LIAM DARMODYᵍᵐ

Liam's Brand Stand

I help coaches, founders, executives and their teams build magnetic brands that attract clients, talent, and opportunity on LinkedIn. 

My services include: 

My services include: 
- Profile Optimization
- LinkedIn feature training
- Core content strategy
- Ghostediting (ask me about it)
- Content performance analysis 
- Sales Navigator training

Liam's Brand Stand was born out of my passion for personal branding and belief that LinkedIn is the ultimate platform for professionals and organizations to manifest serendipity and unlock opportunity.

This passion started as a fascination that turned into a hobby, then to a side hustle, and now, my full-time focus. I started creating content and being more intentional about building my brand here in January 2020 and since then I've amassed 35,000 followers and my content has garnered ~23,000,000 impressions, ~600,000 reactions, and ~100,000 comments. 

Completely organically.

Pretty crazy, especially when you consider I'm just a suburban dad who took to LinkedIn as a way to have conversation with other adults while cooped up in my house with my wife, a toddler, and an infant during a pandemic. 

That's the kind of opportunity that exists on LinkedIn and I'm on a mission to help more people experience it for themselves. 

If you're interested in doing so, visit: 

liamsbrandstand.com to learn more 
-or- 
calendly.com/liamdarmody to book time with me

Thanks for stopping by! 

Hi5, 
LD

Founder

The Outlier Project

The Outlier Project is a unique private membership community for people who believe that anyone can be ordinary, but we all have the power to choose to be extraordinary. 

Encouragement from a brilliant and diverse global community ensures that our members always have a built-in support system for all of life's personal and professional ups and downs as well as unique learning and development opportunities created exclusively for our members.

Member

WillowTree

Hired into a newly created, board-visible role to build an outbound recruitment marketing engine at scale. 

Collaborated with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to create target personas for design, engineering, product and project management prospects. 

Hired and led a team of four to build a prospect database of 15,000 and deploy evergreen email marketing campaigns that yielded 59% open, 18% reply, and 9% conversion rates.

Launched “ShopTalk Conversations” campaign strategy that became the second best-performing recruitment source, yielding candidates 2.5x more likely to receive offers and 3x more likely to be hired. 

Developed social media and employee advocacy strategies that increased company Linkedin following by 39%. 

Implemented cost-saving strategies for advertising channels and implemented Linkedin Recruiter platform, increasing efficiency across a 20-person talent acquisition team. 

Choice quotes from interested talent prospects: 
• "'Would you be open to having a conversation with one of our devs to talk about what it's like to build here?' < that is one of the best recruiting pitches I've heard right there" -- Frontend Web Developer

• "I gotta say that I normally loathe the "just checking in" emails and it's the quickest way to get on my hard-no list, but the ShopTalks you described in the first email are just so interesting that I'm kind of curious..." - Engineering Director 

• "Frankly this is the most innovative thing I've seen in recruiting. Well done!" - Product Manager

Director of Employer Brand & Talent Marketing Operations

Homesnap

Leading a team of 7 responsible for streamlining project management & delivery of revenue-generating initiatives & processes spanning engineering, marketing, product, sales, & support. 

Established, launched, & scaled operational processes for high-performance sales & customer success teams responsible for generating & retaining $5,000,000 annual recurring revenue (ARR)

Streamlining cross-team operational efficiency by focusing on relentless process & system automation that decreases the opportunity cost associated with highly manual, rote tasks being performed by humans so that they are free to do more empathetic, strategic work that benefits the bottom line.

Director of Revenue Operations

AddThis

Launched 3-person Customer Success team to service strategic clients post acquisition, increasing engaged accounts from 0 to 600, with a 98% retention rate. 

Appointed to manage 5-person Customer Support team (3 in North America, 2 in India) providing 24/5 assistance to customer base of 15M by resolving ~1200 tickets/month with 99% positive CSAT ratings.

