Helping you to tell your story and build your brand to make more impact through Marketing Advising, Brand Strategy, Speaking and Training.
Daniel Does Consulting services include:
Strategy and Advising
Speaking, Training and Facilitation
Program Development
Full services are listed at danieldoes.co/services
Industry panels... Love them or hate them, there's no denying the audience Q&A is the real highlight. It’s your chance to get answers straight from the experts.
That’s why at the Toronto Marketing Hub Year End Summit this Monday, we’re cutting the fluff. No long intros, no big monologues—just your questions and candid insights from the pros.
Join us for a townhall-style discussion that dives into lessons from 2024 and how they’ll shape 2025. Bring your curiosity and ask away as our incredible panel of marketing experts takes the stage: Daniel Francavilla, Michael Wannop, and Milka Lukovich (Ignjatovic), with Kareem Perez moderating.
Doors for the summit open at 6:30PM, with the townhall portion of the night starting at 7:30PM.
Nothing is final here — we're constantly evolving as people (until you’re dead, of course). Your interests shift, priorities change, and as you gain experience, your path takes turns whether it's planned or unexpected.
Careers aren’t static — they evolve with us. We might change industries, pivot from management to entrepreneurship, or double down on a new passion.
The economy changes too, and we adapt accordingly.
When I give workshops and speak about personal branding, I often remind the audience of this.
You may change industries or disciplines, or go from management to self-employment.
This is a message I also share with my students. Many pressure to lock in their decisions — choosing a career path, finalizing their resume, or building a personal brand they think has to last forever. But these are all starting points. I encourage them to try, adapt, learn, pivot, gain experience, adjust, and grow.
Looking back, I’ve personally “reinvented” myself a few times already — from student activist to freelance designer to agency owner and now to a brand strategist, marketing advisor and educator (among other things of course). Today my personal brand is clarified on my website and here in my LinkedIn bio.
But this post is not about me.
It's about you.
Questions and considerations for you, along with a story about Arlene Dickinson.
Dive-in to this week's edition of The Intersection to read more: https://lnkd.in/grgqHAk5
What an incredible conversation with Daniel at the CreatorClub!
Earlier this week, we recorded an episode of The Business Leadership Podcast that dives deep into personal branding, thought leadership, and building meaningful connections. While the episode will air in January, Daniel has already shared a sneak peek of some invaluable takeaways from our discussion — and I couldn’t agree more with his insights.
💡 From adopting a brand-first approach to embracing founder-led marketing, continuous learning, and storytelling, Daniel offered actionable advice for leaders looking to grow their impact in 2025 and beyond.
I’m so excited for you all to hear this one. Thank you to Daniel for sharing your journey and expertise, and a special shoutout to Mark at CreatorClub for the fantastic studio setup.
🔗 Check out Daniel’s post for his full list of takeaways, and Follow me to catch the episode when it drops in the new year!
#Leadership#PersonalBranding#Podcasting#BusinessGrowth#Storytelling
It’s a bit meta posting about a podcast about personal branding and thought leadership right here on LinkedIn, but I’ve gotta practice what I preach by sharing my story and expertise along the way.
This week I had a chance to reflect on my career so far in entrepreneurship, education and social good, and what I’ve learned so far, as a guest on a podcast. Everything I’ve done comes back to creating positive impact, leveraging creativity and building meaningful connections, it seems.
Here’s 5 takeaways as a teaser of what we discussed on the episode if you’re looking to step up your presence and grow in 2025:
1️⃣ Take a brand-first approach. That includes investing upfront in long-term success for your business by clearly defining your mission, vision, and values and investing in brand from day one — something I’ve found essential for building trust and creating connections with audiences. (This can get overlooked with a push for immediate ROI and performance marketing, which unfortunately is often focused on short-term wins only).
2️⃣ As it’s been top of mind lately with my work and talks, I also highlighted the value of founder-led marketing, encouraging more leaders to use their personal brands to amplify their organization’s story authentically.
