Davide V.

Health First Network

► President and Chief Executive Officer reporting to a board represented by each province across Canada
► Canada's largest network of retail health and wellness operators representing over 9 figure sales in the growing category of natural health and wellness.
► Founded in 1999, Health First Network, is a national network of 140+ independent health and wellness stores offering supplements, organics, gluten-free foods, natural health & beauty aids, as well as sales, marketing, retail flyer, category management, and distribution services.
►  The focus will include growing retail member sales across all vendors, increase retail traffic and revenue through collaborative vendor partnerships and best-in-class marketing to drive demand generation.
►  Responsibilities include sales, marketing, business development, category management, finance, operations, warehouse, procurement, new product development, and vendor/partner relations.
►  Hybrid retail/CPG model
►  Coast to coast representation across English and French Canada

Chief Executive Officer

Harvard Business Review

As a member of the HBR Advisory Council, we help HBR improve the published content as well as help chart future direction.

Through HBR research, Council Members have the opportunity to provide feedback to the editors, preview new content, and weigh in on ideas from HBR as well as those from the wider world of management and leadership.

Advisory Council Member

CEO MasterMind

► The CEO MasterMind brand concept was born as an Executive MBA thesis about a significant gap in the marketplace; top-level marketing, sales, finance, and strategy development tools never make it to start-ups, 6- 8, and even most 9-figure businesses.
► We fight business failure and stagnant growth by enabling business owners, entrepreneurs, and intrapreneurs with P&L responsibility to grow and scale their business with proven tools and frameworks from Fortune 500 companies and business schools, our alma mater training ground. All without the cost of the traditional ultra-high-cost consultancies that do not offer accountability and long-term implementation. 
► CEOMasterMind.ai (application required) is the world’s first Super-MasterMind, combining the power and benefits of a mastermind/advisory group with an ongoing expert consultant (human & AI-powered) to connect the hidden levers of growth with the installation of our proprietary CAMR Operating Systems (Strategic Clarity, Accountability, Momentum, and Results). Accountability comes free, and once CAMR is implemented, success is guaranteed to grow and scale.
► CEO MasterMind helps those looking to unlock growth and acquire more freedom and business predictability
► CEOMastermind Academy is a DIY, self-paced, super-training online membership delivering a virtual MBA experience with weekly group coaching calls on core topics (Sales, Marketing & Financial Mastery)

Here are a few top questions we help address:
► How to build great teams with rigorous systems and processes to enable scaling
► How to develop a sales and marketing plan to attract a steady stream of customers (B2B or B2C, goods or services)
► How to choose which strategic and financial structures to maximize growth and profitability
► How to innovate and scale to attract investors, position for divestiture, or even seek acquisitions
► Learn, and access for life, the proven frameworks to scale in any economic condition

Chairman of the Board

Guidepoint

► Bespoke consulting and input on strategy, marketing, consumer research, sales, retailing, etc.
► Confidential, private phone conversations across various industries 
► Guidepoint connects clients with vetted subject matter experts—Advisors—from their global professional network. Clients leverage the insights and perspectives shared by the Advisors to stay informed and make better business decisions.

Global Consultant

Umbrella Local

I’m part of a globally based, leading team of digital marketing experts at Umbrella Local, a global full-service digital marketing agency that focuses on generating more leads and sales for small and medium businesses.

Expert Strategist, Sales, and Marketing Advisor

TEC Canada

- Chapter 428 Member
- Leadership Mastermind of some of Canada's top CEOs and leaders of small/medium-sized companies
- Growth through collaborative advisory

Member

Melitta North America

Melitta is the world’s largest integrated coffee company, Top 10 Coffee company globally with ~$1.5 Billion EUROS Billion in sales, and Top 10 Coffee manufacturer in Canada.  

COMMERCIAL LEADERSHIP
►Provided leadership to help turn around the Canadian business unit
►Member of the Senior Leadership Team 
►Co-led business plan which led to #1 total market dollar share in Coffee Filters for the first time in decades.  
►Co-developed, researched, and sold into Walmart a consumer story that helped lead to category exclusivity and securing new items under our new strategic Pour-Over focus. Sales doubled versus prior year.
►Significantly improved marketing spend ROI - increased revenue generated per dollar spent by +>30% (2015-2017 vs 2012-2014).  

MARKETING STRATEGY
►Developed 360 integrated marketing strategy & consolidated agency partners to drive efficiency.  
►New campaign (Digital/PR/In-Store/In-Home/Print/Flyers) supported by new merchandising tools reversed business trajectory
►Supporting new North American Pour-Over coffeemaker strategy of new premium/luxury durable goods to penetrate new channels for Melitta (B2C & B2B).
►Increased brand household penetration high-single digits and aided brand awareness double-digit growth while driving share gains in each segment.

