Ethics and Leadership: An Executive’s Perspective; David Locke

David Locke

David Locke is the founder and creative director of Locke Design Omnimedia. He served three years on our advisory board; his term ended June 30. His perspective comes from that of a small entrepreneurial startup – which is different than the previous interviews. Enjoy!

Q. How long has it been since you began your business? What are your values and vision? What has been your particular passion in managing and growing your business?

A.  Locke Design began in 1996 and has been tremendously blessed while seeing immense changes in the market from highs to lows. From our humble beginnings as a home-based business of a high school student we have expanded to include international and national clientel from a wide range of disciplines and sizes. Locke Design has also seen the graphic and marketing world transform from purely print into a multimedia industry that integrates web design, video, photography and animation. Now, with the advent of mobile devices, our profession will be ever expanding into electronic media. As the market changes we as a design firm must be agile and change to meet our client's demands.

Locke Design Omnimedia is a graphic design, web design and advertising firm serving the Greenville Metro Area in South Carolina and international market. Our mission is to serve our customers by creating designs that are functional, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing as well as providing customers with high quality products. Locke Design is a firm devoted to quality service, the creation of high-end design and customer satisfaction. The firm strives to be a leader in the United States and in the international design market.

We have a number of stated goals that we strive to excel at:

Client Satisfaction

To create an atmosphere of cooperation and creative flow of ideas between the designer and client, and to produce a high quality design and elicit return business.

Betterment of Self and Business

To better ourselves in knowledge of business and design through continuing education, interaction with clients and observation of design trends in the market. To continue to grow in creative ability and financial strength.

Foster Understanding

To create community and global interest in design and help potential clients understand the need for designers.

Create a Christian Based Business

To create a business grounded in the ethics and teaching of Jesus Christ and to witness for our Lord in the way we conduct ourselves and business.

My Passion in managing and growing my business lies in using my energy and God-given talents to help others grow their businesses.

Q. What has been one of the greatest challenges and how did you face it?

A. Youth! When I began my business full time I was only 23 years old. Many times I would be chairing a committee or attending an event where most of the people were three to four decades older than me. I had to be very serious and tough to garner respect and be taken seriously. When I entered my 30's I’d developed my professional reputation and found it easier to lead meetings with a variety of clients. Then, I had to relearn how to be a young adult again – to lighten up. 

Q. What convinced you to become a member of the advisory board of the Rutland Institute for Ethics? 

A. It was not a hard decision more than three years ago to say yes to become a member of the institute’s advisory board. I feel few people ask themselves if what they say, do, and think is ethical. My Christian faith is very important in my life. Following the rules of my faith translates to asking the questions about whether my thoughts and actions please Christ or are they wrong, or sinful? I want my thoughts and actions to be good witness for a life of integrity. I fully support any organization that encourages people to make more ethical choices in life and in business. And that is exactly what the Rutland Institute for Ethics does. Many of the problems I have personally experienced in business have been a result of poor ethical decisions on the part of others. 

Q. You have been very generous with in-kind creative and graphics work, and hosting a reception for the institute. What have you found especially enjoyable and rewarding as a member of the Rutland Ethics Alliance? 

A. Using my talents to serve an organization as important as the Institute is very rewarding. As a board member I have had the opportunity to fulfill two of my company's missions: 1) foster understanding of designers and participate in educational initiatives and 2) foster business ethics.  

Q. Do you have a call to action for readers? 

A.If they are frustrated with the ethical choices of students and business people in the Upstate of SC and beyond, then I encourage them to join the Rutland Ethics Alliance as a way to support teaching ethical judgment and bringing ethics into focus. The Rutland Institute for Ethics and its Ethics Alliance are not the final answers but has 10+ years of history of making progress in the right direction.