Set vision & defined all strategy, standard operating procedures, documentation, functional reporting, OKRs and CRM configuration (Salesforce & Desk.com) for both teams.  

Established Customer Advisory Council that increased total customer feedback by 47%, positive feedback by 62%, and average positive CSAT from 86% to 96% QoQ. 

Championed “Project Barycenter” from hackathon initiative to formal development of tool that improves operational efficiency of customer teams by eliminating data silos, detecting product usage anomalies to identify churn risks, and decreasing reliance on engineering teams. 

Implemented measurable, closed-loop customer feedback process with product & engineering teams that increased development of feature requests received by customers from 0% to 72% in just 2 quarters.

Increased collaboration with marketing to align customer acquisition strategies, develop cohesive communication, gather case studies, and improve NPS scores. 

Launched TRIORG, a cross-functional team focused on improving internal processes relating to talent, recruitment, interviewing, onboarding & retention after dedicated HR-team was disbanded.

Director of Product Operations & Customer Experience

LivingSocial

Spearheaded cross-functional change management initiatives resulting in 400% increase in quantity and length of available online inventory while simultaneously optimizing sales efficiency. 

Revised & redefined standard operating procedures and protocol for sales & operations teams of 400+

Managed team of 29 responsible for ensuring excellence in sales planning, internal client support, and advertising operations. More specifically: 

2 managers & 14 Sales Planners responsible for providing both strategic & tactical sales guidance to a team of ~400 sellers covering 250+ North American markets responsible for generating ~$300MM in annual revenues 

1 Manager & 6 Enablement Specialists dedicated to triaging issues from the field, conducting root cause analysis, gathering product requirements and collaborating with engineering to improve tools

1 Manager & 5 Advertising Operations specialists responsible for managing advertising operations for Fortune 500 companies.

Director Of Sales Operations & Enablement

Leading an innovative, nimble team responsible for strategizing and executing on key company initiatives that optimize process, improve efficiency, and contribute to revenue growth

Establishing standardized processes through a central hub that internal & external teams rely upon for accurate information, dissemination of important messaging, effective training, and project management

Developing in-depth reporting suite that provides greater visibility of team performance to department heads 

Managing robust process for intake & prioritization of system enhancements and partnering with product teams to scope & deploy solutions quickly and thoroughly 

Facilitated smooth change management processes associated with multiple wholesale workflow changes

Director of Product Operations

Lead a team of internal consultants that provided strategic guidance to global Sales & Operations teams in the United Kingdom, Australia, Spain & France 

Established centralized best practice library and disseminated standardized documentation to all global entities 

Regularly deployed overseas to conduct in-country assessments, develop improvement plans, and work with country leadership to execute on key initiatives

Sr. Manager, International Business Operations & Strategy

Recruited, trained, & scaled team from 1 to 35 people responsible for quality control and market programming 

Developed effective launch process & communication channels across marketing, sales, finance & operations 

Launched 5 verticals in 250+ North American markets, including a single day launch of 25 markets in 2010

Defined & deployed sales guidelines upon which all deal structures were based 

Identified & implemented revenue optimization strategies resulting in multi-million dollar gains

Facilitated launch of LivingSocial UK by recruiting, hiring, and training personnel on the ground 

Deployed to launch first 6 markets of LivingSocial Australia in November 2010 

Tapped by executive management to spearhead international expansion & optimization

Sr. Manager, Quality Control & Market Programming

Collaborated with company founders to define & operationalize daily deal business 

Developed product requirements for front & backend systems that have supported expansion to hundreds of international markets and multiple business verticals 

Managed online community through social media, sales, servicing customer & merchant relationships, writing copy for all deals, subject lines, and website

Manager, Product & Business Operations

Revolution Health Group

People Operations

Support the communication of requirements and user stories pertaining to Premium Services web products.

Create and maintain project plans and workflow management. 

