Dave Lakhani

A self-described serial entrepreneur. Discover more about his legacy and the Dave Lakhani Memorial Entrepreneurship Scholarship.

Dave's life was the stuff of legend.

Dave took a bold approach to business, sales, and marketing. It’s why he named his business acceleration, strategy, and training company Bold Approach. A self-described serial entrepreneur, he started young selling magazine subscriptions door to door at age eight. During his life, he bought and sold dozens of businesses and founded 10. They ranged from a bar, security company, and pawn shop to a PR company, ad agency, consulting business, and digital marketing agency.

Dave wrote five books on persuasion, marketing, and sales and co-authored and contributed to several others. His books and Bold Approach created opportunities that allowed him to travel the world and touch the lives of millions of people he helped through his books and speaking.

In the years before his death, Dave focused his efforts on consulting and helping businesses grow through his marketing company Growth Foundry. His unique approach to sales and marketing was grounded in a firm understanding of operations. He took a unique and consultative approach that supported growth within not only a business but also growth among the leaders of that business through mentoring.

He listened intently in every interaction and made people feel heard and understood. Over the many conversations and interactions with business owners, they’d comment about the lasting impression he’d left with them, as he taught them a lot about business, perspective, and overcoming obstacles with confidence and poise.

Among Dave’s greatest acts of tireless dedication was coaching new entrepreneurs and authors. Beneficiaries of the time and wisdom he so generously shared included members of EO’s Accelerator Program and Boise State entrepreneurial students. He wanted everyone to find fulfillment and success, and countless authors and entrepreneurs from around the world generously credit Dave for helping them get their start.

Dave Lakhani Memorial Entrepreneurship Scholarship

In honor of Dave’s legacy of selfless dedication to others and helping them find their path toward entrepreneurship and success, his friends have created a scholarship endowment.

The scholarship will be for students at Boise State University College of Business and Economics majoring in Entrepreneurship Management. The Boise State University Foundation administers the scholarship to honor Dave’s legacy.

"Dave was larger than life in every way. Whippy smart, dangerously funny, and generous to a fault."

Dave understood the beauty and value of giving yourself away. I first met Dave through his commitment to starting the accelerator program in EO. Dave was a part of a team that had massive impact on business owners in the Treasure valley. His commitment to lead the group as a whole and also mentor a smaller group of business owners elevated and inspired through his humble wisdom. Over half the group in his two years graduated into EO as a result of the leadership team’s deep commitment to the participants. Once I joined EO I asked Dave to mentor me through a mentor program and although he had stepped back from EO, he graciously accepted. I became friends with his partner, Sarah, and feel I found kindred spirits in both of them that is so rare. Dave always made time for the people in his life and the way he saw and cared for the needs of others still inspires me. I still consider his advice as I lead my own companies. Dave’s legacy has marked me because of how deeply he gave and also because of the shortness of time. He left this world better than he found it.

"Dave has exposed the secrets of the most powerful persuaders in the world. This book is a step-by-step guide to changing minds and deeply influencing people in person, in print, on the air, or any place else you need to persuade."

"Dave Lakhani tells you everything you've got to know about persuasion in this book. It is written provocatively, yet clearly. And it is sure to open your mind while enriching your bank account."

"Dave Lakhani understands persuasion like few do and is able to break the process down so anyone can understand and use it."

"Too few books actually put into practice what they promote. Dave Lakhani breaks the mold with this satisfying, powerful read."

"The master at getting what you want from others now tells us how to get what we want from ourselves! This is really a great book, and I recommend it highly - for you, for your team, and for your children."

"Dave's methods helped me to take my business from $0 to $10 million in sales. If you're a creative business owner who wants total focus and massive success, run, don't walk, and get this book!"

"Dave Lakhani reveals secrets that are making ad agencies salivate. These tactics should only be studies by those who aren't intellectually squeamish or intimidated by being brutally effective."

"Dave Lakhani has written the first original work on subliminal persuasion that I have seen in years. Part of me wishes he wouldn't share this information with the rest of the world, so I would be the only one with access to it!"

