Karla McNeilage

Making your brand memorable through story-led marketing. Using creative content strategies to drive growth • Social Media | Copy & Content Writer | Founder of Wave Socials 🌊 Mental health and wellness advocate

In 2014, my passion for writing and storytelling led me to study English Literature at uni.

I loved it so much that it influenced my career:

→ 2016: Started dabbling in copywriting jobs to see if I enjoyed it.

→ 2016: Created a Wordpress blog as a creative outlet. Fell in love with content writing.

→ 2018: Graduated. No grad job. Wanted to work in marketing but didn’t know what niche. Ahh. Spent 8 months working 14-hour days, juggling different unpaid internships.

→ 2018-19: Landed an internship and eventually became Head of Social Media & Influencer Marketing for an e-com start-up.
Sold out every launch with my marketing strategies, my content reached millions of impressions p/m and took our IG from 3K > 80K+ followers in <10 months.
I loved creating marketing campaigns. But I didn’t get to write much. I missed it.

→ 2020: New job. Head of Social Media for another e-com start-up.
Brought the same energy and sold out every product launch, reached millions p/m and grew a loyal community of superfans.
This time, more copy & content writing opportunities: email marketing, website & landing pages, paid ads.
I started ghostwriting as the founder. I loved stepping into someone else’s shoes.

→ 2022: Quit my job. Started my business, Wave Socials. Never looked back.
Services: social media marketing and copywriting/ content writing for 40+ CEO’s & founders, e-com businesses, agencies and big corporates.

→ 2024: Pivoted my services to LinkedIn personal branding. 
Took my own strategy seriously. Became a content creator on LinkedIn. Have a fully inbound business as a result. Also grew an amazing community and network.

Realised personal branding is the perfect blend of social media marketing and writing- all the skills I’ve been honing for nearly a decade.


Now, I help 6-8 figure C-suite execs, founders & creators amplify their voices on LinkedIn to grow their businesses.

I’ve carved out a career that feeds my love for writing, creative content, connection and storytelling.

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SERVICES:

• LinkedIn Ghostwriting & Personal Brand Management:
For those who lack time, knowledge and/or expertise to create outcomes and impact.

• LinkedIn Workshops & Masterclasses:
Teaching you and your team how to leverage your personal brands on LinkedIn for business growth.

• LinkedIn Coaching:
Master the art of creating a personal brand that gains authority, builds trust and attracts quality leads and opportunities.


Want to work together? Fill out this form and I’ll be in touch!

https://forms.gle/Qf7vPL4ed53tSrPf9

My DM’s are open if you have any questions :)

Owner

Karla Mcneilage

One thing I'll never change in business: making time for IRL connection.

I flew to London to spend 4 days strategising with clients and catching up with friends I met on LinkedIn.

After moving to Bali last year, I promised myself I'd make an effort to see clients when I was back in the UK.

We communicate via Zoom which works.

But real relationships are built when you meet the people behind the screens imo!

So I extended my visit home and ran around London in a storm ☔️

Here's what I got up to:

→ Met Louby Mcloughlin, founder of Dream Lab Studio - a fab creative marketing agency.

Her clients include Tommy Hilfiger, Westfield and Selfridges!

We had a creative brainstorming and strategy session over pasta, mocktails & tea.

→ Visited StudioB - a creator-led studio and production agency founded by Brandon Baum.

Brandon is Europe's largest VFX creator with 24.5 million followers.

He's a trailblazer in the creator economy, having just taken to the stage at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity with YouTube CEO Neal Mohan.

His HQ was like falling into a Hollywood studio - brainstorm room and writer's room included!

I got to catch up with the amazing team building campaigns that get 1 billion views per month (for brands like Netflix, Adobe, Universal, MrBeast & LEGO).

Thanks so much to Samantha Diamond for showing me around.


→ Chatted business, goals and the creative industry over Italian with John Mouratis.

We first met 2 years ago when I hired him to produce content I was creative directing.

Loved chatting about the creative industry and our future plans.


→ Ate my bodyweight in Lebanese food with Tommy Hatto.

We chatted about 2026 business plans, the creator economy & wellness.

Our lives have changed so much since we first met 3 years ago on LinkedIn!

He’s one of those friends that just wants to see you win which is v special.


→ Met Marcus Grip who I first met in Bali when he filmed a docu-series on me.

He then joined me and Shoaib's 5-week programme with cnnctd.

He's an AI storyteller and currently in beta launch for his own diabetes app.

Cool af!


→ Co-worked with Danielle Theobald (first LinkedIn friend 4 yrs ago!), Jo-Rémi Saada and Jordan Underwood.

