David Neal builds leaders who can perform under pressure.

His career began in the Australian Army, where clarity was mandatory, accountability was immediate, and learning on the job meant something very real. Fourteen years in uniform shaped the way he approaches pressure, people, and performance.

At The Eighth Mile, David works with organisations that want substance, not slogans. His focus is helping leaders lift their standards, build teams that can deliver, and close the gap between what people say they value and how they actually behave.

David is a leadership workshop facilitator who creates environments where people speak openly, challenge ideas, and learn by doing. He does not present information at people. He facilitates conversations that shift thinking and build capability.

He is also an executive coach who supports leaders through complex decisions and periods of change. His coaching style is direct, supportive, and grounded in the belief that mistakes are part of progress and quitting is not an option.

As a public speaker, David has delivered talks at industry conferences across Australia, sharing practical lessons from his military career and the realities of leading teams in high pressure environments.

David has been recognised internationally for his thinking and impact in Forbes, Leaders Hum Top 200 Global Leaders, LinkedIn Top 20 Voices Australia, and Global Leaders Today Top 50 Innovative Coaches. He still measures success the same way he did in uniform. By the growth of the people he leads and the strength of the teams he helps build.