DIGITAL STRATEGY
►Revamped Digital strategy including new agency, revised content strategy, and launch of E-Commerce for January 2018.
►In the first 5-months of 2018 exceeded the entire digital metrics for 2017 by 25%.

PACKAGING
►Developed new integrated packaging across coffee portfolio enabling current users to find Melitta 22% faster while improving new user conversion by 250%.

CLIENT BASE 
►Loblaw, Sobey, Metro, Walmart, Shopper’s Drug Mart, London Drugs, Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Home Hardware, Staples, Amazon, e-Commerce & Specialty Channels

Vice President | Head of Marketing

Centric Health

Centric Health is a franchise retail operation with 60-stores in Canada in the Home Medical Equipment sector. 

COMMERCIAL LEADERSHIP
► VP/GM for MEDIchair retail/medical brand: North America's largest retail/B2B franchisor that carries a complete selection of Home Medical Equipment and Home Health Care products designed to enhance the quality of life, increase mobility, and provide a safe and accessible environment for the home.
►Implemented revised organizational model. 
►Developed ‘Playing to Win’ strategy road-map to exceed $100 Million in sales by championing a One Brand/Duo target Professionals/Zoomers (Rehab/Retail) approach.

PRIVATE EQUITY PARTNERS
►At less than two months into my role, Centric announced intent to sell June 2014. Consequently, Centric Health completed the sale of the Home Medical Equipment Retail Division to Birch Hill Equity Partners on Sept 12, 2014.  
►Hired by Birch Hill in Sept 2014 but exited in Dec 2014 due to a significant change in strategic direction (from growth to divest).

SALES & MARKETING STRATEGY
►Initiated & developed new digital/virtual training across a network of 400+ associates from technicians to Rehab sales staff.
►Completed Brand Playbook & Guardrails. Revised strategy executed during 2015. 

CATEGORY MANAGEMENT 
►Instilled category management discipline with Vendors & negotiated new contracts delivering improved margins for franchisees.

Vice President | Chief Operating Officer

Maple Leaf Foods Inc

PnL RESPONSIBILITY
►Commercial management of ~$400 million PnL (+$25 million trade and marketing budget) leading team of 7; largest desk in Maple Leaf Consumer Foods.
►Led new collaborative process with Sales that secured strong 2013 Retailer support leading to highest share ever – reached 58 share in Hot Dogs, +5.8 pts vs. YAG, +3 pts vs. prior high.
►Led and spearheaded agency RFP consolidation to drive efficiency via scale across four (4) summer promotions.  

PRICING STRATEGY
►Led & developed a revised pricing strategy utilizing Pricing Analytics to recover a $10MM commodities rise.

INNOVATION LEADERSHIP
►Initiated & developed a 3-year offensive strategy to tackle chicken category.  Jan 2014 pilot with LCL showed the validity of the category management story. 
►Developed a 60/40 win product with record commercialization of less than 20 weeks.
►Initiated & sold-in, an out-of-plan Halal wiener strategy for Sept 2014. Entrepreneurial drive led to a co-man solution.
►Quadrupled innovation concept pipeline for Hot Hogs and Sausages to explore new ideas/formats to drive topline & margin-accretion in a flat category. New insights sparked smoked chicken Grill’ems line extension & Quebec-specific innovation.
►Identified & developed two growth strategies for Sausage business; expanded volume & margin recovery plan for Fresh Sausages (including manufacturing repatriation) & secured incremental resources for a new Smoked Chicken platform.

SPORTS SPONSORSHIPS
►Developed sports sponsorship with Toronto Blue Jays.  Schneider’s “Grab a Taste of the Big Leagues” guerilla campaign attracted over 2.4+ M views (YouTube + Bluejays.com)!

Category Business Unit Director (Sr.), Prepared Meats Division

Loblaw Companies Limited

PC is the largest consumer brand in Canada with $3B+ in sales. 

PROJECT MANAGEMENT 
►Responsible to lead and own bringing the PC Insider’s Report to life from ideation to in-market and analysis. 
►Developed a RACI Model to get the process and engagement across the organization on time.  (Marketing, Merchandising, Supply Chain.)

 INNOVATION LEADERSHIP
► Lead and collaborate with LBL and Category to bring to market, via the Insider's Report, hundreds of new product innovations generating over millions of dollars in new product sales

RETAIL MARKETING STRATEGY 
►Influence and collaborate with National Event team to showcase innovations & themes via weekly flyers, in-store POS, and merchandising.
►Responsible for go-to-market and marketing of PC Insider’s Report. Marketing mix included TV, digital marketing, content management (videos, tips, recipes, etc.), signage, flyer & merchandising mapping.
►Recommended revised consumer investment strategy that helped drive PC brand health score +6.2% to its highest level ever. 
►Led & implemented an IMC Process for PC Blue Menu. Successfully executed new communication strategy with sales trajectory +8% through revised positioning from ‘taste/good for you’ to ‘healthier choices within reach’.

