Dave Kline

Become the Leader You’d Follow | Founder @ MGMT | Coach | Advisor | Speaker | Trusted by 250K+ leaders.

Hey, I’m Dave Kline.

I teach leaders how to build All-Star teams and level up their careers.

After decades of leading in pretty intense environments, from Bridgewater Associates to Moody’s Analytics, I know what it takes to be the manager your team remembers (for the right reasons).

Why I can help you is simple:

I’ve been through it.

And to prove it, here’s my background (by the numbers) ⤵️

2: Decades leading high-impact teams in asset management (Bridgewater), consulting (PwC), & financial services (Moody’s Analytics).

4: Years as an entrepreneur. My portfolio includes Skillscouter (an online course & career site), and MGMT Accelerator (a cohort-based management training course).

14: Cohorts of early-career leaders that I’ve taught at multiple companies.

100: Managers I recruited, onboarded & mentored at Bridgewater Associates.

1,000: Performance evaluations with grace and respect for stars and terminations alike.

205,000+: My community across LinkedIn & Twitter interested in management tactics & leadership lessons

385,000,000: My team’s top revenue year at Moody’s.

Now that we’ve covered the why, here’s the how:

- The MGMT Accelerator – an intensive management training course for both new and senior leaders
- MGMT Fundamentals – a course that covers all the need-to-know management basics for rookie leaders
- The MGMT Playbook – a weekly newsletter that gives practical management insights

Through our MGMT courses, my wife Marsden and I have played the assist with over 1,100 leaders so far, who’ve now learned how to:

- Practically tackle the most common leadership challenges
- Build their Management OS’s CODE (Coach, Operate, Delegate, Engage)
- Refine their individual leadership Decision-Making System

With our 30+ years of combined experience, you won’t just get our knowledge.

You’ll get to ask us questions directly and get access to coaching that’s more tailored to your own experience.

We always say – if we could do it like a dinner party, we would.

If you’re interested in leadership advice (that doesn’t just sound nice but actually works), drop me a follow – I post daily.

And if you like what you see, our MGMT courses could be just what you need to level up.

DM me if you’re interested.

Co-Founder

We created the MGMT Accelerator to help managers rapidly develop into trusted leaders by combining the art & science of management. 

This 4-week program consistents of eight 90-minute modules where I share the tactics I learned leading high-performing teams for 25 years. During each session, we tailor those insights together to build your personalized management system together. 

You'll learn alongside ~50 peers and become part of an expert community of more than 300 alums.

11 visuals that will transform your life
(simple changes you can start today)

These high-signal graphics were created by Ash Lamb.
Give him a follow!

1. Everything Is Built Brick-by-Brick
• The best time to start was 20 years ago
• The second best time is today

2. Don’t React, Respond
• You can’t control what happens
• You can always control your response

3. A Purpose Outlasts A Paycheck
• Teams need to know how to win
• The “why” keeps them playing

4. Focus On What You Can Control
• You are your best investment
• Put your energy into getting better

5. Saying “No” Is Your Superpower
• If everything’s a priority, nothing is
• “No” takes courage and creativity

6. Progress Over Perfection
• Waiting for perfect means waiting forever
• Act, learn, adjust, repeat

7. Conviction Beats Adversity
• Internal drive outlasts outside motivation
• No one’s watching as closely as you think

8. Imposter Syndrome Is A Growth Signal
• Growth happens at the edge of comfort
• The more time you spend there, the faster you grow

9. Closed Mouths Don’t Get Fed
• Not asking and “no” get you the same thing: nothing
• Asking gives you a shot at “yes”

10. Mistakes Are Not Failure
• The worst failure is never starting
• The second worst is quitting too soon

11. 80% Of Success Is Selection
• Effort matters, but it’s not enough
• Pick games you’re built to win

These 11 lessons are proof:
Small, relentless changes add up fast.

Which one hit home for you?
Drop your favorite in the comments ⬇️

♻️ Repost to help your network
🔔 Follow Dave Kline for more high-signal insights

 11 Ideas That Will Change Your Life

Most of what you do as a manager doesn’t matter.

These 5 levers will make or break you.

After 25 years of working with teams, 
The same pattern repeats:

Average managers try to do everything.
The great ones focus on what really matters.

These are the 5 factors every high-performing team gets right:

1. Clear Goal | Singular Focus
• If everything’s a priority, nothing is
• One mission everyone can recite from memory
• Make progress visible—post your key metrics publicly

2. Best People | Talent Density
• Filling seats with whoever’s available kills momentum
• Recruit constantly, raise the bar relentlessly
• Tap your top performers’ networks

3. Right Tools | Force Multipliers
• “We can’t afford good software” is an excuse
• Invest in systems that amplify talent
• Pre-approve any tool under $500/year

4. Least Friction | Ruthless Simplification
• “That’s how we’ve always done it” is a red flag
• Eliminate every unnecessary step and meeting
• Ask weekly: “What got in our way?”