I introduced Dani to my ex-client Jordan because their businesses aligned.

Now they're collaborating to create a B2C product range together - stocked by a major retailer.

I love when my business friends partner and collab!


→ Spent time with Kesheba Evans who I first met at Semrush’s marketing event in Amsterdam.

We yapped about content marketing, personal branding and our huge goals for this year!

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I left with such a full cup!!

Wish I stayed in London longer as there were so many incredible people I didn’t get the chance to catch up with.

But grateful to everyone for squeezing me in last minute before I came back to Bali ❤️


Reminder to show up offline more.

Nothing better than exchanging energy with people who inspire, uplift and challenge you!

Building impactful, authoritative LinkedIn personal brands for high-growth founders and creators | Ghostwriter, strategist & coach | Content marketing specialist |📍Bali

Want to quit on your goals? Quit today.

You’ll be like most other people.

Today is the 2nd Friday in January - aka ‘Quitters Day.’

The moment you're most likely to give up on your resolutions.

Here’s why:
→ You maybe haven't seen results yet
→ The "new year, new me” buzz has worn off
→ Life got busy and your goals got pushed aside
→ You're comparing your day 9 to someone else's year 5
→ Your goals aren’t clear, so you don’t know how to start

If you want to be like the 99% of people, quit today.

Or…

Be the 1%.

And show up anyway.

Keep the promises you made to yourself.

Even when you're tired, it’s hard, the weather is awful, or you just don’t feel like it.


I feel like I can advise on this because I’m a quitter.

Only... I quit all my bad habits, and stuck with it!

- 48 months ago:
quit my toxic job (best decision!)

- 46 months ago:
quit waiting & worked on my brand

- 36 months ago:
quit TV and cheap dopamine loops

- 33 months ago:
quit spending time with toxic people

- 31 months ago:
quit alcohol, junk food & being sedentary

- 28 months ago:
quit all excuses and invested in a PT

- 9 months ago:
quit being scared & moved abroad alone


Motivation doesn't keep you going.

Systems and discipline is how you stay consistent.

It’s about sticking to the plan, not the mood.

That’s how you refuse to settle for a life you don’t want.


8 ways to stay consistent with your goals:

1. Dream big, but set smaller goals

Be realistic.
Start with 1% improvements.
Instead of ‘post on LinkedIn every day,’ start with:
“Post on LinkedIn 4x per week: Mon - Thurs, no matter what.”


2. Stack your habits

Pair a new habit with an existing one.
Want to implement journaling?
Do it with your morning coffee.


3. Plan ahead

Schedule in your non-negotiables.
Don't compromise on your goals.
I use the app ‘Time Tree’ - if it’s not in my calendar, it’s not happening.


4. Track your progress

Measure what matters.
Set  milestones and document your performance:
Journal, use spreadsheets, make it visuals.
And remember to celebrate wins!


5. Gamify it

Mage progress & working towards goals fun!
This helps with dopamine (esp for ADHDers like me). 


6. Get accountability

Find an accountability partner.
Or share your goals publicly:
Post on LinkedIn/ socials, document your journey, join a community.


7. Expect setbacks

Even if you miss a day, don’t write yourself off.
We’re human and life gets in the way.
It doesn’t mean you’re a failure.
Just start again immediately. 


8. Remember your why

Why did you set this goal in the first place?
Write it down, revisit it and ask:
"What's the cost of staying the same right now?"


If you're serious about building your dream life, business or brand…

You have to do the work to get there.

Your dreams don’t work unless you do!

And no one's going to do it for you.

The people who win aren't the ones who never wanted to quit.

They're the ones who did, but kept going anyway ❤️

Reminder: you have the power to change your story.

Me and my brother grew up as part of the “underclass.”

Definition:
​​”The group of people at the lowest possible level of the socioeconomic hierarchy, characterised by persistent poverty, lack of upward mobility, and social marginalisation.”

We’re lucky that we had a stable upbringing and 2 parents that would give us their left arms.

But we still come from one of the most deprived housing estates in Scotland.

An inner city that’s filled with abject poverty. 

“It's not somewhere you’d want to live”
- countless news articles.


I bloody loved my upbringing in Glasgow, but here's what ‘home’ looks like:
>20% of children in poverty
>35% of the population unemployed
<10% of people from an ethnic minority

+ Highest homicide & violent crime rate in the UK.

Meaning we’re kinda desensitised to gang fights, knife crime, theft and assaults.

My high school was ranked as one of the worst in the country (bomb threats and violence galore).

There was even a shooting across from our childhood house.