RETAIL MERCHANDISING STRATEGY
►Summer IR 2012: Program delivered +24.6% driven by increased investment in digital marketing, focus & simplified in-store signage focusing on building retail theatre, plus addition of Summer Essentials theme ($100 million event/46 innovations)
►BTS IR 2012: Program delivered +14.2% driven by increased content focusing on lunch & dinner solutions, plus strong focus on peanut-free ($60 million event/ 32 innovations)
►Holiday IR 2012: Program delivered +4% and expanded digital marketing to include Pinterest

RESEARCH STRATEGY 
►Initiated research to secure consumer insights for PC Organics, supporting a revised value proposition. The implemented strategy resulted in sales growth of +50+% in first eight weeks.

Marketing & Sales Director, President's Choice Insider's Report │ Marketing Director, PC 

President & CEO | Fortune 500 trained expert strategist and executive enabling start-ups to billion-dollar brands to differentiate, compete, grow and scale predictably in any market condition.

An energetic & passionate Tier 1, Fortune 500 trained CPG/Retail business executive with a love of translating consumer & category insights into business & brand growth.  My superpower is connecting dots in businesses that others miss, allowing businesses to unlock growth, scale and grow beyond the owners/leaders' wildest dreams.

MY PROMISE
► I make a difference that has a lasting impact on businesses, brands, and people. 
► I turnaround businesses to restore growth and profitability by uncovering untapped opportunities.

VISION
► Discover, create, and lead new ways to traditional business models.  
► Always exploring more efficient and effective alternatives. 

PURPOSE
► I’m a dynamic leader of people, equally excited by the growth of my team as I am by the growth of the brand.   This is the most tangible and visible result of leadership and is a statement of the difference I can make.  
► At heart, I’m an “owner”.  And with this mindset, I seek to make an accomplishment of every day, ensuring that as a business and team, we are better than we were yesterday.  

VALUES
► Passionate about doing the right thing for the business and the greater good. 
► Optimism, Engagement, and Collaboration, even under pressure.   Makes results tangible. 
► Makes the world better with Enthusiasm and by Helping Others. 

TOP SKILLS 
► Leading cross-functional teams & talent development
► Brand Strategy & Management with full 360 marketing mix exposure (4Ps), from start-up to $3+ Billion
► Digital Marketing And E-Commerce: Marketing Automation, SEM, SEO, Analytics, etc.
► Strong business acumen & financial skills; commercial management of PnLs up to $400 Million
► Category Management, Retail Merchandising, and Retail Marketing
► Business Turnarounds & Pricing Expert, including commodity-based businesses
► Consumer Research, Quantitative & Qualitative

KEY ASSETS
► Consumer centric mindset
► Customer focused
► Business & Financial Acumen
► People Leadership
► Cross-functional Knowledge
► Tier 1 Marketing, Sales & Retail training
► OGSTM discipline

Davide Viola, MBA
Unlocking Brand, Business, and People potential using "Discipline as my Performance Grease" (TM)


AI Isn’t the End of Work; It Should Be the Beginning of the Best Economic Model in Human History

Every day, we’re bombarded with headlines like:
“AI will replace 50% of jobs.”
“The economy is doomed.”
“Prepare for collapse.”

Here’s the part nobody says out loud:
- An economy with 50% unemployment cannot function.  
- A +10–15% GDP long-term boom isn’t sustainable either.
- The truth is far more intelligent, and far more hopeful and helpful!

For the first time in human history, we have the tools to intentionally design an economic system that creates:
- Strong, stable GDP growth
- A healthier population
- Lower burnout
- More time for family, community, purpose
- And more meaningful work, not less

This inspired me to write my latest newsletter, a piece I’ve thought about for months, based on my own journey and my recent Harvard AI course.

It’s not doom.
It’s not hype.

It’s a vision, grounded in economics and history, for what the next 100+ years could look like if we choose wisely.

If you’ve ever wondered: Is there a better way to build the future?”

This one is for you.

Let’s build a future worth living by design, not by default (a concept I learned from one of my favourite authors, Greg McKeown).

Davide Viola, MBA

Fortune 500-Trained CEO | Guiding Founders/Execs in Scalable Business Strategies, Operational Blueprints & Dream Team Building for Predictable Growth in Any Economy With Less Friction | Podcast Fanatic | AI Expert

Imagine a world where we work less, live longer, and economies grow faster. A world where stress, burnout, and economic instability aren’t inevitable,

Open article: The Future of Work with AI Isn’t Doom:        It’s the Greatest Economic Opportunity for Humankind in 1,000+ Years.                      Here’s how. by Davide Viola, MBA • 6 min read

The Future of Work with AI Isn’t Doom:        It’s the Greatest Economic Opportunity for Humankind in 1,000+ Years.                      Here’s how.

