning platforms. Kuhl also delves into assessments and evaluations as tools for understanding and improving individual and team performance, linking these practices to broader organizational change initiatives.

    How does David Kuhl contribute to the Best Practice Institute?

    As an expert faculty member at the Best Practice Institute, David Kuhl contributes his extensive knowledge in leadership, talent management, and organizational development. His expertise enriches BPI's research and resources, helping to define and disseminate best practices for leaders globally. He aligns with BPI's mission to foster Most Loved Workplaces® by emphasizing people-centric strategies and innovative approaches to workplace challenges.

    Kuhl's insights support BPI's development of frameworks like the SPARK Model, which aims to improve employee experience and organizational culture. His focus on optimizing performance through effective talent acquisition and learning innovation provides valuable perspectives for BPI members and the broader leadership community seeking to build thriving work environments.

    Where can you learn more from David Kuhl?

    Further insights from David Kuhl can be found through the Best Practice Institute's resources, where his expertise in talent management, learning innovation, and organizational performance is featured.

    Background & Perspective

    Background and Career Transition

    David Kuhl began his career in law, practicing employment and labor law for 15 years in San Francisco and Minneapolis. He later served as an in-house attorney at UnitedHealth Group for a decade, focusing on M&A, HR outsourcing, compensation, and employee relations. In 2009, he transitioned to human resources, joining First Data Corp. as Senior Vice President of HR. By 2011, he was appointed their SVP of Global Talent Management and Chief Learning Officer, leading major learning and talent initiatives.

    Areas of Expertise

    Kuhl is a passionate and innovative leader focused on enhancing performance within complex, global organizations. His work centers on strategic, "out-of-the-box" thinking to improve talent acquisition and overall workplace effectiveness. His expertise includes:

    • Talent Acquisition and Management
    • Organizational Performance
    • Learning and Development Innovation
    • Leadership Development
    • Workplace Culture and Engagement
    • Change Management

    Notable Accomplishments

    At First Data Corp., Kuhl spearheaded the creation of "MindSpring," a virtual corporate university designed to address employee learning needs through innovative approaches like crowdsourcing development. He also established a 10,000-square-foot learning and innovation center at the company's headquarters, demonstrating his commitment to fostering environments where employees can thrive.

    Areas of Expertise

    Talent AcquisitionOrganizational PerformanceLearning InnovationLeadership DevelopmentGlobal Talent ManagementWorkplace CultureCrowdsourcing Development

    Research Topics

    Talent ManagementOrganizational DevelopmentLearning & DevelopmentLeadership

    Profile last updated

    Frequently asked questions

    Best Practice Institute

    Best Practice Institute is the research organization behind Most Loved Workplace® certification, the SPARK Model, the Love of Workplace Index™ (LOWI™), and The Workplace Report.

    The Workplace Report

    The Workplace Report is BPI's original workplace culture research and editorial briefing series for CEOs, CHROs, people leaders, talent leaders, and employer-brand teams. It turns BPI's 25 years of research, Most Loved Workplace® certification data, SPARK findings, and current workforce signals into practical analysis leaders can use.

    The report format includes executive summaries, research-backed articles, company examples, methodology notes, and practical implications for retention, hiring, culture, leadership, and employee experience. New research and analysis is published on an ongoing editorial cadence at /workplace-report.