"Dave was an extraordinary man, his impact, kindness and wisdom will be remembered. In our first conversation I knew I liked him. He listened with intent, he made me feel heard, understood and over the many more conversations and interactions we’d have, I’d learn a lot about business, perspective and overcoming obstacles with confidence and poise. I’m grateful to have known him and am so sorry he was taken from this world too soon."

"Helen and I are without words. Dave was our first acquaintance when we moved to Boise. He became a good friend and trusted advisor. He was responsible for me getting involved with the Idaho Youth Ranch. Later, working with Todd Weltner, we turned IYR on a new path that could only been accomplished by smart, caring folks like Dave, Todd and others.

"Dave ... was a coach and advisor to my organization starting in early 2017. He participated with our management team, he attended our retreats, he taught us so much and guided us through ups, through downs, through challenges. The memory that comes to mind was after an event of ours that he was presenting at, we all went to dinner at an Indian restaurant. It was Dave and me and my two children sitting next to me. They were very young, 2 and 4 years old...and he was making conversation with clients and team members...but also with my kids and they were engaged with him being there and that's what just stands out to me. His ability to wade between different environments and different contexts and take up no more space that was necessary and yet contribute so much value in all of those environments and contexts is a big part of what made him so special and he will be very missed."

"Dave will be remembered most by those who knew him best as generous, selfless, brilliant, bold and a protector. He had a deep capacity for love, was a poet at heart, and despite his many personal and professional accomplishments would be the first to say his greatest achievements in life were as a loving partner to Sarah and a father to Austria. He will be missed by family, friends and the millions of people he helped through his books and words."

"Dear Dave, I just found out that we lost you. I cannot believe you are gone. I love you very much, but you must have known this already. At least, I hope you did. I've always told you and Sarah that I've considered you as family. When in reality, you've been the closest thing to a dad that I've had in an extremely long time. I wish I could have given you a hug. You have always been there for me and have encouraged me to reach for the stars. You offered me a job without even requesting an application. You believed in me even when I didn't. I won't ever forget the love and kindness you and Sarah have shared with me. You will always be the most interesting man I've ever met. I know that so many people have been encouraged and supported by you. The world is a lesser place without you."

"Dave was with me for every step of my life as an entrepreneur. I can directly credit a lot of my success to the connections, advice and mentorship he gave me. I've picked up the phone a dozen times to call him in the last month before realizing he was gone. Somehow however I know that he's still whispering at me 'Don't be a #@$% just do it Chris'".

“Dave wasn’t just my friend. He was the brother I wish I had and the fearless person I wish I were.”

“My definition of a friend is someone who you can call in the middle of the night and ask them to bring a shovel and not ask questions, and they show up. Dave wouldn't just show up, he'd also have brought a backhoe from a friend he knew and or would have plenty of suggestions on how to do whatever it was you were doing better than you were doing it. It really pisses me off that I didn't set aside more of my own time to spend it with someone who had so much to offer, especially his genuine and unselfish friendship.”

"Dave was so many things to me - an inspiration, a mentor, an adviser, but most of all a friend. He was there for some of the toughest times in my professional and personal life, and gave me invaluable advice that I'm very glad that I followed. He was the most amazing combination of hard-hitting and kind-hearted - here was a man who could kill me with his pinky, but selflessly gave his time to me and anyone else who needed it. I assumed my life would have another hundred Dave adventures in it, and I'm sad that they aren't going to happen. But most of all, I'm intensely proud and grateful to have had him as a part of my life."

“Dave inspired me to see, believe and embody my full potential. He shared his knowledge because he saw something in me, that I had yet to see myself. Over the course of several years, he lovingly pushed me to be better and transcend the obstacles I faced. His hands-on approach to coaching helped me to have difficult conversations, handle issues and elevated my skill set and confidence to a new level. With Dave's mentorship and kindness, I always felt safe and supported which allowed me to flourish and grow both personally and professionally. My several years working with Dave are a time I will forever cherish and I will keep the lessons he taught me close to my heart. He was a true mentor and became a beloved friend.”

“Even though I come from a long line of entrepreneurs, my game leveled up when I was lucky enough to be mentored by Dave Lakhani. His insights, experience, and expertise were rivaled by none. Dave’s passion for entrepreneurship was surpassed only by his integrity to the principle that one should make money at the service of other people, and not at the expense of other people.”