David Manley

Background

About David Manley

I build and scale teams, processes, and technology to solve hard problems and create durable value. What motivates me most is designing better ways of doing things—and then executing them in the real world. I founded and bootstrapped Go Real Travel, a product-driven travel-tech company now approaching $5M USD in annual revenue, and led the company back to growth after COVID reduced revenue to zero. Previously, as Head of Operations at Travelstride, a community marketplace for travel, I led a turnaround that increased revenue by more than 300% in 12 months. Earlier in my career, I served as a U.S. Army officer after graduating from West Point, with deployments to Iraq and Kosovo. I’ve led teams across a wide spectrum: senior engineers, Gen Z professionals across Europe and North America, contract teams in low-cost markets, and tough-as-nails soldiers under. Today, I work extensively with AI, implementing solutions directly into Go Real Travel’s product and operations. The core strength I bring is the ability to both envision a path forward and make it real. Many leaders do one or the other; I focus on doing both. That means pairing clear vision with concrete execution—scoping, process design, measurable outcomes—and being willing to step in personally when something new or difficult needs to be built before it can be delegated and OTHER THINGS I LIKE 1. Financial models 2. Creative and professional writing 3. Making sure programmers are productive, appreciated, & understood 4. AI and mastering new software 5. Quantitative analysis and strategy 6. Being a utility player