3️⃣ Edwin also asked me how I’ve tried to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry. Continuous learning has been pivotal in my own journey — whether through podcasts, audiobooks, attending conferences, or even teaching. I believe curiosity and adaptability are the keys to thriving (especially in this field). Plus, cross-pollinating ideas across sectors and building meaningful networks helps us to stay sharp and be ready to evolve.
4️⃣ For those looking to build their own brands, I shared a few tips like:
👉 Start small by defining your core values and identifying your target audience.
👉 Embrace storytelling and begin sharing your journey, even if it’s just through LinkedIn posts or articles.
👉 Commit to regular content creation and allow your brand to grow and adapt over time.
5️⃣ Building a brand of any kind is about playing the long game. It’s investing in relationships, staying curious, and creating a foundation that can sustain and grow over time. Start with your story — it’s the most powerful tool you have.
🙏 Thank you to Edwin J. Frondozo for having me on The Business Leadership Podcast, and congrats on your continued success with the show over all these years.
🎙️ The episode doesn’t come out until January, but follow or subscribe in the meantime for Edwin’s other episodes.
🎥 Shoutout to Mark for the fresh studio setup at CreatorClub.
🟠 Did you know The Intersection is a weekly newsletter where I share stories, lessons and relevant reflections? Subscribe free at intersection.danieldoes.co — see you in your inbox!
What should marketers plan for in 2025?
If you’re in Toronto, feel free to attend this townhall-style panel discussion where we’ll be sharing reflections and roadmaps to consider for next year.
This is part of the Marketing Industry Summit & Networking Night hosted by Toronto Marketing Hub.
It’s an opportunity to ask questions, tackle industry challenges, and discuss what lies ahead.
Before the panel, there’s a keynote on “What do Canada’s changing demographics mean for the marketing industry?” This session dives into the impact of massive population growth on marketing strategies and multicultural outreach.
Join us for an evening featuring speakers, thought-provoking insights, and networking opportunities.
Tickets are available here: https://lnkd.in/gzYS6QTF
Daniel, Elena | Daniel Does Consulting
Oh hey there 👋 I have a speaker recommendation for you.
It's this guy.
Over the last decade, I've worked with more organizations, businesses and founders than I can count — and had the pleasure of speaking at events and workshops along the way, learning from and sharing what I've learned with thousands of you over the years.
Next year, I'm looking to reach even more amazing people through speaking.
Building a strong personal brand is one of the most powerful tools for leaders of all kinds. Showing up authentically everywhere you go, building a relevant audience and community, and sharing content that aligns with your brand, all to reach your greater goals.
Recently I took the stage to share insights on how personal branding can drive growth, position founders as thought leaders, and amplify the mission behind their businesses as the closing Keynote at the Startup Canada Tour in Waterloo. Whether it’s through storytelling, founder-led marketing, or consistent engagement, the long-term impact of investing in your personal brand is invaluable — and the need is only growing, to truly connect and compete for attention today.
And I'll come to you, too.
If you're looking for a speaker to inspire, inform and your audience, feel free to reach out about talks, workshops, or panel discussions. (Online works as well, but nothing beats the energy of IRL). I cover topics ranging from personal branding and thought leadership to authentic storytelling and go-to-market strategy — targeting founders, nonprofit organizations and leaders, artists and creatives, and even students and aspiring entrepreneurs.
📧 Reach out anytime about your event, training or programming.
(The link is commented below for more info too)
In January, I'll be taking the stage at SocialNext conference in Ottawa.
Who else needs to hear this message?
The work of community-centric fundraising isn’t easy, and it can feel overwhelming.
Rickesh Lakhani answered a question from one of our session attendees about how to manage the emotional and physical toll of this work, especially for people from marginalized communities who often lead these efforts.
Rickesh reminded us that not every fight is your fight.
“Self-preservation is not selfish,” he explained.
It’s okay to choose when and where to engage, and to step back when it’s unsafe or unsustainable to continue.
