The CEO Who Owes It All to His Sixth-Grade Teacher

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5 Key Takeaways

• David Royce, founder of Aptive Environmental and two-time CEO, credits his sixth-grade teacher Lynn Luft for his success.
• He struggled with undiagnosed ADHD as a child and found support and understanding in Luft's compassionate classroom.
• Luft's emphasis on empathy and creating a safe, inclusive environment inspired Royce's leadership style focused on uplifting others.
• Royce built three multimillion-dollar companies and became an Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year winner.
• He now mentors future entrepreneurs, promoting patience, individual growth, and compassionate leadership learned from his teacher.

How One Teacher Changed the Life of a Future CEO
When we think about successful business leaders, we often picture boardrooms, big ideas, and lots of hard work. But for David Royce, the founder of three multimillion-dollar companies and a two-time CEO, his story starts somewhere much simpler: a sixth-grade classroom, and a teacher who believed in him.
David Royce is best known for starting Aptive Environmental, a pest control company that quickly grew to become the third-largest in North America, making over $500 million a year. He’s won big awards, like the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year, and has led companies as CEO. But if you ask him what made all this possible, he’ll tell you it wasn’t just business smarts—it was the kindness of his sixth-grade teacher, Lynn Luft.
Growing up, David struggled in school. He had undiagnosed ADHD, which made it hard for him to sit still and focus. Some teachers didn’t understand him, and in fifth grade, he even remembers being laughed at by classmates—and the teacher joined in. It was a tough time, and he felt like he didn’t fit in.
Everything changed in sixth grade, when he met Ms. Luft. She created a classroom where everyone felt safe and respected. If someone teased another student, she stopped it right away and taught the class about empathy and kindness. For David, this was life-changing. He finally felt seen and supported, and Ms. Luft even stayed after class to help him with his work.
What stuck with David wasn’t just what he learned from textbooks, but the way Ms. Luft led her classroom—with compassion and encouragement. She showed him that real leadership is about lifting others up and making sure everyone feels like they belong. This lesson became the foundation of how David would later run his companies. At Aptive, one of the main values is “elevate the tribe”—a direct reflection of what he learned from Ms. Luft.
Now, David shares his story with students and young entrepreneurs, hoping to inspire them the way his teacher inspired him. He believes everyone learns at their own pace, and that patience and empathy can change lives.
David Royce’s journey is a powerful reminder: sometimes, the most important lessons don’t come from business schools, but from teachers who care. And a little kindness can go a very long way.

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