-

Like most council estates, or ‘schemes’ as us Scots call it, your life typically goes one way or the other:

Some people make it through.
Some get stuck in the scheme.

They feel they have no hope for the future or sense of purpose because of poverty, deprivation and unemployment.

The escape is drugs, alcohol abuse and/ or crime.

Which results in estrangement from loved ones, imprisonment or death.

I’ve seen it all first-hand, and it’s devastating.

-

We both grew up with:

•⁠ Feelings of inferiority and self-doubt
•⁠ An acute awareness of class politics
•⁠ The ability to shapeshift to mask our background
•⁠ A deep sense of embarrassment, rooted in social stigma 

Even if you make it 'out,' you still have a limiting mindset.

People like me don’t have decent education.
People like me don’t use eloquent language.
People like me don’t become entrepreneurs.
People like me don’t sign high-ticket clients.
People like me don’t get to travel the world.

“People like me don’t get to be successful or make something of their lives…”


But that’s a pre-written narrative.

And one that my brother and I both refused to accept.

Yes, we have to work harder than a lot of peers because we didn’t have the contacts, resources, network or opportunities that they did.

But instead of letting our origin story define us, we take pride in our working class background.


Statistically - loving & supportive family aside - me and my brother never should have made anything of our lives.

Yet despite the odds, we’re 2 siblings that have:
•⁠ Economic resilience
•⁠ Escaped the ‘matrix’
•⁠ Built our own businesses
•⁠ Travelled the world
•⁠ Moved abroad to SE Asia
•⁠ Great social circles
•⁠ Created our own opportunities

Early last year, he moved to Thailand and I moved to Bali.

We both came home for Christmas, now we're back living our best lives on the other side of the world.

Work hard, take action & believe in yourself ❤️

I've built personal brands for 6, 7 & 8-figure founders.

Here are 18 limiting beliefs that hold them back on LinkedIn:


•⁠ Voice & visibility fears

"I'm scared of being judged"
Most people are too busy worrying about themselves.
→ Post once and see what happens. Fear shrinks with action.

"I don't want to come across as salesy"
LinkedIn is a B2B platform - playing it small won’t make money!
→ Help first, sell second. Value builds trust.

"Drawing attention to myself is cringe"
You can't grow a brand/ business in hiding.
→ Use this opportunity to open doors.


•⁠ Identity & authenticity blocks

"No one will care what I have to say."
People need to hear your expertise & experience!
→ Write for those 2 steps behind you.

"I want to be real, but I'm not 'professional’ enough"
People crave human connection more than ever.
→ Write like you speak - add personality & colloquialisms.

"I don't want to post content I hate just for the algorithm."
Please don’t! Build for the people behind the screen.
→ Create content YOU would want to consume.


•⁠ Fear of failure

"What if no one engages with my post?"
Low engagement ≠ low impact.
→ Detach from vanity metrics, focus on showing up.

"What if I post consistently and still don't grow?"
Every post is an experiment.
→ Treat content as data - test, learn & refine.

"My content isn’t converting"
Address pain points, handle objections and connect.
→ Pair content with convos: DMs, comments, calls.


•⁠ Imposter syndrome

"I'm not expert enough yet to post"
You don't need to be the best - just start!
→ Document your journey, teach what you're learning.

"My industry is oversaturated. Why would people listen to me?"
Your story is what sets you apart.
→ Lean into what makes you different: your USP is *you.*

"I don't feel legit because I'm still building"
Everyone's figuring it out - that’s what’s relatable!
→ Sharing the messy middle builds connection.


•⁠ Content paralysis

"I'm not a good writer"
You don’t need be perfect.
→ Write how you talk. Practice makes you better.

"I don't know what to post"
You do - you're just overthinking it.
→ Use AI, look at post comments, DMs, client calls, ‘competitor’ content.

"I have too many ideas"
You need a strategy and systems.
→ Pick 3-4 content pillars and rotate them.


•⁠ Lack of clarity

"I don't know who I'm talking to or what I offer"
Knowing your offer and ICP is crucial…
Unless you’re just here for the buzz.
→ Don’t speak to everyone. Attract/ repel with content.

"I haven't nailed my USP or message"
Your message evolves, start posting now.
→ Don’t procrastinate because you’re a perfectionist!

"I don't know how to turn followers into clients."
Followers ≠ leads. You need a path from content > conversion.
→ Add CTAs, start convos, make offers.


Which one is holding you back?!


P.s. I'm opening up 3 spots in January for 1:1 coaching calls!!

If you're ready to finally get out of your own way and build a brand that drives real opportunities - DM me "story" ❤️

2025 was the year everyone rushed to generative AI for content.

