Becker Business Podcast – Leadership & Investing with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP
Host: Scott Becker
Guest: David Pivnick, Partner at McGuireWoods LLP
Date: January 10, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Scott Becker interviews David Pivnick, partner at McGuireWoods LLP, about his insights on leadership and personal investing. David, whom Scott describes as “one of the brightest people” he knows and a valedictorian of his law school class, shares his perspective on the core qualities of great leaders, and candidly discusses his own approach to investing with an eye towards caution, long-term security, and general prudence. The conversation provides valuable lessons on building trust as a leader and the mindset for personal financial management.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction: Meet David Pivnick

• [01:30] David introduces himself, his legal practice focus, and personal background.
  • Partner at McGuireWoods, specializing in healthcare and private equity litigation.
  • Primarily defends government investigations and False Claims Act disputes.
  • Based in Chicago, originally from Toronto; married with three children.

2. Leadership Qualities Observed and Admired

• Connecting with People

  • [02:32] One key trait of a great leader is the “innate ability to make conversation, to be collegial, and to connect with people in a real way.”
    • Cites John Harmon, Chairman of McGuireWoods, as an example:

      "It takes exactly seconds in any conversation with him to want to continue the discussion and to know that he’s just an incredibly warm and engaging person." (David Pivnick, 03:23)

  • This makes leaders approachable and helps build instantaneous connections at all organizational levels.

• Vision and Direction

  • Good leaders possess “foresighted vision” and the ability to clearly plan for their team's future.

    • “People need to know where they’re going and need to have a leader that’s sort of well positioned to help them get there.” (David, 03:58)

• Resource and Talent Management

  • The best leaders can “identify the right talent and the right fits for their team,” which includes both adding to and realigning existing teams.
  • Strong teams are formed by leveraging diverse skill sets and deploying people in roles where they can succeed.

3. Trust, Thoughtfulness, and Building Performance

• [05:23] Trust and authentic rapport are essential for motivating a team.

  • “Making sure that people understand where you’re coming from and that you’re able to connect with them and build that rapport on an immediate level and a deep level is significant.” (David, 05:28)

  • Personal connection or friendship in the workplace makes it easier for team members to perform and engage with shared goals.
  • Lack of trust can lead to “questions and pushback and resistance or worse where folks are second guessing the leader.” (David, 05:50)

4. Personal Investing Approach

• Risk Tolerance and Investment Strategy

  • [06:58] David shares that his investing style is relatively conservative.
    • Primarily manages his investments personally.
    • Focus is on index funds and “safe” short-term guaranteed instruments with low risk/low interest.
    • Planning to diversify further and possibly work with a financial advisor as investments grow.

• Importance of Safety in Investing

  • Scott and David discuss the psychological importance of capital preservation, especially for those who did not grow up with wealth.

    • “There was just this great concern about making sure a certain portion of that is safe because… the concept of losing money is really scary. No one wants to lose money.” (Scott, 07:41)

  • Striving for a balance between safety and growth is a common theme:

    • “Trying to balance those things,” (David, 08:31) recognizing the trade-off between conservative investments and potentially “leaving money on the table” in returns.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On John Harmon’s Leadership:

  “It takes exactly seconds in any conversation with him to want to continue the discussion and to know that he’s just an incredibly warm and engaging person.”
  (David Pivnick, 03:23)

• On Visionary Leadership:

  “People need to know where they’re going and need to have a leader that’s sort of well positioned to help them get there.”
  (David, 03:58)

• On Workplace Connection and Performance:

  “Being able to do that, I think it really help[s] draw strong performance.”
  (David, 06:20)

• On Investment Psychology:

  “The concept of losing money is really scary. No one wants to lose money.”
  (Scott Becker, 07:41)

• On Investment Balance:

  “We have a long pathway ahead… but also want to be prudent and, you know, recognize that the safer the investment, we're… leaving money on the table as well in terms of what the returns reasonably could be with broader but not irrational amounts of risk.”
  (David, 08:31)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:30 – David introduces himself and his professional/personal background.
• 02:32 – Discussion on leadership qualities, citing John Harmon as model.
• 03:58 – Importance of vision in leadership.
• 04:57 – Building trust and immediate rapport as a leader.
• 06:31 – Transition to discussion on personal investing approach.
• 06:58 – David details his stable, index-focused investment strategy.
• 07:41 – Discussion about the psychology of risk and capital preservation in investing.
• 08:31 – Balancing risk, prudence, and the potential for greater returns in long-term investing.

Summary Tone and Language

The conversation maintains a collegial, candid, and humble tone. Both Scott and David speak from their personal experiences and observations, offering practical, relatable insights while avoiding grandiose claims.

Takeaway:
This episode offers listeners accessible guidance on leadership—emphasizing connection, clarity, and talent management—and an honest perspective on responsible investing. David Pivnick’s thoughtful approach provides a model for professionals seeking both effective leadership skills and prudent personal financial management.