About David Pearson
I am a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader specialising in leadership and the development of effective individuals and teams. My work focuses on improving organisational performance through people, underpinned by a strong background in Learning and Development.
I joined the University of Sunderland in 2021 after many years working at a senior level in the private sector as a Learning and Development Specialist. During this time, I designed and delivered development programmes at local, national, and international levels, supporting all areas of business, including leadership and management.
Before moving into higher education, I worked within the automotive and manufacturing sectors, where I gained extensive experience in cross‑cultural collaboration and international development initiatives across all areas of the business including leadership programmes, Succession Planning and Talent Management processes.
I have a very strong background in apprenticeships and have experience in the design, development and delivery of apprenticeship programmes across all levels.
My main areas of focus are:
- Apprenticeships
- High Performance Cultures
- Leadership and Management Development
- Emotional Intelligence (EQ-i 2.0 Accredited Practitioner)
Teaching and supervision
I'm Programme Leader:
- Senior Leader Apprenticeship
I'm also the Module Lead and tutor for:
- Leadership and Leader Identity
- Developing Collaborative High-Performing Cultures.
Research
My research examines the lived experience of senior leaders working within high‑performance cultures. Using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), I explore how leaders make sense of the demands of sustained high performance and the personal and emotional meanings attached to it.
This work aims to broaden current understandings of high performance by highlighting the human, relational, and person‑centred dimensions often overlooked by traditional metrics.