In 2026, people are starting to reject AI. Hard.

As the pendulum swings back, there’s a counter-movement growing…


We’re overwhelmed with polished perfection.

Everyone’s writing in perfect cadence.

People are using em-dashes without knowing what they even do.

Feeds are oversaturated with the same generic tone, language, structure and length.

… But the words lack nuance, depth and soul.


And so, a new kind of mistrust is creeping in.

In the comments of every brilliant IG reel I see:
“It’s fake.”
“Looks like AI”
“Did a human actually make this?”

When I ghostwrite for clients, I avoid certain punctuation on purpose:
“If I use an em-dash, they’ll I didn’t write it.”

When my business friends are hiring, they scan every CV with AI detectors:
“I’m looking for inconsistencies and red flags.”


I studied English Literature for 4 years at uni.

And I've been a professional writer for a decade.

This new renaissance has got me thinking…

We remember the literary greats because they made us feel something.

Their words, stories and lessons are burned into our brains.

Virginia Woolf’s chaotic, non-linear spirals.
Mark Twain’s dry wit and laid-back tone.
Tennessee Williams’ lyricism and intensity.

They’re not brilliant and memorable because they’re perfect.

They’re just really bloody human.

Real, raw, honest and kinda flawed.


In the era of generative AI, imperfection has become the proof of humanity.

Because we all want to be known as authentic.

Now, people are intentionally disrupting AI's patterns:

•Colloquialisms & slang.
•Careless spelling mistakes.
•Wrong punctuation (or lack of).
•No capitals at the start of sentences.
•Abbreviating everything: ‘you’ > ‘u’
•Unapologetic personalities.
•Ideas that are human, bold & disruptive.

The stuff AI can't replicate because it doesn't have a lived experience.


So what does this mean for the future of writing?

Honestly, I think quality is going to split.

→ One path:
Generic, AI-generated content that all sounds samey. You'll quickly lose trust and struggle to stand out.

→ The other path:
Distinctive, human voices that stand out precisely because they sound like us.

The latter will become your competitive advantage.


Side note:
If you’re using AI, pls train it properly.

Give it your tone, share your rhythm and teach it your world.

AI should be used to enhance creativity, not replace it.


Orrr if you’re not a confident writer/ are short on time, work with a ghostwriter & personal brand strategist like me.

There’s experts out there that can interpret your story strategically AND can give you a voice!


📸 my everyday office - find me in nature tucked away in a corner without walls, and watch my creativity run wild

Cyber Risk Advisor | Speaker | Coach | #CyberSecurityMatters Podcast Host | Positive Troll | Board Director

Your biggest customer just told you they need proof of your cybersecurity practices in 60 days or they're walking.That $5M contract? Gone. 

Or your cyber insurance renewal got denied. 

Or you're sitting in a board meeting, and they're asking security questions you can't answer without sounding incompetent.

Here's what you probably tried: Your IT guy started talking about firewalls and acronyms. He wants $200K for new tools. You have no idea if you need them. 

Or you hired a big consulting firm. They sent a junior analyst with a 47-page report. It's in a drawer somewhere. You still don't know what to DO.

The truth most cybersecurity consultants won't tell you: They're boring as hell and can't talk to business leaders.

They lead with technology because they get vendor kickbacks. 

They'll tell you everything you're NOT doing (easy), but can't tell you what NOT to do (that requires business judgment). 

They can’t explain to you which risks are worth the money. 

I do this differently:

I start every engagement the same way: What makes you money? I don't care about compliance frameworks or your tech stack yet. 

I need to understand your critical business processes first. Then what data supports them. THEN we look at technology. 

I care about the systems that generate revenue and the contracts that depend on you proving you're not a security liability.

I work with manufacturing and B2B companies (50-2,000 employees) in three situations:

→Major customer demanding security proof or killing the contract - I helped a client keep their $5M Walmart contract. My fee? $150K. Easy math.

→Cyber insurance denied or demanding new requirements - Insurers want proof of fractional CISOs and real security practices. I provide that.

→Post-breach, board wants guarantees that significant breach cost never happens again - I rebuild programs from scratch and build sustainable security teams.

What you get:→No kickbacks on tools. No jargon in board presentations. No shelfware reports. Just a prioritized 12-month roadmap focused on protecting revenue and satisfying your customer’s cyber security questions.

My background:20+ years in cybersecurity. Companies from 50-2,500 employees. Built security teams from scratch. Fractional CISO for dozens of organizations.

Speaker at industry associations. 

I work with manufacturers and B2B firms honest enough to say "we need help."

