The World’s Best Kept Secrets: Insights from David Horlock
- Stacey Varsani
- Mar 14
- 3 min read
In a recent episode of the Drop-In CEO podcast, host Deb Coviello had an insightful conversation with David Horlock, a seasoned leader with over 40 years of experience in the Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) industry. David shared his journey through global markets, the evolution of compliance, and the critical role of standards in shaping business success.
A Global Career Rooted in Compliance
David’s career has spanned continents and industries, beginning in agribusiness before moving into the compliance sector. With leadership roles across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East, he has played a pivotal role in ensuring food, consumer goods, and industrial products meet international safety and quality standards. His work with major TIC organizations has given him a front-row seat to the globalization of supply chains and the increasing importance of rigorous compliance frameworks.
Why Standards Matter for Business Success
David passionately advocates for standards, viewing them not as bureaucratic hurdles but as essential frameworks that drive repeatability, efficiency, and trust. He highlights how standards are more than just tools for compliance—they enable businesses to scale, improve quality, and enhance customer trust. Whether in food safety, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), or industry-specific benchmarks, standards provide the discipline needed for continuous improvement and risk management.
David likens standards to a recipe. If twenty people are placed in a kitchen and told to make a dish, there will be twenty different outcomes. However, if a recipe is provided, there will be consistency, efficiency, and repeatability. In the same way, standards are effective tools for addressing critical board issues and institutionalizing the discipline to do things the right way and continuously improve.
Lessons in Leadership and Business Growth
David’s journey from managing small teams to leading global organizations offers key lessons for leaders aspiring to reach the C-suite. He emphasizes:
Attitude Matters: Giving 120% effort and doing the right thing consistently sets strong leaders apart. David says, " Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”
Manage Processes, Not People: Systems create clarity, reduce errors, and allow teams to perform at their best. David advises leaders to manage processes and empower employees to take ownership of them.
Keep It Simple: According to David, “Complexity equals confusion, which is the enemy of trust and value.”
Behaviour Is Important: Be open, transparent, calm and credible. Understand your strengths and weaknesses and adapt accordingly.
Prioritize Effectively: Using a ‘leaking bucket’ analogy, David explains how leaders can focus on fixing the most critical issues first rather than spreading resources thinly across less impactful areas.
Helping Boards Navigate ESG and Compliance
With increasing pressure on boards to address ESG and other compliance challenges, David offers a structured approach. For example, to meet ESG requirements, boards can take the following path:
Start with ISO 14001 – This is the world’s leading environmental management standard. Implementing ISO 14001 will ensure that a business meets 12 out of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Incorporate ISO 45001 – This standard addresses workplace safety and well-being, and will satisfy an additional 4 SDGs.
Leverage Other Relevant Standards for Business Growth – Standards align with global best practices, ensuring international market access and long-term resilience.
Compliance should be seen as an enabler of business excellence, not just a regulatory requirement. Implementing the right standards institutionalizes good practices and reduces risk-related costs.
Final Thoughts
David now focuses on leadership coaching and advisory services. He helps boards and executives improve supply chains, meet ESG requirements, and enhance operations, with an emphasis on turning strategy into impactful results and increasing business value.
For CEOs and board members looking to integrate global best practices into your organizations, get in touch with Hadouken today to discover how the right standards can boost profitability and enhance your company’s value.
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