Another key strategy is finding allies, both within your organization and beyond.
“Exhaustion often comes when we feel like we’re doing this work alone,” Rickesh shared.
Building a support system, sharing the load, and connecting with communities doing similar work can make the process less isolating and more impactful.
For more insights, join our mailing list or read the full recap on our blog.
Transformative Board of Director Facilitator & International Keynote Speaker | Driving $14M in Revenue & Organizational Resilience | Passionate Advocate for Community Empowerment & Strategic Leadership
I couldn’t be more thrilled to bring together some of Canada’s top marketing minds for this year’s virtual summit! Join us as we dive into cutting-edge topics, from influencer marketing strategies and partnership insights to the evolving dynamics of AI—courtesy of our incredible lineup of speakers.
Highlights to Look Forward To:
Industry Insights: Our speakers, including experts like Jessica B., Geoffrey Blanc, PMP, Umair Tazeem, Josh Muirhead, Riley Kearl, Shankar Vivek, Afton Brazzoni, Charlie Grinnell, and Daniel Francavilla, are ready to deliver insights on everything from email marketing best practices and brand-first approaches to the power of omnichannel marketing. Each session is packed with actionable takeaways to help you stay ahead in marketing for 2025.
Exclusive Book for Attendees: Each participant will receive a hard-cover copy of "Your Grass is Greener" by Jason Silver, who will be joining us to share his unique journey and tips for finding joy and purpose at work!
Interactive Surprises: To make this experience even more special, the first 200 attendees will receive custom conference boxes, filled with goodies and shipped directly by our friends at Canada Post / Postes Canada. Only 200 boxes are available, so don’t miss out on reserving yours!
Special Offer: Want to save $50 on your ticket? Complete our SocialNext Community Survey. https://lnkd.in/gDaVt7n2
Join us for a day of learning, networking, and inspiration as we set the course for 2025 and beyond.
👉 Register Now: https://lnkd.in/gWxufVXy
How do you scale the one-on-one conversations you’re having with potential customers? I was asked this question here recently.
Whether you’re selling farming equipment or medical technology like the founders I’m speaking with, your content and ads still have to resonate and keep your target audience’s attention.
Focus on telling customer stories, instead of simply sharing product information and generic case studies.
At the Startup Canada Tour in Waterloo, I shared with entrepreneurs at my Ask the Expert table that audiences want more than features and facts — they’ll stay for real, relatable stories (even when you’re selling B2B, like the people I was speaking with here).
When you showcase how your product impacts someone’s life or work through examples and relatable stories, how it integrates into their daily routine, or solves a specific problem for them, you're creating content that people can’t help but watch.
These aren’t sales pitches, they’re sharing experiences. People even binge-watch this type of content because it feels authentic and doesn’t come off as traditional advertising.
Real stories build personal connections and trust.
We know this as Edelman’s Trust Barometer report shows that most consumers trust content from “a person like themselves,” such as customer stories, over company-sponsored ads. Stories featuring real users build trust more effectively than ads that feel promotional.
During this session I also mentioned that scaling through ads then becomes a natural extension of this approach — your ads become an invitation for people to enjoy your content and appreciate your brand, and then learn more about the solutions you bring to the table. It’s engaging and a way to start building lasting relationships with your audience.
Close 2024 strong at the Marketing Industry Summit & Networking Night hosted by Toronto Marketing Hub — an evening featuring speakers, thought-provoking insights, and networking opportunities.
The night kicks off with a keynote presentation on “What do Canada’s changing demographics mean for the marketing industry?” As Canada has emerged as the top destination for global migration this year, this session dives into the impact of massive population growth on marketing strategies and multicultural outreach.
Join the townhall-style panel discussion with some of Canada’s foremost marketing practitioners and thought leaders. This is your chance to ask burning questions, tackle industry challenges, and gain clarity about what lies ahead in 2025. End the evening with a lively networking night.
Tickets are available here: https://lnkd.in/gzYS6QTF