Agentic AI Insight #5 → Why Most AI Pilots Fail Before They Even Start

After four weeks in this Harvard Agentic AI course, one fact has become impossible to ignore:
Most AI pilots fail long before they ever get deployed.

Not because the tech doesn’t work (businesses honestly don't need ANY more models, but I understand there is a technology race going on).

Not because teams lack enthusiasm.
Not because budgets are too small.

They fail because the starting point is wrong.

Companies begin with tools, not systems.
With excitement, not architecture.

With “let’s try something” instead of “let’s understand something.”

And that’s why more than 90% of AI and Agentic AI initiatives never make it past the pilot stage.

Here’s the uneasy truth:
You can’t fix a pilot that was designed on top of a broken workflow.

It’s like installing a jet engine on a bicycle and wondering why you’re still not moving fast enough (I couldn't help myself to generate an image).

Agentic/AI exposes every weak link in an organization’s operating model:
- missing data
- unclear decisions
- inconsistent rules
- human exceptions that nobody has ever written down
- undocumented policies
- siloed systems
- tribal knowledge held in people’s heads

If the foundation is weak, the agent collapses under the weight of ambiguity.
The problem isn’t capability.
It’s chaos disguised as “process.”

What Harvard is drilling into us is this:
Agentic AI amplifies whatever system you already have: clarity or confusion.
That’s why the most common failure point isn't in Month 3, it's Month 0!

The winners take a clear & different path. 
They:
1. Start with VSM, not vendors.
Run value stream maps to expose reality:
What is the actual workflow?
What decisions are made?
By whom?
Based on what information?
Most companies don’t know. They only think they know.

2. Make the hidden work visible.
You can’t automate steps you can’t see.
Every exception, nuance, and judgment call must be surfaced.
Otherwise, the agent will hallucinate to fill the gaps.
It takes time to do this work.

3. Define the outcome before the system.
The goal isn’t “let’s try AI.”
The goal is “increase throughput,” “reduce cycle time,” or “eliminate error categories.”
Technology follows outcomes. Not the other way around.

4. Build a “human–tech–human” loop.
This statement was the analogy my professors loved most.
You redesign work so the sequence becomes:
Human sets intent → Tech executes → Human evaluates and refines.
Humans bookend the system.
Tech fills the middle.

That’s where trust and intelligence grow together.

When pilots fail, it’s not the agent that failed, its the humans who didn't provide the VSM.
It’s the system design leading into the agent that wasn’t engineered for autonomy.

The takeaway is uncomfortable yet simple:
If your workflow is unclear to your people, it will be impossible for your agents (they are machines and operate very literally).

Agentic AI doesn’t fix broken processes.
It reveals them.

Agentic AI Insight #4 → The Hidden Cost of Context Switching (For Humans and Machines)

Like most people, I used to think context switching is just a “productivity issue.”
Lose a bit of focus, take a bit longer to finish a task, yeah, no big deal.

But in the world of Agentic AI?

Context switching actually becomes a strategic risk.

Here’s the part few are talking about on LinkedIn: 
Just like humans, AI agents degrade when they’re forced to jump between tasks without clarity, structure, or continuity (cue VSM design).

The machine equivalent of mental fatigue shows up as:
– higher error rates
– weaker reasoning
– memory drift
– inconsistent outputs
– misaligned decisions
- hallucinations

These outcomes may sound familiar, as they are precisely what happens in human teams overwhelmed by fragmented work.

I used to think context switching only affected people.

Now, after studying Agentic AI in this Harvard course, it’s obvious:

Systems suffer in almost identical ways (because ultimately they are still designed by human input).

The problem isn’t capability.

It’s cognitive overload, whether biological or computational.

In traditional organizations, humans patch the gaps:
1. We ask clarifying questions.
2. We recall past conversations.
3. We “hold it together” through working memory and judgment.

Agents can’t do that unless we design for it.

And most companies aren’t. Hence, the 90%+ implementation failure rate.

Key word is ... design.

Across industries, the same pattern is emerging:

The biggest failures in early agent deployments aren’t technical; they’re architectural (lack of VSM process mapping).

They stem from workflows that assume agents can magically keep context across dozens of steps, tools, & data sources.

They can’t.

Not without a system built around clarity, continuity, & explicit memory.
Humans need to design for it.

Here’s what the best organizations are doing differently:
1. They reduce fragmentation.
Single-purpose workflows outperform “Frankenstein” processes stitched across nine systems.

