Hi, I’m David — A founder and community builder turned coach.

I help founders, execs, and community leaders build sustainable, aligned, and high-performing businesses

My Approach to Coaching

Sustainable scaling requires two things working together: clear strategy and inner alignment.

Your “outer” strategy work: business strategy, team leadership, growth, execution. This is where you need direction. You need to know where you're going and how to get there.

Your “inner” alignment work: understanding your patterns, your motivations, where you keep getting stuck. This is what lets you actually lead in the direction you've set. It's the difference between running on dirty fuel (fear, proving, not-enoughness) and clean fuel (clarity, calling, groundedness).

Most founders can hit their targets on dirty fuel. The problem is the cost: Burnout, team turnover, stress and anxiety, and losing touch with why this business is important to you in the first place. Most businesses don’t fail because of a lack of strategy. They fail because the founders find themselves running on empty and can’t go on anymore.

Working from “clean fuel” doesn't mean giving up on your ambition. It means you grow and stay grounded. Your team actually wants to be there. You enjoy the work. You're not just executing, you're leading with clarity about who you are and why this matters.

When we work together, we’ll spend a lot of time on strategy and tactics. And, along the way, when dirty fuel shows up and you find yourself lost, we’ll turn toward what’s going on inside you, and shift back toward clean fuel. That's how you build something that's both high-performing, sustainable, and life-giving.

My Background

I spent 15+ years building companies, leading teams, and leading communities. I co-founded CMX, which grew into the world's largest network of community professionals. We scaled to over 20,000 leaders globally, navigated the complexity of building in public, and eventually sold to a software company, Bevy.

Along the way, I wrote The Business of Belonging, a guide for leaders building community as a competitive advantage. It's become a resource for founders, teams, and strategists at companies ranging from early-stage startups to Meta and Google.

After the acquisition, I realized I was running on empty. I felt disconnected from my work and my life. My feelings of not-enoughness had me perpetually pushing, proving, achieving. I could build things on that fuel, but it was costing me.

So I stepped away to explore the question, “What does it look like to live and build consciously and sustainably?”

That led me to meditation, therapy, coaching, and formal training in several modalities. In my coaching containers, I bring in my experience as a founder and operator, as well as my training and experience in Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic work, Aletheia coaching, Zen practice, meditation, and breathwork.

What I learned is this: you don't have to choose between building something ambitious and taking care of yourself in the process. In fact, the leaders who do both, who work on their strategy and their inner patterns, build better companies with stronger teams and longer runways, and live more joyful and fulfilling lives.

I'm now committed to helping other founders and leaders learn what I had to learn the hard way: how to shift from dirty fuel to clean fuel, so you can scale without burning out, and lead while staying grounded.

What Clients Are Saying *

What Clients Are Saying *

“I'd been intellectually agonizing over a decision for months.”

In one of our early sessions, David guided me through a somatic practice that surfaced the answer my body already knew in about twenty minutes.

I didn't leave coaching as a different person as much as I left as someone who actually understands and likes the person he already is.

If you're in a season of real transition — career, identity, direction — and you want someone who can support and guide you through it, rather than spiraling, stalling, or overthinking — David is the person."

Mark Robinson, CEO, Brandtegic

“David is the most special kind of coach.”

I don’t even know how to describe him to people. His ability to listen, REALLY listen, and gently challenge me with thoughtful questions is unlike any coach I’ve ever worked with. Working with David opened up a whole new world of self-discovery and growth for me. It was an absolute honor.”

Danielle Letayf, CEO and Founder, Badassery

“I cannot overstate how helpful David Spinks has been as my exec coach.”

If you’re in need of a mentor who can unearth your own wisdom when it’s needed, but also tell you what works and what doesn’t when that’s appropriate, he is THE guy.

Greg Larkin, Founder, Punks and Pinstripes

“David has this incredible way of making you feel safe through it all.”

I started working with David to get help growing my community and business, but I ended up getting way more than just practical advice. Being a founder is a wild ride, and every day can feel like a new challenge. He’s not just focused on the business side, he really helped me grow as a person, too. Every session felt like a chance to reflect, get clear on my values, and figure out how to align them with my work. I always left our conversations feeling more grounded and ready to handle whatever came next. If you’re looking for someone who truly gets the ups and downs of leadership and can guide you through it with heart, I can’t recommend David enough.

Maura McInerney-Rowley, Founder, Hello Mortal

FAQ

  • First things first, don't be nervous. We'll start with a free chemistry call to determine if there’s a mutual fit.

    If we decide to move forward, you’ll get a thorough onboarding to help us get up to speed, reflect on your current state, and get clear on your goals.

    You can schedule that chemistry call here: Click Here to Schedule

  • For the first month, we’ll meet weekly to get up to speed.

    Once we’re up to speed, we switch to bi-weekly as the default.

    If clients need an additional session, occasionally, no problem. There’s no charge for additional sessions between our biweekly sessions. You should truly feel like you have a partner in your corner.

    I’m available for my clients asynchronously via email, text, and voice message, and aim to respond within 48 hours (usually much quicker).

  • I ask for a six-month commitment to allow time for the work to unfold. After that, you can choose to conclude at any time with a 30-day notice.

    Client engagements range. Some clients feel complete after six months, and I’ve worked with others for years.

  • My standard rate is $3,500/month.

    This includes all calls and asynchronous support, regardless of how many calls we do in a month.

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    Note: For clients who are earlier in their journey or require assistance, I offer sliding scale pricing.

    I believe the right client shouldn't be kept out by budget, and the right investment should reflect the value of what we're building together. If you're unsure, let's talk.

    You can see my sliding scale pricing options here.

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