If you're facing vendor security requirements, insurance issues, or board questions you can't answer, let's talk.

 https://meet-with-dom-vogel.appointlet.com/

Dominic Vogel

Dom, I'll never forget your kindness. From that one decision, I have a life I never thought I'd have.


I was working as a fractional CISO, building out a cybersecurity team. 


We were hiring for a junior security analyst, and I found the perfect person internally


A young woman with incredible energy, passion, and an eagerness to learn.


Did she have the traditional certifications? No.


Did she check all the boxes on the job description?


Not even close.


But she had something more important: coachability, hunger, and heart.


I recommended her to the CIO. He loved the idea.


 But then the VP of IT pushed back hard.


"She's not the right fit."


When I dug deeper, the truth became clear: outdated thinking. 


Prejudice. Bias. Sexism blurring his judgment.


So I overrode him. In my role as fractional CISO, I had the authority and I used it. We hired her.


And she crushed it.


She was everything I knew she would be. 


Her energy transformed the team. A few years later, after I'd moved on, she was managing the entire cybersecurity operation.


A decade later, I caught up with her. By then, she was a VP of Cybersecurity.


She said: "Dom, I'll never forget your kindness. Because of that act, I have a life I never thought I'd have. I make more money than I ever imagined. I have more freedom, more opportunity. A career I didn't even know was possible for someone like me."


I stopped her.


"It wasn't kindness that made me hire you," I said.


 "Kindness was just the lens that helped me see clearly. It let me make a decision that wasn't rooted in prejudice or bias. You earned that role. I didn't take a chance on you there was no doubt in my mind you were the right person."


Kindness isn't about lowering standards or "giving someone a shot." 


It's about removing the barriers that keep you from seeing talent clearly. It's about using empathy as a decision-making tool not a nice-to-have, but a strategic advantage.


When you hire with kindness, you don't just change one life. You change the ripple effect of every person that person will go on to hire, mentor, and lead.


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I'm Dom Vogel—the Dopamine Dealer on LinkedIn. I help manufacturing companies and smaller B2B organizations solve cybersecurity challenges, build resilient teams, and lead with humanity.


If you're struggling with hiring, team performance, a breach, denied insurance, or you just need a partner who understands that people are your greatest asset—let's talk. DM me or comment below.


🔔 Hit follow if you believe kindness is a lens, not a compromise. I post daily about leadership, humanity, and real results.

And if you want me to speak to your team or event about hiring, leading, and building cultures rooted in kindness—reach out. Let's create the ripple together.


Because kindness doesn't just transform one career. It transforms entire fields. One decision at a time.

I Help Manufacturing & B2B Avoid Million-Dollar Cybersecurity Losses | Fractional CISO | 20+ Years Protecting Revenue, Not Networks | No Jargon, No Kickbacks | Proud Dad & Beard Grower

There's no such thing as good luck or bad luck.


There are only moments of "we'll see."


I was coaching a CIO who was in a dark place.


Everything felt like it was going wrong. 


His relationship with leadership was strained. His team was struggling. 


He felt stuck, defeated, like bad luck was following him everywhere.


"I think I need to leave," he told me. "Nothing's working out."


I shared a story with him. 


One I learned from the children's show Bluey


It featured an episode that was based on an ancient Chinese parable about a farmer.


The story goes like this:


A farmer's horse runs away. The neighbors say,


 "What bad luck!"


The farmer says, "We'll see."


The horse returns with wild horses. The neighbors say, "What good luck!"


The farmer says, "We'll see."


His son breaks his leg taming one of the horses.


"What bad luck!"


"We'll see."


The army comes to draft young men for war, but they skip his son because of the injury. "What good luck!"


"We'll see."


We don't know why a series of events gets set in motion when something happens. What feels like disaster in the moment might be the best thing that ever happened to you but it could take years, even decades, to understand why.


I told this CIO: "I burned out in corporate years ago. At the time, I thought it was the worst thing in the world. Bad luck. A failure. But it wasn't. It took me almost 10 years to realize it was just a moment of we'll see. 


That burnout put me on a completely different path. It allowed me to meet new people, explore new versions of myself, and build a life I never would have had otherwise."


He sat with that for a while.


Then something shifted. 


He stopped labeling everything as good or bad. 


He started embracing "we'll see."


A few months later, a new CEO came on board.


They formed an incredible relationship. 


The CIO is now thriving!!! Deeply energized, valued, happy. 


He almost left. He's so glad he didn't.


Good luck and bad luck are just constructs of the human mind trying to make sense of the complexity of interconnected events. 


Life isn't that linear. Sometimes what breaks you open is exactly what you needed.


So the next time something feels like the end of the world, try this instead: "We'll see."

