David Leaser is the senior executive of strategic growth initiatives for IBM’s Training & Skills program. Mr. Leaser is the founder of the IBM Digital Badge program, a leading-edge digital credential program.

Leaser also developed the IBM New Collar Certificate Program and IBM’s first cloud-based embedded learning solution. Mr. Leaser is a member of the IMS Global Consortium Board advisory group for digital credentials, the national Credential As You Go Advisory Board and he provides guidance to the US Department of Labor and the US Department of Education as an employer subject matter expert.

Mr. Leaser holds a B.A. in Communications from Pepperdine University and an M.A. in Communications Management from USC’s Annenberg School. Mr. Leaser was appointed as an Industry Fellow in the Center for the Future of Higher Education & Talent Strategy in the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University, an American Tier 1 university.

He is the author of thought leadership white papers on talent development, including “Migrating Minds,” “The Social Imperative in Workforce Development” and Wiley’s “Connecting Workplace Learning and Academic Credentials via Digital Badges.”