From Shelter to CTO: The Power of Radical Ownership

David Totten’s path was anything but straight. He spent time in a shelter as a teenager, chased music, lost jobs, led thousands at Microsoft, and now shapes the future of data at Databricks. At each twist, he faced a choice: make excuses or take complete responsibility. In this conversation, David pulls back the curtain on the risks that paid off, the mistakes that became fuel, and the leadership mindset that carried him through it all.