----
I'm Dom Vogel—the Dopamine Dealer on LinkedIn. I coach leaders, solve cybersecurity challenges for manufacturing and B2B organizations, and help people navigate the moments that feel like bad luck but might just be the beginning of something better.


If you're stuck, burned out, dealing with a breach, struggling with your team, or just need someone who gets it—let's talk. 


🔔 I post daily about leadership, resilience, and real results.


And if you want me to bring this perspective to your team or event as a speaker please reach out. Let's reframe what's possible together.


Because maybe what's happening to you right now isn't bad luck. 


Maybe it's just a moment of "we'll see."

That's just the way things are.


Those aren't the words of a leader.


If we accepted "facts of life," we'd still be living in caves.


There would be no electricity. No medicine. No flight. No internet. 


No breakthroughs that changed the course of humanity.


Every single innovation—every leap forward—came from someone who looked at "the way things are" and said:


"Not good enough. We can do better."


They didn't accept limits. They removed them.


Someone said it's a fact of life that people die from infections. Then penicillin happened.


Someone said it's a fact of life that humans can't fly. Then the Wright brothers happened.


Someone said it's a fact of life that information takes weeks to travel. Then the internet happened.


True leaders don't accept the world as it is. 


They reimagine what it could be.


There are two types of people in this world.


Those who remove limits and those who impose them.


True leaders? They remove limits. They see barriers and ask, "How do we get past this? How do we make this better for everyone?"


But the power-hungry? The selfish? They impose limits. They gatekeep. They hoard control. They tell you "that's just the way it is" because it protects their position, their comfort, their status quo.


Leadership isn't about maintaining what is. It's about creating what could be.


And it starts with rejecting the phrase "it's a fact of life."


Because every time someone told you something was impossible, someone else proved them wrong.


Every time someone said "that's just how it works," someone else found a better way.


The next time you hear "it's a fact of life" or "that's just the way things are," ask yourself:


Is this actually true? Or is this just a limit someone's trying to impose?


And then decide: Am I going to accept it, or am I going to remove it?


Because the world doesn't need more people protecting the status quo.


It needs leaders who believe in better. 


Who fight for better. Who create better

-----
I'm Dom Vogel—the Dopamine Dealer on LinkedIn. I help manufacturing and B2B organizations break through limits in cybersecurity, leadership, and team performance. I believe kindness removes barriers, and innovation starts when we refuse to accept "the way things are."


If you're tired of being told "that's just how it is," if you're ready to challenge limits instead of accepting them, or if you need someone who believes better is always possible—let's talk. DM me or comment below.


🔔 Hit follow if you refuse to accept "facts of life" as the final answer. I post daily about leadership, humanity, and breaking through what's "always been done."


And if you want me to bring this energy to your team or event—reach out. Let's remove some limits together.


Because "it's a fact of life" isn't leadership.


It's surrender.


And you weren't built to surrender.

Should I tell them the truth, or give them convenient lies?


That's what a tech VP asked me when he reached out for coaching.


His team was struggling. Their industry had been hammered by layoffs over the past year. Morale was in the gutter. People were disconnected, unmotivated, and scared. 


Every day felt like they were waiting for the other shoe to drop.


"What do I tell them when they ask if their jobs are safe?" he said. "I don't even know the answer myself."


Here's what I told him:


"Then tell them that. Tell them you don't know."


He hesitated. "Won't that make it worse? Won't they lose even more confidence?"


"No," I said. "Convenient lies make it worse.


Authenticity builds trust. Vulnerability builds connection. And right now, your team doesn't need false hope....they need a leader who's willing to be human with them.


So here's what he did:


He gathered his team and said:


"I don't know what tomorrow looks like. I wish I could tell you everything's going to be fine, but I can't promise that. What I can tell you is this: Right here, right now, we're in this together. We're going to support each other. And whatever comes, we'll face it as a team."


He shared his own fears. He admitted he was scared too. He stopped pretending to have all the answers.


And something shifted.


In the weeks that followed, the team started picking up. Productivity improved. They started hitting milestones again. 


People re-engaged not because the uncertainty went away, but because they finally had a leader who wasn't hiding from it.


Anyone can lead a team through good times. That's easy.


Great leaders lead through uncertainty. Through fear. Through the messy, uncomfortable moments when no one knows what's coming next.


And the only way you do that is by being authentic and vulnerable.


Not perfect. Not all-knowing. Just human.


Your team doesn't need you to have all the answers. 


They need you to be honest, present, and willing to walk through the uncertainty with them and not ahead of them pretending it doesn't exist.


