Redirecting.work
Larry Dunivan
A Journey of Leadership, Freedom, and Fun
Larry is one of my favorite CEOs, not only for his leadership but for his personal warmth. For years, every time we met at analyst dinners for Ceridian or Dayforce, he always made it a point to sit beside me, making me feel special. We shared plenty of fun times, and I’ll always be grateful for the surprise retirement celebration he threw for me the first time I retired. But what stands out about Larry is his values, particularly during his time as CEO of Namely.
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What Drove His Pivots?
Larry’s career pivots were driven by a mix of personal and professional motivations. In his 40s, he was primarily focused on being a dad and was content with his career trajectory.
But by the time he hit his 50s, with his children grown and out of the house, he started eyeing bigger challenges. The desire to lead a company became more tangible as he worked alongside senior executives. He had a realization: “I can do it. I just have to decide to do this.”
But the journey wasn’t straightforward. Larry knew he couldn’t start a company as had product people, so he pivoted into running a sales organization—a strategic move that built his confidence, despite having some emotional baggage from his upbringing with a non-supportive Dad. Success in sales was the first big step toward achieving his goal.
His most recent pivot, however, is all about exercising his newfound freedom. After his CEO stint, he wanted to make sure his next role was filled with interesting work and, above all, fun. “I had so much fun early in my career. Working with people I loved—can you believe they paid me to do this?” However, as responsibilities grew, the fun started to fade, and he was determined to bring it back into his life.
His Current Direction
After stepping away from his CEO role, Larry took six months to recover. That turned into a year of reflection and figuring out what truly mattered. “While I still have interest in technology,,” he says. “I care about helping others and having meaningful interactions more.”
Now, Larry does consulting. He’s helping first-time CEOs transition into their roles, doing due diligence work, and sourcing and acquiring companies. For him, the people he works with are key—he’s more interested in making them successful than focusing on himself. “Anything is interesting as long as the people I work with are interesting.”
In addition to consulting, Larry has found immense joy in his volunteer work at the Minneapolis/Saint Paul and Palm Springs airports, where he welcomes travelers. It’s become the most fun he’s had in years, reminding him of why interactions with people are what drive him.
Advice for Successfully Pivoting
Larry’s advice for making successful career pivots is rooted in self-reflection and personal satisfaction:
1. Take Time to Assess: Larry didn’t always have a career plan, but he became more deliberate as time went on. He took the time to reflect on his next steps and figure out what truly made him happy.
2. Value People Over Titles: For Larry, the key to any successful pivot is working with interesting, good people. Titles and industries matter less than the people you surround yourself with.
3. Make Time for Fun: Early in his career, Larry had so much fun, and he learned how important it is to maintain that. He’s now committed to finding roles that bring joy back into his work.
4. Share Good Fortune: Whether through his volunteer work or offering career advice, Larry believes in sharing his success and helping others.
Larry’s story is one of embracing freedom, prioritizing people, and rediscovering fun. His approach to life and career shows that meaningful work and joy can—and should—go hand in hand.
We may see more of Larry as he is still not sure if he will decide to go back into the full-time workforce. He put it simply when he said, “I’ll know it when I see it.”