2. They make context explicit.
Every decision, rule, constraint, & exception becomes machine-readable.
Humans are embedded at critical nodes that require judgment.

3. They design for “low-interruption” execution.
Agents complete full loops, not ping-pong tasks back and forth.

I won’t share how we’re applying this internally for IP reasons, but here’s the key lesson:

A system can only be as intelligent as the continuity you give it.
(And that applies to your teams just as much as your agents.)

If automation makes work faster, Agentic AI makes work flow.

But only if you eliminate the invisible tax of context switching for everyone & everything (computers) involved.

Develop an obsessive focus on VSM, & then you set the fertile foundation for technology to shine as we dream it.

My professors really loved my analogy of a human technology sandwich, which always deploys a "human-tech-human" transformation approach. 
More next time

Agentic AI Insight #6 → The AgentOS Advantage

Here’s something I didn’t fully appreciate until this Harvard course I took:

Most organizations attempt to achieve AI-driven results using a human-centric operating system (me included).

This approach does not scale well.

Traditional operating models rely on meetings, handoffs, approvals, silos, & defined ownership.
It works … until it doesn’t.
It was never designed for systems that can act, decide, & improve in real time, since we've never had this level of technology.

Most of us are at this stage since that's been the historical playbook.

An AgentOS flips the script.

Instead of optimizing workflows for human comprehension, organizations optimize them for autonomous execution, with humans serving as supervisors, decision-makers, & exception-handlers.

The shift looks small on paper.
In practice, however, the impact is big.

Here’s what the Agent OS enables that traditional org structures cannot:
1. Instantly complete tasks w/out bottlenecks.

No stalls. No “who has the file?”
Agents move work from intent → action → outcome with minimal interruption.

2. Knowledge is systematically codified and accessible by agents.

Most companies store knowledge in people’s heads.
Agent-first systems require clarity, codification, & explicit rules.
This alone exposes decades of organizational debt.

3. Decision-making accelerates dramatically for faster outcomes.

Humans debate. Agents calculate.
Your people can finally focus on judgment, creativity, and relationship work, instead of chasing data across 12 systems.

When I joined HFN, we had 21 systems. Today, we have much, much less, but still more to simplify and optimize.  It’s truly hard work and takes time.

4. Continuous workflow improvement, driving ongoing gains.

Humans improve quarterly. Agents improve hourly.

Yesterday I was on a call where the workflow created a website in 41 seconds, which would have taken weeks a couple of years ago. 
Exciting & terrifying.

From weeks to seconds.

Early success cases show that agentic approaches achieve 2–10× productivity, while traditional AI barely moves the needle.

The big lesson from Harvard?

You don’t get agentic performance with a human operating system.
You must redesign the entire OS itself.

This is the part that's hurting my brain today.

An critical thought remains:

If your org chart still controls workflows, you aren’t ready for agents.
If your processes rely on tribal knowledge, you aren’t ready for agents.
If systems need people to connect them, you aren’t ready for agents.

The Agent OS isn’t futuristic.
It’s simply the operating model required for the next era of work.

Those who grasp this shift early will quietly outpace others.

To begin transitioning to an Agent OS, identify one process that could be redesigned for autonomous execution & start with that initiative.

A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.
And although I’m quite a few steps into this, there is much more to go!

Brian Mikula

I help professionals build powerful personal brands on LinkedIn that drive visibility, trust, and opportunities. 

Through personalized coaching and consulting, I empower clients to:

- Attract More Clients
- Grow Their Income
- Land Better Roles
- Become an Opportunity Magnet

My strategies have helped clients land podcast guest spots, double engagement, close more sales, and secure more meetings. With experience working with national brands across Canada and the U.S., I combine deep marketing expertise with a passion for personal growth.

Let's turn your LinkedIn into an opportunity magnet – DM me to book a call!

Personal Branding Strategist

Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology

As a professor within the School of Media & Design, I teach a specialized Branding and Marketing course in the Mobile App Development program. My focus is on equipping students with the skills to create compelling brands for the apps they're building. I guide them through the fundamentals of brand development, from crafting a unique identity to positioning in a competitive marketplace. In addition, I cover strategies for launching and effectively marketing their apps, ensuring they have the knowledge to succeed in the industry.

Professor - Branding and Marketing for Mobile

KarmaDharma 

I work with clients across Canada and the U.S. to build out their marketing strategies for the year. From planning big-picture strategies to working on specific campaign launches, I’m there every step of the way. Once the strategy is set, I collaborate with a talented team to bring it all to life, ensuring each piece aligns with the client's goals. This role combines marketing strategy, business planning, and hands-on campaign management, helping clients achieve real results.

