David Kusuma

David Kusuma, FIDSA | Tupperware Worldwide

David currently holds the title of vice president, product development worldwide for the Tupperware Corporation. In this position he is responsible for "product materialization." Making something materialize from where there was nothing before… this includes: defining and re-defining product functionality; solving and adding innovative product value [while maintaining cost]; maximizing the differentiation of their product offerings through the application of new and emerging technologies; and ensuring products arrive to the Tupperware markets on time and on budget. His job is also to keep Tupperware on the leading edge by driving product R&D. David's Tupperware career started three-and-half years ago in August of 2001 when he joined as director of engineering for the US and LA regions. He now works closely with all of the Tupperware markets to service their needs with new products.

David was born in New York. His father was working at that time for a start-up company called the United Nations. It's how he got to live and work in the USA without a visa. A few months after he was born his father was transferred abroad. David spent years growing up in Addis, Ethopia; in Bangkok, Thailand; in Beirut, Lebanon, and in Amman, Jordan. When he reached high school his father sent him to an all-boy’s boarding school in Connecticut to give David a "stable" learning environment in preparation for college. Since then he has been a life-long student graduating from Carnegie-Mellon University with a bachelor of fine arts in industrial design; the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering; Purdue University with a master of science in [engineering] management; and Tilburg University in Holland [the Netherlands] with an MBA in international business. David is currently still in school working towards his doctorate in engineering.

David's three best strengths are innovation, patience, and perseverance. Innovation fulfills his need to create and to problem solve. Patience gives him time to work out the correct solution and to work with others. Perseverance makes sure that the end result is achieved. His two greatest development needs are prioritizing and managing expectations. He has a tendency to try to take on too much at one time; and to promise too much. But he always strives to be the "can-do" man.