David Harr is an operations and hospitality leader with over 30 years of experience managing enterprises across higher education, hospitality, and auxiliary services. At Notre Dame, he has shaped campus operations through strategic leadership of diverse departments, including dining, hotels, retail, and facilities, ensuring high standards of service and operational excellence. During his tenure at Notre Dame, David Harr applied innovative approaches to improve efficiency and enhance customer experiences.
By 2001, David Harr was associate vice president for auxiliary and facility operations at Notre Dame. In this expanded role, he managed a diverse portfolio that included campus dining services for 8,000 residential students, stadium concessions, bookstores, retail operations, licensing, the Notre Dame Conference Center, and facility services for over 100 buildings across a 1,250-acre campus.
Mr. Harr led major development projects, including the renovation and expansion of the Morris Inn. Coordinating architects, designers, and consultants, he delivered a fully modernized hotel, projecting $2.4 million in new net revenue. Following his retirement from full-time university operations, he continued to share his expertise as owner and CEO of QZ Consulting, LLC. He provides data-driven strategies and operational guidance to help organizations optimize performance.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My typical day starts with a consistent morning, taking care of the pets and grabbing a cup of tea and eating a light breakfast. I pull out my iPad and catch up on the current news and sports via newspapers and cable news. I take a shower and proceed to do any chores that are needed. I usually find time to play pickleball and/or take a 3-mile walk. Enjoy a meal and a quiet evening with family.
I make my day productive by planning tasks ahead of time, prioritizing them, and minimizing distractions. I always monitor my daily well-being with my Apple Watch, i.e., proper sleep and exercise.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I record any ideas by capturing them on my iPad immediately and then begin researching them. I try to understand the pros and cons of each idea and assess whether I should move forward. Validation is important by seeking feedback from family, friends, or business associates.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The one trend that has always excited me is customer behaviour. Understanding the stages of how individuals’ emotions, attitudes, and preferences shape their decisions and what outside influences can affect the outcome.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
The one habit that helps me be productive is “every day is game day.” This mindset is treating every day with focus, discipline, and resilience.
What advice would you give your younger self?
The best advice I would give my younger self is that life is a marathon and not a sprint. Enjoy your journey, prioritize relationships, and find ways to help others.
Tell us something you believe that almost nobody agrees with you on.
I believe there are always two sides to every situation; be flexible and understand the opinions of others. Be a great listener.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
I recommend that everyone prioritize their mental and physical health. Physical fitness, appearance, nutrition, and mental well-being are keys to life success.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
When I feel overwhelmed or unfocused, I try to slow it down, step away, and regroup. Ask for help from someone close to you by calling, texting, or emailing.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
The one strategy that has helped me grow and advance is a strong and robust network of business associates, friends, and family. Continuous learning from others is essential.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
The one failure in my career was putting work above everything else, which caused a divorce from my first wife. I overcame it by remarrying, having a wonderful wife and two children, and reconnecting to my faith by becoming Catholic. The takeaway is that it’s never too late to be happy.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
The one piece of software that helps me be productive is Microsoft Office Suite. The tools in the office suite streamline tasks and enhance my efficiency.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
The best $100 I recently spent was on enjoying an evening out with my wife and her close friends. Laughter and storytelling were the highlights of the evening.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
“The Rich Eisen Show” mixes sports analysis with pop culture, humor, and insightful interviews with an engaging host—Rich Eisen. I find the show consistently has high-profile guests, a unique blend of content, and is a trustworthy voice in sports and media.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I enjoy the “One Chicago” franchise series, as it’s a high-stakes, action-packed, character-driven drama and has a strong sense of family among first responders.
Key learnings
- Never stop learning.
- Be humble.
- Stay mentally and physically fit.
- Be an active listener.
- Seek feedback.