Founder @ The International Friend Connection
Founder @ The Friend Magnet
Chief of Global Affairs for The Octopus Movement Think Tank
Presidential Medal Recipient
David Good is a neurodivergent community builder, speaker, and social intelligence strategist who turned personal adversity into a mission to help others thrive. After a car accident and chronic illness ended his career in software development, David set out to create what he wished had existed for him: safe, welcoming spaces where shy, socially anxious, and neurodivergent people could make real-world connections.
Drawing on his own experience—and a unique ability to see patterns and systems others often miss—David founded International Friend Connection (IFC) in 2014. What began as one small group has grown into a global, mission-driven social enterprise with 50 local and virtual chapters, over 40,000 members, and more than 100 volunteers. These communities span in-person gatherings and online Zoom-based groups—designed to meet people where they are, regardless of geography or accessibility needs. Together, they've hosted over 4,400 free events around the world. In 2023, David was appointed Meetup’s founding Brand Ambassador by CEO David Siegel in recognition of his impact.
In 2024, David became Chief of Global Affairs for The Octopus Movement, an international think tank based in Amsterdam dedicated to nonlinear intelligence and systemic innovation.
Today, David leads The Friend Magnet, a hybrid education and coaching platform built specifically for shy engineers, developers, and neurodivergent professionals. His livestream classes, community events, and emotional intelligence training have already helped thousands of people build confidence, resilience, and authentic relationships—without masking who they are.
His work has earned him multiple Presidential Service Medals, the distinction of being named a Point of Light by the foundation created by President George H.W. Bush, and features on local ABC, NBC, and FOX News for his efforts to combat the growing crisis of loneliness and social isolation.
Despite the challenges he’s faced, David’s creative mind and systems-level thinking have allowed him to build a global movement. His goal is to help one million people connect in real life over the next ten years—and to prove that psychological safety and human connection can be created at scale.
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