To understand David and how he sees the world, you have to look at where his story began. David was born in the West Indies to parents from two very different cultures. This foundation taught him early-on to adapt and see possibilities in different settings.
That adaptability was essential because his childhood was defined by movement – from Barbados to Los Angeles as a young boy, to Texas and Edmonton. He eventually landed in Oregon where he attended the University of Oregon and earned a Bachelor’s in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
He moved into the field of organizational development and has since worked with corporations, major governments, and a broad range of social service sectors including workforce development, senior services, youth and family, public safety, and homelessness.
On the home front, David is deeply rooted in this community. His three children attended Garfield and Seattle Academy. Today, they – along with David’s grandchildren – live in Atlanta, Chicago, and the Puget Sound. One of David’s favorite shared activities with his grandson is to ride on the light rail which he describes as “like going to Disneyland, but much less expensive”.
Professionally, David is the Principal of Sarju Consulting. For over 25 years, his work has bridged vision and execution by clarifying the future state, mobilizing leaders, and shifting culture. Whether serving as the Chief of Staff for Plymouth Housing or a Strategic Advisor to King County’s IT, David focuses on building the systems and capabilities that allow enterprises to emerge stronger.
David’s drive to transform systems extends well beyond his professional consulting; it is the foundation of his volunteer life as well.
His commitment to service began as an undergraduate student leader at the University of Oregon where he led protests against South African Apartheid and successfully, with others, convinced the school to divest its investment in the South African government – an effort for which he received the Dean’s Service Award.
In 1990, with the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, David helped organize Seattle’s largest job fair at the Seattle Center to help employers shift their mindsets – to understand the huge talent and team potential that persons long-denied entry could bring to their organizations.
Since those days, David has applied that same systemic lens to a wide range of governance and advisory boards. He has served with the Equity Alliance of Washington, the YMCA of Greater Seattle, Washington Environmental Council, the American Red Cross, and the Urban Impact, among others.
David also enjoys, reading, writing, gardening and helping to restore natural and social ecosystems.
Welcome to Rotary, David!
