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    BPI Expert Faculty

    David DeFilippo

    Chief People & Learning Officer

    Suffolk Construction

    Key Takeaways

    • 1.Serves as Chief People & Learning Officer at Suffolk Construction, leading the firm's human resources, talent, and leadership strategies.
    • 2.Known for establishing corporate universities, including one for over 50,000 employees at BNY Mellon.
    • 3.Operates a private executive coaching and talent management consulting practice, DeFilippo Leadership, Inc.
    • 4.Holds a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, where his research focused on executive coaching.

    About David

    David DeFilippo is a leading expert in leadership development, executive coaching, and talent management, serving as the Chief People & Learning Officer at Suffolk Construction and an Expert Faculty member at the Best Practice Institute.

    Who is David DeFilippo?

    David DeFilippo is the Chief People & Learning Officer for Suffolk Construction, a prominent construction firm. He is also a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, where he spearheads all aspects of human resources, talent, leadership, and organizational development strategies. His work focuses on fostering Suffolk’s "Build Smart" approach to transform the construction experience through people and culture.

    Based in Boston, MA, DeFilippo is recognized for his contributions to developing high-performance teams and optimizing human capital. He also operates DeFilippo Leadership, Inc., providing executive coaching and talent management consulting. His comprehensive approach to organizational effectiveness integrates learning and development with strategic business objectives.

    Quick facts about David DeFilippo

    | | |---|---| | Role | Chief People & Learning Officer | | Company | Suffolk Construction | | Expertise | Leadership Development, Executive Coaching, Talent Management, Organizational Development, Workplace Culture | | Notable for | Establishing corporate universities, fostering high-performance cultures, and developing evidence-based talent strategies | | BPI affiliation | Expert Faculty member |

    What is David DeFilippo known for?

    David DeFilippo is known for several key contributions in the fields of human resources and organizational development:

    • Establishing Corporate Universities: At BNY Mellon, he established and led a corporate university for over 50,000 employees globally, centralizing learning and development activities.
    • Strategic Talent and Learning Initiatives: He designs and implements comprehensive leadership programs and talent strategies aligned with business goals, enhancing performance and driving growth.
    • Fostering High-Performance Cultures: At Suffolk, he is instrumental in cultivating the "Build Smart" culture, emphasizing people and culture as drivers of transformation.
    • Executive Coaching and Mentorship: As a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and an executive coach at Harvard Business School, he guides leaders in their professional development.
    • Thought Leadership: He has served as a columnist and Advisory Board member for Chief Learning Officer Magazine, regularly contributing insights on leadership and talent. His doctoral research focused on executive coaching.
    • Award-Winning Programs: Teams under his leadership have received industry recognition for excellence in leadership development, performance management, and cultural integration.

    What is David DeFilippo's background and experience?

    DeFilippo’s career spans significant leadership roles in large organizations, demonstrating a consistent focus on talent and organizational development. Before joining Suffolk Construction in 2019, he served as the Chief Learning Officer at BNY Mellon from 2013 to 2019, where he was responsible for creating a centralized corporate university. Earlier in his career, he held similar leadership positions at Capital One Financial and Comcast, gaining extensive experience in enterprise-wide talent strategies.

    His academic credentials include an Ed.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.A. from New York University, and a B.A. from Union College. He is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coach Federation and is a graduate of Georgetown University’s Leadership Coaching Program. He is also the Principal of DeFilippo Leadership, Inc., where he provides consulting services.

    What topics does David DeFilippo speak and write about?

    David DeFilippo regularly shares his expertise on critical topics such as leadership development, executive coaching, and learning and talent management. His insights often focus on how organizations can build resilient, high-performing teams and cultivate positive workplace cultures through strategic human resource initiatives. He emphasizes the importance of aligning learning and development with broader business objectives to drive tangible growth and transformation.

    His writings and presentations delve into practical applications of talent strategy, exploring how companies can optimize human capital to achieve their strategic goals. He addresses challenges related to organizational development, employee engagement, and effective assessment and evaluation methods, providing actionable strategies for leaders. His work helps organizations understand the impact of leadership on overall business success.

    How does David DeFilippo contribute to the Best Practice Institute?

    As an Expert Faculty member at the Best Practice Institute, David DeFilippo contributes to BPI’s mission of advancing best practices in leadership and organizational development. His expertise in areas such as organizational development, learning and development, leadership development, employee engagement, and coaching aligns directly with BPI

    Background & Perspective

    David DeFilippo is the Chief People & Learning Officer for Suffolk Construction and an Expert Faculty member at the Best Practice Institute. At Suffolk, he is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and leads all human resources, talent, and leadership development strategies, helping to foster the "Build Smart" culture.

    Background

    DeFilippo has a career spanning significant leadership roles focused on talent and organizational development. Prior to joining Suffolk Construction in 2019, he was the Chief Learning Officer at BNY Mellon, where he established a corporate university for over 50,000 employees. He previously held leadership positions at Capital One Financial and Comcast. He is also the Principal of DeFilippo Leadership, Inc., a consultancy providing executive coaching and talent management services.

    His academic credentials include an Ed.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.A. from New York University, and a B.A. from Union College. He is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and a graduate of Georgetown University’s Leadership Coaching Program.

    Areas of Expertise

    DeFilippo's work integrates learning and development with strategic business objectives. His expertise covers:

    • Leadership Development
    • Executive Coaching
    • Talent Management
    • Organizational Development
    • Workplace Culture
    • Human Resources Strategy
    • Learning & Development

    Topics Covered

    David DeFilippo speaks and writes on critical topics in human capital, including leadership development, executive coaching, and talent management. He focuses on building resilient, high-performing teams and cultivating positive workplace cultures through strategic HR. His work provides actionable strategies for aligning learning and development with business goals to drive growth and transformation.

    Areas of Expertise

    Leadership DevelopmentExecutive CoachingTalent ManagementOrganizational DevelopmentWorkplace CultureHuman Resources StrategyLearning & Development

    Research Topics

    LeadershipTalent StrategyOrganizational DevelopmentHuman Resources

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    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.