Marketing Strategist

Marketing Coordinator

Life Booster Tea

Life Booster Tea provides wellness teas with hand-picked ingredients proven to help solve major issues that people face on a day-to-day basis, including problems with sleeping, being over-stressed, having a weakened immune system, and more. We believe in constant improvement, aiding people in reaching their greatest potential, and giving back to the planet.

Life Booster Tea: Better tea. Better life. Better planet.

Products currently sold through our website and the following 25 stores found in the link below:

- https://lifeboostertea.com/pages/store-locator

Founder/Owner

Rebel.com

I was primarily responsible for initiating and managing relationships with B2B clients. I discovered and presented potential clients with website design solutions that assisted in increasing their overall sales, credibility, and brand awareness.  

Personal accomplishments:
•	Achieved the highest monthly sales on record
•	Achieved the largest individual sale on record
•	Created and implemented a new website design client onboarding process

My goal in this role was to constantly grow and improve the website design department within Rebel to the point where Rebel became a powerhouse in the web design industry.

Website Design Sales Lead

I was responsible for managing customer property claims from beginning to end. This included collecting and reviewing information and reports from clients, making decisions on whether to accept or deny their claim, and coordinating repairs or providing cash settlements as needed. I also spent a significant amount of time communicating with clients to ensure they were receiving excellent service.

I joined IAG during a challenging time for the company when a storm had hit New South Wales, Australia and they were overwhelmed with claims from clients. Despite this, I was able to excel in my role and was one of five new hires selected for permanent transfer to the Melbourne CBD office, where I received training on all of IAG's policies and was given more responsibility within the company.

Claims Manager

Most business professionals know they should be building a personal brand, but they don’t know where to start, how to stand out, or how to get real results. The outcome? Missed opportunities, stalled growth, and difficulty landing meetings, closing sales, or getting noticed in their industry.

I help professionals fix that. Through personalized coaching and consulting, I teach you how to build a powerful personal brand on LinkedIn that drives visibility, trust, and opportunities.

From elevating your content and storytelling, to positioning you as a thought leader in your field, my goal is simple: help you attract more clients, land better roles, grow your income, and create the career you actually want.

Clients I’ve worked with have:

✅ Landed podcast guest spots
✅ Doubled their LinkedIn engagement
✅ Closed more sales through content & engagement
✅ Grown their visibility and booked more meetings

As a Personal Branding & Marketing Strategist who’s worked with national brands across Canada and the U.S., I combine deep marketing experience with a genuine passion for helping people grow. Outside of work, I’m an entrepreneur, personal development junkie, cyclist, avid traveler, and someone who’s always chasing the next adventure.

My personal mission statement: “To motivate and inspire people to unlock their limitless potential and strive for greatness.”

Ready to start standing out instead of blending in?

Let’s turn your LinkedIn into a magnet for opportunities. 

DM me to book a 1-on-1 call, and let’s have a chat! :)

After three months off LinkedIn, I’m finally ready to share why I disappeared. 

I stepped back to build something I deeply believe in. Something I’ve seen transform companies from the inside out…

Authare.

Over the past couple of years, one thing became clear: when CEOs and executives show up consistently on LinkedIn, their business grows, trust increases, they attract opportunities, and they attract top talent.

At many of the world’s most successful companies, the CEO’s personal brand is often larger than the company itself, and that visibility becomes a major driver of the company’s success.

But most leaders don’t have the time or support to create content every week, and that’s the gap Authare fills.

Authare is a premium executive LinkedIn ghostwriting and personal branding partner built on one belief: authenticity doesn’t mean writing every post yourself. It means your voice and ideas come through genuinely in your content.

Why the name Authare?

It comes from Authentic + Share. Because the strongest brands are built when leaders share authentically. 

I capture your real voice once, then turn it into visibility, credibility, and opportunity every single week.

What we do:

Through monthly or bi-weekly interviews and a tailored content strategy, I turn your insights into:

+ Thought-leadership posts
+ High-quality image content
+ Short branded video clips
+ Done-for-you scheduling & publishing
+ Monthly performance reviews

All crafted to sound exactly like you.

And yes, I’m still offering full-service marketing through karmadharma. Authare simply expands the impact: giving leaders and their companies everything they need to grow through strategy, content, and consistent visibility, all in one place.

🚨 LAUNCH OFFER: Looking for 2 CEOs

To mark the launch, I’m opening two beta spots. 

Each CEO will receive one free month of the Professional Package, valued at $2,495, including content interviews, personalized LinkedIn content strategy, 8 image posts, 2 video posts, and done-for-you scheduling.

In exchange for the free month, all I’m asking in return is for your honest feedback on the process and the experience.

If you want one of the spots, just fill out the Google Form below. No need to comment publicly.

It feels good to be back. And even better to finally share what I’ve been building 😁

Google Form: https://lnkd.in/ee4GNir7

Website: https://authare.com/

I help CEOs and the companies they lead grow through LinkedIn and strategic marketing

Sometimes being rejected can end up becoming the push you didn’t know you needed.

