Meet Daniel Smith | Philanthropist, Marketing Consultant & Career Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daniel Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daniel, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The desire to start my own enterprise was always a desire of mine growing up. My family does not have a background in business ownership and the communities I was raised in were not reflective of the type of foundation I would want to create a legacy on. I was motivated to be a pillar of change in my community and one of the many ways I believe I can achieve that is by becoming a business owner.

As a first-generation college student, I studied business, joined a multitude of leadership organizations, and most importantly started developing relationships with business industry leaders who are successful in this realm. Those relationships granted me significant opportunities in the corporate space in Sales, project-management, consulting, and negotiation which expanded my knowledge in business.

After a few years of experience and reading over 50 financial and business books; I decided to take a step out on faith to start leveraging these experiences to serve my community through entrepreneurship.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My mission through every platform I have is to equip and elevate people to help them become the best versions of themselves and to help them discover their purpose. I achieve this through a multitude of ways:

In my corporate career, I work as a Strategic Technology Manager for a large Information Technology company. Through this role, I’m able to lead in emerging technology roll-out strategies that shape the ever-evolving society that we see today. Most importantly, I’m able to lead corporate responsibility efforts on a global level as co-president of our African-American Resource Group. This gives me the opportunity to restore educational institutions through scholarships & mentorship, pour resources into food shortage-stricken areas in the DFW, and pour thousands of dollars into small businesses and non-profits to advance our local communities.

I also expand my influence by helping small businesses/brands(or aspiring ones) through marketing and branding strategies to grow their brand and create value propositions for their target audience. I also have developed a number of partnerships in the health and wellness space to help elevate people of all ages to achieve their physical and fitness goals. I support growing/ transitioning corporate professionals through resume writing services and career coaching to help them achieve career goals. And lastly, I support students K-12 for standardized testing preparation, subject-specific tutoring, and professional development

My brand is service and advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves. Nothing about entrepreneurship is easy and there will always be challenges to overcome. But being a problem-solver and choosing to serve others for their needs and not your own, will always result in the true definition of success: Significance & Happiness.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Sunday: Social Dallas & Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Dallas Monday: La La Land Kind Cafe
Tuesday: Streets Fine Chicken
Wednesday: Galleria Dallas
Thursday: Kitchen & Kocktails
Friday – ICompete Experience
Saturday: African-American Museum of Dallas

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have been blessed with an amazing number of mentors, coaches, and family/friends that have been instrumental to the success I’ve had in my short career.

I partner with an amazing leadership organization that is designed to shape and mold entrepreneurs to build wealth with Godly principles and values through wholistic mentorship. I view business as an opportunity to build God’s Kingdom through the gifts and talents that he’s blessed me with because of this team. And I do not believe in jeopardizing my family, my community, or my integrity through any business platform I am blessed with through the core values I’ve grown to learn through this association.

I also believe my mother deserves much of the credit for the success I’ve attained thus far in my career. My mother sacrificed her entire life to create the opportunity for me to pursue my dreams. I owe anything I’ve achieved to the strength, courage, and love that she has always given me. She is one of my biggest motivators to not only give back to her but also to those who need the same love and courage to pursue their dreams as well.

Instagram: @itsjustteflon_

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-smith-4a5a8110b/

Other: Email: danlensmith95@gmail.com

Image Credits
Angie Luna