5. Shortest Time | Speed as Strategy
• Waiting for perfect conditions means you’ll never act
• Run rapid experiments, learn fast
• Cut every cycle time in half—then do it again

The brutal truth:
Most teams have 3 out of 5 levers working.
Elite teams obsess over all 5, all the time.

One broken pillar pulls everyone down.

The diagnostic question:
Which lever is your bottleneck right now?

Fix that one first.
Everything else multiplies from there.

Want more practical frameworks like this?

Subscribe to the MGMT Playbook. 
My free weekly newsletter for leaders who want to level up.

https://mgmt.beehiiv.com

♻️ Share to help leaders focus on what matters
🔔 Follow Dave Kline for more practical leadership insights

The 8020 of Management

#1 for Career Coaching on LinkedIn. I help senior-level ICs & people leaders grow their salaries and land fulfilling $200K-$500K jobs —​> 300+ placed at top companies.

Ranked The Top Career Coach Worldwide On LinkedIn | Helping Senior ICs & People Leaders Land $200K-$500K Dream Jobs

Ready to grow your salary and land a role you actually love?

I've helped over 300 professionals break through salary ceilings and land life-changing positions at Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Apple, Nvidia, Amazon, and other top companies.

Here's what makes my approach different:

Most job seekers waste months applying to hundreds of jobs with no results. My clients land multiple offers in 6-12 weeks using "The Simple Success Method" - my distilled 5-step system that focuses only on what gets you hired. After 300+ successful placements, I've learned that executive-level results come from doing the RIGHT 5 things perfectly, not overwhelming yourself with complicated processes.

My track record speaks for itself:
✓ 300+ clients placed at dream companies  
✓ Average salary increase: 40-80%  
✓ 300M+ content views helping job seekers  
✓ Featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Business Insider  
✓ Built my own 7-figure business using these exact strategies
✓ Ranked the top job search coach on LinkedIn (#1 in the U.S. and Worldwide by Favikon)  

What you get in Career Leap:
→ The Simple Success Method™ (my battle-tested 5-step system)  
→ 1:1 coaching sessions with me personally  
→ Exclusive access to proprietary AI job search tool  
→ Group coaching with other high-performers  
→ Private community of ambitious professionals  
→ Complete confidentiality throughout your search  

This isn't for everyone. I only work with senior-level individual contributors and people leaders who are serious about making a major career move and ready to invest in themselves.

My guarantee: If you don't land a $200K-$500K role within 90 days, we'll keep working with you until you do. That's how confident I am in this system.

More about me: Currently living in Chicago. I worked at LinkedIn for 4 years helping Fortune 500 companies hire top talent, then founded my own 7-figure recruiting start-up. Now I use that complete 360° perspective - platform insider knowledge + hiring expertise + entrepreneurial success - to help people land jobs they actually love.

Ready to transform your career?
  
Send me a DM with "CAREER LEAP" or book a free job search strategy call: https://lwspuk8wil4.typeform.com/to/LeHkspKC

P.S. - Spots are limited. I only take on a select group of professionals each month to ensure everyone gets the attention they deserve.

Reno Perry

My biggest hiring mistake taught me everything.

I passed on someone because they didn't fit the mold.

She had passion. 
She had drive.

But no industry experience.

So I hired the "safe" choice instead.

9 months later, they were gone. 
I was just a stepping stone. 

The person I rejected?

She's now embedded and thriving at another company. 
With no plans to move on. 

That's when it clicked:

People never forget the leader who took a chance on them.

And leaders who don't take chances?

They miss out on incredible talent.

What I’ve learned:

↳ Drive beats degrees
↳ Potential beats pedigree
↳ Character beats credentials

But most of all: 

Attitude beats everything. 

The intern we promoted over more senior candidates.
The career changer who became our top performer.
The self-taught developer who built our best systems.

They all had one thing in common:

Someone believed in them before they proved it.

Now that's how I lead.

I look for hunger, not just qualifications.
I bet on people, not just resumes.
I build futures, not just teams.

Because when you give someone their shot?

They don't just remember. They deliver.

Who's someone who gave you a shot? 

Tag them in the comments below.

"Cool office perks" are dying.

And the companies you actually want to work for
already know that.

I talk to hiring leaders every week
who are building teams at the $200K–$500K level.

Here's what the best companies are spending on instead of ping pong tables:

True flexibility.
Could be hybrid, async, or remote work.

AI upskilling across every level.
Not just engineering. Everyone.

Mental health and wellness support
that goes beyond a meditation app.

