We were lucky to catch up with Daniel Downer recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Daniel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. The first dollar your firm earns is always special. We’d love to hear about how you got your first client that wasn’t a friend or family.

I was at the 2018 GLAAD San Francisco Gala where I was honored as one of GLAAD’s Rising Star Award honorees. At the table where I was seated, I struck up a conversation with a young lady who worked at Barilla America. Yes, Barilla. The world’s pasta producer. We discussed our respective work, particularly my work around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) regarding LGBTQ+ individuals. We exchanged business cards and she said that she would reach out if any opportunities at Barilla came up. I would say about six months went by and I received an email from her stating that Barilla America and several of its employee resource groups (ERG) were wanting to bring me to their North America HQ to speak on how to foster a culture of belonging, inclusion, and psychological safety for LGBTQ+ individuals. I remember the excitement I felt when I received the contract (which was my very first DEI contract) and how big my eyes got when I saw how much they were paying me. I also remember how proud I felt that an audience of over 100 Barilla executive leadership, management, and employees were coming to see me, a Black Queer boy from Orlando, FL share with them DEI best practices to create a culture of belonging and psychological safety. It truly was a beautiful beginning to what has been such a rewarding career journey as a DEI Consultant.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

I had been doing a lot of community activism and advocacy in the Greater Orlando Area particularly around health equity when it came to the local LGBTQ+ community. for years. I then began to expand my activism and advocacy more broadly when it came to racial and social justice as I saw that within my local community there was a need for more intentional and meaningful diversity, equity, and inclusion within the local and state government and the non-profit, public, and private sectors in Central Florida. I decided that I wanted to be a catalyst for change within the local ecosystem. I began with my first DEI client Barilla back in 2019 and now have a diverse client portfolio that includes EA, Facebook, Morehouse College, Orange County Government, and the University of Illinois Business College.

I specialize in providing relevant, impactful, and comprehensive DEI solutions to companies, corporations, individuals, and organizations to help build and strengthen their strategy to infuse diversity and inclusion into the culture, enhancing outcomes for everyone. My 360 approach offers solutions for all – from the C-suite to the front line. Using humor, openness, and a research-based learning methodology to engage but also meet the different learning needs of my clients.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

By having a good work ethic. Being engaging. Pairing my academic knowledge and real-life experience to not only survey the theoretical difficulties around DEI but also provide practical solutions. Personalizing DEI frameworks that are unique to the culture and needs of clients. Relatability and southern hospitality.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Growing my network connections. I did not have many clients in the beginning, so I had to find ways to grow my network and make new connections. I started with individuals already in my existing network. I encouraged my clients to share their experiences with their networks. I used social media to market myself, connect, and engage with potential clients. And  I also signed with a DEI consulting management firm to help me connect and engage with clientele I might necessarily be able to reach on my own.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.danieljdowner.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/daniel.j.downer
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/downer.j.daniel

Image Credits
Main Image: Sean Black Additional Images: J.D. Casto