Teaching, speaking and writing

Happy New Year

What’s your focus for this year? Did you choose an overarching theme?

Since launching this newsletter back in August, I’ve been publishing every week — except for my wedding week in November.

Thank you for being along for the ride.

Last week I also shared some of the client projects I’ve been working on at DanielDoes.co. From empowering young entrepreneurs and supporting food security initiatives to reimagining brands for tech and nonprofit organizations, this year showcased the power of purpose-driven collaboration. I highlighted 4 clients here.

Through my training business for nonprofits, the free series starts back up next week with this live conversation I’m having with an award-winning nonprofit leader and serial founder. Feel free to join The Good Growth Company online here.

Leading up to the new year, I had been reflecting on how to focus and prioritize my output across various channels and engagements.

Read on for what’s coming up, and what to expect from The Intersection.

Taking teaching to another level

An exciting update is that I’ll be teaching at OCAD University this semester. OCAD U is Canada's oldest, largest and leading art and design university, located in downtown Toronto since 1876.

As a graduate of the Graphic Design program, it feels incredible to return as an instructor in the Faculty of Design. After teaching at 3 colleges in marketing, advertising, branding, and design, I’m thrilled to now be teaching 2 courses within OCAD U’s Advertising program. One is about the culture and one is about the community — more on exactly what those mean in a future edition.

Teaching has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career so far. The mix of new schools, courses and students each time keeps it forever interesting and relevant. Looking forward to learning and sharing along the way.

A busy season for speaking

This month, I’m speaking at conferences and facilitating training both virtually and in person in Ottawa. Here are the details for a few of these:

SocialNext Ottawa: Digital Marketing Summit for Canadian Nonprofits & Public Sector

January 30, 2025
Lead Out Loud: Leverage Your Personal Brand & Thought Leadership for Impact
Tickets Available from SocialNext

Personal branding isn’t just for influencers—it’s a powerful tool for nonprofit leaders. This session is all about helping leaders harness the power of their personal brand to amplify their organization’s mission and influence. From authentic storytelling to building trust on social media, I’ll share actionable strategies to boost credibility and engagement in the nonprofit sector, including how to:

• Align your personal brand with your nonprofit’s mission to increase visibility and impact.

• Use authentic storytelling to connect with stakeholders and showcase the human side of your work.

• Position yourself as a thought leader to drive meaningful change for your cause.

Founder Institute: How to Align Your Brand Messaging with Your Startup Mission

January 27, 2025
Brand Messaging Session
Register Free via Founder Institute

This free session is all about helping startup founders craft impactful brand messaging. I’ll share insights on aligning branding with your mission, avoiding common pitfalls, and building a memorable identity that drives engagement and growth. Attend to learn things like:

• How to build a standout startup brand.

• Strategies to align your brand messaging with your mission.

• Common branding mistakes and how to avoid them.

SocialNext Virtual Summit: Future-Proof Your 2025 Marketing Strategy

January 23, 2025
The Brand-First Approach: Marketing for the Future
Tickets Available from SocialNext

In a world of fast-moving trends, a strong brand is your greatest asset for long-term success. This talk will focus on building a lasting brand strategy that supports your marketing efforts and creates long-term loyalty. I’ll discuss why prioritizing brand strategy over performance marketing can future-proof your organization in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Those who attend will learn how to:

• Develop a brand that resonates with your audience and builds loyalty.

• Maintain brand consistency to drive trust and engagement across platforms.

• Equip your organization to stay relevant as digital trends evolve.

What else I’m writing

I’m excited to share here for the first time that I’m co-writing a book with fellow founder Daniel Lewis. We’ve had such different entrepreneurial journeys, yet there’s so much we align on. When I shared the concept and description of the book with Daniel, he was immediately in.

This is a passion project that’s been brewing for a while, and we’re really excited about how it could inspire young people. Together we’re adding our experiences, insights, stories and recommendations to provide a ton of value. More details will be shared through this newsletter of course.

What’s next for The Intersection

With teaching, speaking, and the book project underway, I’ll be adjusting the frequency and format of The Intersection. Stay tuned for insights along the way.

Once again, thank you for being part of this journey.

I look forward to connecting and continuing to share ideas with you.

Cheers to a year of more growth, focus, and meaningful work!

Daniel Francavilla | Website | LinkedIn