Family care benefits that actually cover
the messy reality of having a family.

Career development budgets
people can use without jumping through hoops.

Equity compensation at all levels.
Not just C-suite. 

Transparent pay scales.
No guessing. No negotiating against yourself.

Leadership coaching programs
because promoting someone without support
is just setting them up to fail.

Notice the pattern?

None of these are perks.
They're investments in the kind of people
these companies can't afford to lose.

And the data backs it up.
Companies doing this see dramatically higher retention,
employee satisfaction, and productivity.

So if you're job searching right now,
especially at the senior level,
stop asking "what are the perks?"

Start asking "where is this company actually investing?"

That answer tells you everything
about whether they'll invest in you too.

What's the most meaningful investment
a company has made in you?

---

The companies making these investments
are also raising the bar on who they hire.

If you're targeting a leadership or senior IC role
in the $200K–$500K range,
I run a small accelerator built for exactly that.

DM me the word "READY"
or check the link in my Featured section.

I've interviewed 2,000+ people.

The best candidate usually isn't the most experienced.
It's the one who's most prepared to show their value.

Not with memorized lines.
With real answers that build confidence and spark trust.

You're almost guaranteed to hear these 5 questions.
Here's the mindset behind answering each one well:

"Tell me about yourself"
Lead with one clear result that connects to the role.
End with why their future excites you, not just yours.

"What's your greatest weakness?"
Pick something real but not role-critical.
Show the system you've built to improve.

"Why are you leaving?"
Stay positive and forward-focused.
Frame the move as a step toward greater impact.

"Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"
Align your ambition with their growth path.
Show how this role is the bridge.

"Why should we hire you?"
Point to results that solve their exact pain.
Make it obvious you'll add value from day one.

But here's what most candidates miss…
being ready when it's YOUR turn to ask questions.

That's your chance to show you're thoughtful,
strategic, and serious about the role.

I put together a cheat sheet with
10 high-impact questions that set you apart.

Save it. Screenshot it. Send it to a friend
who's got an interview coming up.

If you're preparing for interviews at the
$200K–$500K level and want strategic support,
I'm opening a few seats in my Job Search Accelerator.

Book a strategy call here to see if it's a fit: https://lnkd.in/gCKpEsYg

I've helped 100s of candidates land 6-figure roles.

The best offers don’t always go to the best candidates.

They go to the most prepared ones.

Save this for your prep.
Share it with someone who needs a win.

12 tough interview questions with A+ answers
(from someone who’s seen what works):

1. “Tell me about yourself.”
↳ Share your value, impact, and what you’re building next.

2. “Walk me through your resume.”
↳ Show how each step made you stronger and more strategic.

3. “Why are you leaving your current role?”
↳ Don’t trash the past—focus on what’s ahead.

4. “I see a gap in your resume. Why did you take time off?”
↳ Be real. Keep it brief. Then move forward.

5. “How do you lead without authority?”
↳ Show how you align people and drive results anyway.

6. “Have you ever disagreed with your boss?”
↳ Prove your maturity: challenge with logic, solve with impact.

7. “What’s a decision you regret?”
↳ Pick one. Own it. Share what changed because of it.

8. “What’s something you’d do differently if you could?”
↳ Point to one thing that would’ve made a big difference.

9. “If I called your boss, what would they say about you?”
↳ Share real feedback that shows clarity, trust, and leadership.

10. “What’s your biggest weakness?”
↳ Be honest. Keep it small. Explain how you manage it now.

11. “What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken?”
↳ Walk through the bold move and the payoff.

12. “Tell me about a project that failed and what you did.”
↳ Own the mess. Show how you fixed it and rebuilt trust.

Great answers don’t just sound good.
They show you’re already thinking at the next level.

So if this helped you rethink how you prep...

Save it.
Remember it. 
Use it. 

Because your next big opportunity could come down
to just 1 question.

But you’d better be ready for all 12.

—

📌 P.S. Ready to land a stronger role in 2026?

I'm hosting a free masterclass where I'll walk you through exactly how senior-level candidates engineer the offers they want.

Grab your spot here: https://lnkd.in/g8fyNm7g

You're one interview away from a better role.

But here's what most candidates miss about landing a great job:

It's not about having all the right experience.

It's about framing your experience clearly.

I recently worked with a client who beat out 7 other candidates for a $300k role.

Two of those candidates had more years of experience. One came from a bigger brand name.

But he's the one who got the offer because he could articulate his thinking, not just his accomplishments.

Today, I'm walking you through those exact kinds of answers.

After helping 300+ professionals land roles they love (many with 30%-80% salary jumps), I've seen what separates forgettable candidates from unforgettable ones.

The pattern is clear:

You already have what it takes.

