David Smith

David G. Smith is Professor of Practice and Co-Director of the Gender & Work Initiative at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. A sociologist by training, he partners with HR and talent leaders to translate research on gender, work, and family into practical strategies that strengthen leadership pipelines, advance equity, and improve retention. His work focuses on allyship, inclusive leadership, mental load, bias in performance evaluations, and dual-career dynamics.

Through his speaking, consulting, and executive education, David helps organizations address the interpersonal and systemic factors shaping hiring, promotion, performance management, and leadership development for women and men. His approach blends rigorous social science with tools HR leaders can apply at scale.

David is the co-author (with Brad Johnson) of Good Guys: How Men Can Be Better Allies for Women in the Workplace and Athena Rising: How and Why Men Should Mentor Women, and co-author of Fair Share: How Men and Women Leaders Can Create a More Equitable Workplace Together (June 2026).