A few months ago, someone reached out to me here on LinkedIn.

They said they’d come across my profile and thought I’d be a great fit to be a LinkedIn content strategist for their company.

Part-time.
Flexible.
Right in my wheelhouse.

I remember thinking, “Yeah… this is me. I can crush this.”

So I put together my portfolio.
Sent the application.
Waited.

And waited.

Eventually, I followed up, and they told me they went with someone else.

In that moment, it didn’t make sense.

This was something I knew I was qualified for. Something I knew I could’ve done incredibly well.

And honestly? It stung.

But that little sting… ended up becoming the spark.

Because in that frustration, I caught myself thinking:

“Why am I waiting for someone else to choose me… when I could just build this thing myself?”

That’s the moment the idea for Authare was born.

Looking back, I’m grateful they said no. If they didn’t, I might’ve never taken the leap on something bigger.

And that’s the funny thing about life.

Sometimes rejection isn’t a closed door. It’s a redirect.

A sign that you’re meant to build something greater than what you were chasing.

That opportunity would’ve given me a little extra income on the side.
 
But for Authare?

I can see the vision.
I know where this can go.
And it’s so much bigger than any part-time offer.

So if something didn’t work out for you recently, a job, a client, an opportunity… maybe it wasn’t meant to be.

Maybe it’s the nudge you needed to bet on yourself.

For me, that “no” was one of the biggest “yeses” of my life.


P.S. - Have you ever had a moment where a rejection opened the door to something better? I’d love to hear it!

The most successful CEOs and executives don’t just run companies, they build personal brands and show up online.

If you’re a CEO or executive who’s still underestimating the power of showing up online, check out these stats:

+ Elon Musk has 124M followers.  Tesla? 13.9M
+ Tim Cook has 14.5M followers.  Apple? 8.7M
+ Satya Nadella has 14M followers.  Microsoft? 10M
+ Richard Branson has 12.6M followers.  Virgin Group? 1.2M
+ Bill Gates has 62M followers.  Microsoft? 10M

What does this tell you?

People follow people more than they follow brands.

Your personal brand as a CEO carries more weight than your company’s logo or your job title.

It attracts opportunities and builds relationships that compound into real outcomes: warmer sales conversations, stronger talent pipelines, higher trust with buyers, and more inbound interest for you and the business you lead.

The most effective CEOs know this.

Their companies are massive, but their personal brands are even bigger, and that influence benefits everything they do.

So if you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to start building your personal brand as a CEO, start now.

Your name will open more doors than your job title ever will.


P.S. - What’s one concrete step you’re taking to build your personal brand this year?

---

I can help you show up on LinkedIn 😊  https://authare.com/

If you’re a CEO or an executive and you’re still not posting on LinkedIn, I have one question: why?

I’ll jump on a company’s page, click on the leadership team…

And see nothing.

No posts.
No point of view.
No stories.

Here’s the problem with that 

People don’t just buy from companies, they buy from people they trust.

When you show up consistently on LinkedIn as a CEO:

+ You build trust in your leadership from your clients
+ You create awareness for your company
+ You attract better talent who resonate with your vision

If you’re quiet or invisible here, you’re doing your business a huge disservice.

The good news?

You don’t need a 50-page strategy to get started.


Here’s a 3-step foundational process you can use this week:


1️⃣ Pick your posting frequency:

Commit to it.

3 posts a week is a great starting point.


2️⃣ Choose 3-5 content pillars:

These are your weekly topics.

Choose them and map them out to each day of the week so you always know what you're posting about.

Example of mine:

Monday: Motivational / Personal Development
Tuesday: CEO Visibility / Personal Branding
Wednesday: Marketing & Growth Strategy
Thursday: CEO Visibility / Personal Branding
Friday: Authare BTS / Founder POV
Saturday: Off/Optional
Sunday: Wild Card (post about anything, travel, your dog, etc.)


3️⃣ Decide your content types:

Choose a content type below, and write it to your content pillar for the day:

- Tips & playbook
- Thought leadership
- Client success stories
- Personal stories

Example of mine for today/this post:

Day of the week: Tuesday
Content Pillar: CEO Visibility / Personal Branding
Content Type: Tips & playbooks


So, if you’re a CEO or exec and you’re not showing up here yet, this is your sign to start.

Your future customers, hires, and opportunities are already scrolling.

They just haven’t met you yet.


🔔 For more on CEO visibility, personal branding, and marketing growth strategies, follow me here.

I didn’t expect a comedian to punch me in the gut with a life lesson I really needed… but Kevin Hart did.

