Most people avoid uncertainty. David Hanley (MBA ’15) built a career around it. As an Associate Partner at Innosight, a global innovation and growth strategy consultancy, David helps companies make sense of ambiguity, understand customer needs, and imagine new opportunities in an uncertain future. It is a role that blends strategy, creativity, and entrepreneurship — the three themes that have defined David’s journey long before he stepped into the consulting world.
David first earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Economics from Michigan State University in 2004. Early on, he had an instinct that technology would shape the future, but he also knew he did not want to be solely a coder. “There was always a thought of blending the technical knowledge with the business problem,” he said. That insight guided him through his first role at Accenture, where he gained exposure to broad business transformation work.
As he advanced in his career, David realized that he wanted deeper fluency in the approach and language used in executive decision-making. That realization inspired him to pursue an MBA degree in Corporate Finance and Investment Banking from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which he completed in 2015.
He still remembers the moment he knew that UW-Madison was the right place. “What hooked me to Wisconsin was the visit to campus. There is something different about Badgers and it quickly helped me fall in love with UW-Madison. It’s part of the reason why I am still so involved now. I think UW was transformative, not just on my career, but on my life overall.”
During his MBA program, David was a member of the Fellowship in Enterprise Development program. He was deeply engaged in the entrepreneurship curriculum, earning a graduate certificate in entrepreneurship, which he described as pivotal in shaping his approach to business challenges. He even co-launched the activewear startup, UR Sportswear, and participated in the G. Steven Burrill Business Plan Competition. Outside of the classroom, he immersed himself in Madison’s entrepreneurial community through 100State, a local incubator, the Transcend student organization, and by helping other founders shape their business plans and ideas.
David’s career spans Accenture, a startup, FTI Consulting, and now Innosight. Each step provided different angles on organizational challenges. “I have been able to take snippets from everywhere I have been and knit them together into a cohesive story,” he reflected. “I feel lucky that I have rolled up my sleeves in so many areas. A lot of people only see one piece of the business model, and I have been able to work on so many.”
This exposure is part of what makes him effective in strategy work today. At Innosight, he is drawn to the entrepreneurial nature of each product. He says, “It’s not a routine, repeatable process. There is real creativity involved. I love working close to the customer, figuring out where their unmet needs lie and how we can better serve them in the future”
Today, David remains deeply involved in the UW Community. He serves as a board member for the MBA Center Corporate Finance and Investment Banking and stays active with groups like Badgers in Finance, Badgers in Tech, and the Wisconsin Alumni Program.
“I never really left,” he laughed. “Your net worth is your network. And staying connected to students, fellow alumni, and to the university has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career.”
David’s advice to young students is to embrace the uncertainty that is inherent in career-building. “Strategy is emergent. On average, a new venture pivots four times before it finds product market fit. I encourage people to think of their careers in the same way.” In many ways, his own journey reflects that philosophy. An evolving series of pivots, with each one bringing him closer to the work he loves and the impact he hopes to make.
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