Denver: We’re going to do Take Five with David Risher, the CEO of Worldreader.org. Are you ready, David?
David Risher
David: I’m ready to go.
Denver: What should we be worried about?
David: AI.
Denver: What is today’s most underreported story?
David: The good that’s going on in the world by great nonprofits.
Denver: What is one of your favorite documentaries and movies?
David: Year Million.
Denver: What idea in philanthropy is ready for retirement?
David: Overhead ratios.
Denver: What is something you believe that other people think is just insane?
David: That someday a billion people are going to read on their cellphones and Kindles in the heart of Africa, India, and everywhere in the world.
Denver: Name some organization or person that you have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for.
David: Tony Marx of the New York Public Library.
Denver: What’s a favorite part of your morning ritual?
David: Reading the newspaper.
Denver: What is the most important thing that makes for a healthy organizational culture?
David: Take culture seriously but don’t take yourself too seriously.
Denver: If you were a kitchen utensil, what would you be?
David: A garlic press.
Denver: What do you wish more people would be open and honest about?
David: I wish people were more comfortable talking about money.
Denver: If you were to start your career all over again, do something completely different and away from this field, what would that be?
David: As a kid, I always wanted to be a drawbridge server; one of those guys that sat on a little boot and opened up a drawbridge because I actually like physical infrastructure. I like ships. I like water.
Denver: What is your superpower?
David: I can see little bits and pieces of the future.
Denver: If you could have one gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it, what would it say?
David: Read more.
Denver: What is something, whether it’s related to your work or not, that you’re exceptionally excited about right now?
David: Seeing my two daughters next weekend.
Denver: What are you reading now?
David: I’m reading James Comey’s A Higher Loyalty.
Denver: What are you thinking about when you’re driving in the car alone?
David: Whatever is on NPR..
Denver: What topic would you speak about if you were asked to give a Ted talk on something outside your main area of expertise?
David: How to use the Insta Pot to cook anything you want.
Denver: Given a choice of anyone famous in the world, dead or alive, that you could invite over as a dinner guest, who would that be?
David: I’d pick Elon Musk. I do find him fascinating. He thinks big. He’s not afraid to just make things happen no matter how big.
Denver: What advice would you give to your 20-year-old self?
David: I’d say be proud of yourself as a reader and as a student, now ashamed of yourself.
Denver: Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?
David: I actually have quite a few. In college yearbook, I quoted Joseph Conrad who said, I don’t like work but I like what it does for me. And I think that’s right. It allows me to express who I am and allows me to help the world in a way that’s bigger than myself.