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I'm Dom Vogel—the Dopamine Dealer on LinkedIn. I coach leaders, help manufacturing and B2B organizations navigate cybersecurity challenges, and guide teams through uncertainty with authenticity, vulnerability, and kindness.


If you're leading through tough times, if your team is disengaged or fearful, if you're not sure how to be honest without making things worse—let's talk. DM me or comment below.


🔔 Hit follow if you believe great leadership is built on truth, not convenient lies. I post daily about leading with humanity and getting real results.


And if you want me to speak to your team or event about leading through uncertainty—reach out. Let's build resilient, connected teams together.


Because your people don't need you to have all the answers.


They just need you to be real.

Cybersecurity isn't about protecting everything.


It's about protecting what makes your business money.


Your critical processes.


Your systems.


Your data.


Your reputation.


That's it. That's the list.


Too many leaders treat cybersecurity like a compliance checkbox or a never-ending game of whack-a-mole. 


They throw money at tools they don't understand.


They react to every headline. 


They live in constant fear that "today's the day we get hit."


Here's what changes when you get this right:


You stop operating from fear.


You stop reacting to every strange email like it's a five-alarm fire.


You stop assuming "it won't happen to me" while secretly losing sleep that it will.


Instead? 


You lead proactively. You protect what matters. 


You build resilience into the foundation of your business not as an afterthought, but as a strategy.


And the peace of mind that comes from doing this properly?


It's huge.


You sleep better. 


Your clients trust you more. 


Your team isn't drowning in paranoia. 


You're not wondering if one bad click is going to take down everything you've built.


You're leading for your business, your clients, your family.


Here's the truth most cyber security consultants won't tell you:


Cybersecurity done right isn't about fear. 


It's about clarity. 


It's about knowing EXACTLY what you're protecting, why it matters, and how to do it without burning out your team or your budget.


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I'm Dom Vogel—the Dopamine Dealer on LinkedIn. I help manufacturing companies and smaller B2B organizations cut through the noise, protect what actually matters, and lead their businesses with confidence instead of fear.


If you've been breached, denied insurance, drowning in security questionnaires, or just tired of feeling like cybersecurity is this big scary thing you'll never figure out—let's talk. DM me or comment below.


🔔 Hit follow if you're ready to stop reacting and start leading. I post daily about cybersecurity, leadership, and humanity.


And if you want me to bring this message to your team or event—reach out. Let's turn fear into strategy together.


Because you don't need to protect everything. You just need to protect what matters. And I can show you how.

I start every engagement the same way....


"What makes you money?"


Not "What's your compliance framework?"


Not "What's your tech stack?"


Not "When was your last penetration test?"


What. Makes. You. Money.


I need to understand your critical business processes FIRST!


The systems your customers depend on.


The data that drives those systems.


The workflows that keep revenue flowing.


THEN we look at technology.


THEN we talk about compliance.


THEN we figure out what tools you actually need.


Here's the problem with most cybersecurity consultants...


They show up with a checklist. A framework. A "best practices" playbook that treats every business like it's the same.


They'll tell you to spend $200K on tools you don't need to protect systems that don't matter while your actual revenue-generating processes are wide open.


That's backwards!!


Cybersecurity isn't about protecting everything. It's about protecting what makes your business run.


The systems that generate revenue.


The contracts that depend on you proving you're not a security liability.


The client relationships that hinge on trust.


That's where I start. And I do it all through the lens of kindness.


Because you're not a compliance checkbox to me.


 You're a business owner, a leader, a human being trying to protect what you've built.


So I don't overwhelm you with jargon or scare you into spending money you don't have.


I ask: "What do you care about most? What can't you afford to lose?"


And then we build a strategy around that.


Not around fear.


Not around what some framework says you "should" do.


Around what actually protects your business and helps it grow.


Here's what this looks like in practice:
I worked with a food manufacturer whose biggest client demanded proof of cybersecurity compliance. 


They were about to lose an $80 million contract—80% of their revenue—because they couldn't answer a security questionnaire.


We didn't start with firewalls or compliance audits.


We started with: What does this client need to see?


 What processes does this contract depend on?


 What data is at risk if something goes wrong?


Then we built a plan. Protected what mattered.


 Proved they weren't a liability.


They kept the contract. And they gained the confidence to go after bigger clients who demand the same rigor.


That's the power of starting with what makes you money.

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I'm Dom Vogel—the Dopamine Dealer on LinkedIn. I help manufacturing and B2B organizations protect their revenue streams, win (and keep) major contracts, and turn cybersecurity from a compliance burden into a business enabler.


