David Finnegan

Called to Create: An LDSPMA Podcast

Dave Finnegan is a seasoned “human experience collector” who dedicated an entire year to exploring the world to gain a deeper understanding of cultures and human experiences. In 2022 he traveled over 130,000 miles, setting foot on every continent including Antarctica, and navigated some of the world's largest rivers such as the Ganges, Amazon, Nile, and Mekong. He hiked iconic trails such as Kilimanjaro, the Himalayas, Patagonia, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. As a diver, he explored some of the world's most beautiful underwater environments including the Great Barrier Reef, the Red Sea, and the Galapagos Islands. All with a carry-on-sized backpack. Overall, Dave's journey was a transformative experience.

In 2013, Dave was named to the “Top 100 CIO” list by CIO Magazine and was nominated as “Innovative CIO of the Year” by Retail Information Systems magazine. He worked at the Orvis Company for seven years (2014-2021) where he was the Customer Experience Officer. Prior to Orvis, he helped to start up Build-A-Bear Workshop (1999-2014) where he served as Chief Information and Interactive Officer for the company. He was instrumental in the development of the award-winning Build-A-Bear Workshop Store of the Future: an innovative blend of digital technology and store experience.
Exploring Planet Earth 2022, Instagram page -
https://www.instagram.com/exploringplanetearth2022
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/davefinnegan

The National CIO Review magazine interview - https://nationalcioreview.com/interviews-with-technology-leaders/qa-dave-finnegan-chief-experience-officer-orvis/