David Peller Travel Hospitality and Technology Board Member & Advisor interviewed by Dorothy Dowling

Innovation Driven by Curiosity, Humility, and PurposeDavid Peller’s leadership journey is rooted in curiosity, problem-solving, and a lifelong fascination with technology. Introduced to computers at an early age, he learned to view innovation not as novelty but as finding better ways to overcome challenges. His formative leadership experience came while helping launch the first Wagamama restaurant in London, where he worked every role, reinforcing his belief that leaders should never consider themselves above the work. Throughout a career spanning Google, Booking.com, Amazon Web Services, and now a portfolio of board and advisory roles, he has embraced entrepreneurship, continuous learning, and meaningful relationships.Peller describes his career as shaped by both serendipity and intentional decisions. After years building new businesses inside global enterprises, he deliberately chose a portfolio career focused on mentoring founders, advising boards, and supporting organizations across industries and geographies. His philosophy centers on slowing down to understand the real problem before accelerating toward solutions, creating environments where ideas come from everywhere, and remaining stubborn on strategy while flexible in execution. Whether discussing AI, Asia’s digital transformation, or future leadership, he consistently emphasizes curiosity, adaptability, resilience, and learning.