If you're tired of consultants who lead with fear and frameworks instead of understanding your business, if you're at risk of losing clients because of security gaps, or if you just need someone who actually gets it—let's talk


I care about what makes you money.


And I'll help you protect it with kindness, clarity, and zero BS.

You don't protect what you can afford to lose. 


You protect what you can't afford to replace.


Read that again.


Your reputation.


Your client trust.


Your life savings.


Your identity.


Your time.


Your peace of mind.


Once those are compromised, the cost isn't just financial.


It's emotional. It's mental. And it's often long-term.


I've sat across from business owners who've been breached. 


The look in their eyes isn't about the money they lost it's about the trust they'll never fully get back.


 The sleepless nights wondering what else was taken. 


The guilt of knowing their clients' data was exposed because of a gap they didn't even know existed.


Here's the irony:


Most cyber incidents aren't sophisticated, Ocean's Eleven-style attacks.


They're simple gaps.


An outdated password policy.


A phishing email someone clicked because they were rushing.


A system that wasn't patched because "we'll get to it next quarter."


The attackers aren't geniuses. They're just patient.


 And they're counting on you being too busy, too overwhelmed, or too optimistic to close those gaps.


But here's the good news: You don't have to be a cybersecurity expert to protect what matters most.


 You just need to start with clarity, intention, and the willingness to prioritize what you can't afford to replace


Because kindness? It starts with protecting the people who trust you...your clients, your team, your family.


And protection isn't about fear. It's about care.


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I'm Dom Vogel—the Dopamine Dealer on LinkedIn. I help manufacturing companies and smaller B2B organizations protect what they can't afford to replace: their reputation, their client trust, and their peace of mind.


If you've been breached, denied insurance, overwhelmed by security questionnaires, or you're just tired of wondering if you're doing enough—let's talk. DM me or comment below.


🔔 Hit follow if you believe protecting what matters is an act of leadership and kindness. I post daily about cybersecurity, humanity, and leading with intention.


And if you want me to speak to your team or event about closing the gaps before they become crises—reach out. Let's turn vulnerability into strength together.


Because you don't protect what you can afford to lose.


You protect what you can't afford to replace.


And I can help you do exactly that.

Do it scared....


My daughter did her first solo performance.


Was she scared? Absolutely.


Her hands were shaking. 


Her voice was quiet when she asked, "What if I mess up?"


My wife and I looked at her and said: "Then you mess up. But you do it anyway."


She was nervous. Terrified, even. 


But she walked out there. And she did it.


Do it scared.


That's the lesson. That's what I want her to remember for the rest of her life.


Courage isn't the absence of fear. 


It's doing the thing even when fear is screaming at you to stop.


Every big moment in your life, the career change, the difficult conversation, the decision to step up and lead all start with fear.


Fear of failing.


Fear of looking foolish.


Fear of not being ready.


Fear of what people will think.


And you do it anyway.


You don't wait until you're confident. You don't wait until the fear goes away. You don't wait until you feel "ready."


You do it scared.


That's how my daughter learned she's braver than she thought. 


That's how leaders are made. That's how breakthroughs happen. That's how you stop letting fear write your story.


I've done it scared my whole career:


Leaving corporate when I burned out...scared I'd fail.


Starting my own consulting practice...scared no one would hire me.


Standing up to a VP who didn't want to hire the right person because of bias...scared I'd lose the client.


Coaching leaders through layoffs and uncertainty....scared I wouldn't have the right words.


Every single time? I was terrified. And I did it anyway.


Because waiting for the fear to go away is just another way of saying no to your own potential.


So whatever that thing is for you: the pitch you need to make, the boundary you need to set, the team you need to lead through chaos, the business decision that keeps you up at night...


Do it scared.


Your hands might shake. Your voice might crack.


 You might mess up.


But you'll also discover something incredible:


You're stronger than the fear.


Just like my daughter did.

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I'm Dom Vogel—the Dopamine Dealer on LinkedIn. I help manufacturing and B2B organizations lead through fear, solve cybersecurity challenges, and build resilient teams that don't wait for perfect conditions to take action.


If you're facing something scary—a breach, a leadership challenge, a decision you've been avoiding—and you need someone who gets it, who's done it scared too—let's talk. DM me or comment below.


🔔 Hit follow if you're ready to stop waiting for fear to disappear and start doing it scared. I post daily about courage, leadership, and humanity.


And if you want me to bring this message to your team or event—reach out. Let's build a culture where people do hard things even when they're terrified.


Because the world doesn't need more people waiting to feel ready.


It needs more people who do it scared.


Just like my daughter.

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taplio

The Battle

Karla Mcneilage

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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);}Karla Mcneilage's LinkedIn Performance

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