You just need to frame it right.

Companies aren't looking for perfection.

They're looking for someone who can articulate their value with confidence and clarity.

That someone can be you.

📌 P.S. I'm opening a few spots in my job search accelerator this month for professionals who want to land a stronger role. If you're aiming for a $200K–$500K role and want support, the form is in my Featured section.

 33_Tough_Job_Interview_Questions

Many candidates overthink this question.

They try to answer it by:

❌ Proving everything all at once
❌ Sharing their needs instead of the company
❌ Giving answers that are too generic/general

But what often works better?

Stories that show your impact.

(I would do this for most interview questions btw)

Research suggests stories are remembered up to 22x more than facts.

And the best ones follow a clear structure:

Problem → Constraint → Action → Result

Here’s what that looks like: 

1. Problem
What challenge were you solving?

2. Constraint
What made it harder—tight deadline, limited budget, unclear direction?

3. Action
What steps did you take? What skills did you use? What was your role?

4. Result
What changed because of you? Use data when you can or clear outcomes.

Some questions I always come back to:

☑ Does this story solve a problem they care about?
☑ Can it be shared concisely in no more than a few minutes?
☑ Does it highlight your decisions, not just your tasks?
☑ Will they remember both the result and how you work?
☑ Does it feel like your story, not a script?

When those answers feel solid, your story will feel solid too.

At the end of the day, you don’t need a perfect answer.
You need a structured one that connects.

Ever shared a story in an interview that really landed?
Would love to hear how you approached it.

📌P.S. If you want support using stories like this to land a better, higher-paying role, I’m opening a few spots this month in my job search accelerator. We have people leaving this month due to landing jobs! Fill out the short form in my Featured section and if it’s a fit, we can talk.

How_to_Answer_Why_Should_We_Hire_You

The most successful people I've met share 1 skill:

They’re powerful communicators.

I've watched so many talented professionals get overlooked.

(Especially in job interviews these days)

All because they couldn't package their value into stories that stick.

The right frameworks can help you do that.

Here are 5 story frameworks every professional or job seeker needs to know:

1. PCAR Method
↳ Forces you to set the scene before jumping to what you did
↳ Makes interviewers feel the weight of your impact

2. The Minto Pyramid Principle 
↳ Saves time by leading with conclusions
↳ Perfect when you must make your point quickly

3. AIDA Framework 
↳ Builds momentum from the first word to the final ask
↳ Keeps readers engaged through your entire message

4. StoryBrand Framework 
↳ Shifts focus from what you did to what they need
↳ Makes your value instantly relevant to your audience

5. The Hero's Journey
↳ Turns career gaps into growth stories
↳ Shows resilience instead of just listing jobs

Each framework helps you:

✅ Build real connections
✅ Make your message stick
✅ Say more with fewer words
✅ Stand out from everyone else

Your experiences already matter.
These frameworks just help others see it too.

Which of these frameworks are you using right now?

If storytelling in interviews is the piece that's costing you offers (which it probably is tbh), that's exactly what we fix inside Career Leap.

My clients don't just learn frameworks. We practice real reps with them until their stories land every time.

Link in my Featured section if you want to see how it works.

I stopped asking "What's the culture like?" in interviews.

Not because culture doesn't matter. It determines everything…your growth, confidence, stress, and well-being.

I stopped asking it because it never reveals the truth.

Ask any hiring manager and you'll hear the same three lines:

"Collaborative." "Innovative." And dare they say "Like family."

Vague. Rehearsed. Meaningless.

If you want real insight, you need questions that force specifics, not slogans. Questions that uncover actual behavior, not branding.

The 12 on this cheat sheet do exactly that.

Pay attention to how leaders respond, not just what they say. 

Do they lean forward or get guarded? Do they name real people and real examples or speak in theory? Do they admit where they're still improving or pretend everything is great?

Those moments tell you everything.

Because you're not just interviewing for a job. 

You're interviewing for the next 2,000 hours of your life.

Ask the questions most people are too afraid to ask. 

You deserve real answers.

📌 Want help landing a better role and a healthier team environment? Visit the featured section on my profile to learn more and book a free strategy call.

The best companies don't have to beg people to stay.

I talk to hiring leaders every week.

The ones with great retention aren't doing anything complicated.

Their people feel challenged. Trusted. Recognized. Like their career is actually moving somewhere.

These are exactly the things you should be testing for in your interviews.

Most candidates never ask the right questions to find out if a company actually operates this way.

Or just says it does.

The difference between a role that energizes you and one that burns you out in 18 months usually comes down to how well you interviewed them.

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The Battle

Dave Kline

Reno Perry

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The Battle

Dave Kline

Reno Perry

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Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Dave Kline's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreDave Kline's LinkedIn Performance