(Photo for dramatic effect 😂)

I was listening to The Diary of a CEO podcast the other day, and Kevin Hart was the guest.

Comedian. Actor. Performer.

I honestly didn’t know what to expect from this episode in terms of “life advice.”

But Kevin said something that stopped me in my tracks.

He shared that growing up, his mom drilled one thing into him:

Always follow through.
Always see things to the end.
Never go half-ass.

If you start something, you finish it.

And the end is either massive success… or failure.
But you don’t quit halfway because it got boring, quiet, or inconvenient.

And that hit me hard.

Because one of my biggest struggles?

I start things… and then I stop.

I get a new idea.
I lose excitement.
Momentum fades.
And suddenly, the thing I said I wanted becomes a forgotten project

It’s uncomfortable to admit that, but it’s true

And after the impact this episode made, I’m committed to seeing things all the way to the end.

Even when it gets repetitive.
Even when progress feels slow.
Even when the excitement isn’t there every single day.

Because the truth is:

Most people quit right before something big happens.

This was exactly the reminder I needed, and maybe it’s the reminder you needed too:

Commit.
Follow through.
See it to the end.

Success or failure, you’ll grow either way

But quitting guarantees nothing.


P.S. - Do you struggle with stopping too early or giving up before the breakthrough? I’d love to hear your experience with this!

This might be the stupidest post I’ve ever written…

But honestly? I don’t care.

For the past few months, I’ve been taking creatine.

Great for lifting.
Great for focus.
Great for energy.

But the scoop?

A nightmare.

Tiny.
Always lost.
Always buried at the bottom.

Every time I opened the container, I had to dig around with my fingers and come out covered in creatine dust. Super fun.

Then I finally ran out recently and bought a new container.
Same brand. Same label. Same everything.

I open it…

And there it is:

A longer scoop.

Same measurement, just longer.
It sits above the powder.
Easy to grab.
Never gets buried.

And I literally thought:

“This… is brilliant.”

Someone complained.
The company listened.
And they made a tiny improvement that massively improved the customer experience.

So good that I actually felt like messaging them “thank you.”

That’s product marketing.
That’s brand.
That’s how companies win.

Real feedback.
Small changes.
Actual action.

Sometimes innovation is as simple as:

Make the scoop longer.

This weekend was special.

My entire family on my dad’s side got together to celebrate my dad’s 70th birthday.

We rented a cottage, stayed under one roof, ate together, laughed together, did… honestly… a whole lot of nothing.

And it was perfect.

As I get older, these moments are hitting differently.

They feel meaningful.
Big.
Heavy in the best possible way.

Because I’m becoming more aware that these moments won’t always be here.

My parents are getting older.
We’re all getting busier.
Life keeps moving faster.

And weekends like this, where everyone slows down long enough to simply just be together, feel rare.

But they remind me of something important:

The most meaningful moments in life are often the simplest ones.

A weekend at a cottage.
A long dinner.
Everyone laughing together. 
Everyone you care about most in the same room.

Moments you can’t put a price on.

Moments you’ll miss someday.

So here’s my gentle reminder, the same one I reminded myself of this weekend:
Cherish the people who matter.

Make space for them.
Be present with them.

Because these moments don’t last forever… and that’s exactly why they matter so much.


P.S. - What’s a recent moment with family that meant more than you expected? I’d love to hear it!

Sometimes the best sales strategy is simple:

Give value first.

A lot of people won’t say this out loud, but it’s true:

If you want someone to believe in what you offer…
they need to feel the value before they buy.

And sometimes, the fastest way to make that happen is by giving a piece of it away for free.

Not as a discount.
But as a strategy.

When someone experiences what it’s like to work with you, your process, your insights, the clarity you bring, they walk away thinking:

“Okay… now I get it.”

That's what you're looking for. 

That one hour of your time can do more to build trust than any sales page, pitch deck, or marketing campaign.

And it works especially well for high-ticket services.

So, that's what I’m doing with Authare right now.

I’m offering two CEOs a full professional package, completely free.
Everything included.

I'm doing this because I want to make this service the best it can possibly be.

Real users
Real feedback
Real improvement.

And if I can help two CEOs boost their LinkedIn presence, build awareness for themselves, and elevate the companies they represent…

that’s a win-win for everyone.

I’ve already had a ton of interest in the pilot program, but I’m still looking for more CEOs so I can choose the two who are the best fit.

Here’s the reminder I want to leave you with today:

Free isn’t a weakness.
It’s a strategy.

And when used intentionally, it can be one of the most powerful growth levers you have.


Apply for the CEO pilot program: https://lnkd.in/eTGnqAMR

Check out my website: https://authare.com/

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The Battle

Davide V.

Brian Mikula

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The Battle

Davide V.

Brian Mikula

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Davide V.'s LinkedIn Performance

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