Working in concert with product managers, software development teams, and business units to ensure that products are developed according to specifications throughout the entire SDLC.

Act as liaison to facilitate communication between marketing/business unit, graphic design, product management, software engineering teams, and quality assurance testers.

Assist VP of Technologies and CTO with program management duties - keeping track of the status' of all active projects across the company.

Business Project Manager

Personal Brand Strategist & Networking Coach → I help entrepreneurs, executives & teams build brands to attract clients, talent & opportunity | Family Man | Connector | AI & Blockchain Bull | Hot Sauce Aficionado🌶️

I help entrepreneurs & executives build magnetic personal brands that attract clients, talent, and opportunity. After nearly two decades scaling revenue operations at tech startups, I realized something powerful: the skills I used to help companies grow - strategy, operations, marketing, and analytics - could help individuals grow too. That's why I launched Liam's Brand Stand. 

I combine my operational expertise with my passion for personal branding to help entrepreneurs & executives manifest serendipity on LinkedIn. Think of me as your personal brand operator - I help you develop strategy, establish processes, and measure what matters.

My Services Include:

🌶️ Brand Strategy & Profile Optimization
Transform your LinkedIn presence into a powerful brand asset that attracts your target audience.

🌶️ GhostEDITING (Not Ghostwriting)
Unlike ghostwriters who write for you, I help you find and amplify your authentic voice. We collaborate on content strategy and I edit your drafts to optimize them for LinkedIn while maintaining your personality.

🌶️ Business Growth Coaching
Learn how to leverage LinkedIn strategically to attract clients, build partnerships, and grow your business organically.

🌶️ LinkedIn Feature Training 
Master Sales Navigator and other LinkedIn tools to network strategically and build meaningful relationships.

🌶️ Content Performance Analysis
Get data-driven insights about your content performance with detailed analytics that help measure what matters.

More about me: 

My Roots 🌱:
• Irish/Italian-Canadian born US Citizen
• Have lived in Toronto, Los Angeles, Boston, DC, & now Raleigh, NC
• Proud husband to an amazing wife & father to two wonderful tiny humans

My Passions ❤️:
• Helping others build & scale 
• Aspiring backyard BBQ pitmaster
• Hot sauce aficionado (seriously, my collection is ridiculous)

My Personality 🧠:
• Gallup Strengthsfinder Top 5: Woo, Communication, Strategic, Positivity, Adaptability
• ColorCode: Yellow (53%), Red (22.94%), Blue (16.16%), White (7.9%)
• Myers Briggs: ENFP > Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving
• 16personalities: "The Campaigner" (ENFP-T) | Role: Diplomat | Strategy: Social Engagement
• Kolbe A: 7-3-8-3 "Terrific when juggling rapidly changing priorities. Known for taking risks grounded in practical reality."

Favorite Quotes:
"I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it" - Thomas Jefferson

"There are no strangers here, only friends you haven't yet met" - William Butler Yeats

Ready to amplify your personal brand? Book an appointment up 🔝

I help executives, founders, and their teams build magnetic brands that attract clients, talent, and opportunity on LinkedIn. 

My services include: 

My services include: 
- Profile Optimization
- LinkedIn feature training
- Core content strategy
- Ghostediting (ask me about it)
- Content performance analysis 
- Sales Navigator training

Liam's Brand Stand was born out of my passion for personal branding and belief that LinkedIn is the ultimate platform for professionals and organizations to manifest serendipity and unlock opportunity.

This passion started as a fascination that turned into a hobby, then to a side hustle, and now, my full-time focus. I started creating content and being more intentional about building my brand here in January 2020 and since then I've amassed 35,000 followers and my content has garnered ~23,000,000 impressions, ~600,000 reactions, and ~100,000 comments. 

Completely organically.

Pretty crazy, especially when you consider I'm just a suburban dad who took to LinkedIn as a way to have conversation with other adults while cooped up in my house with my wife, a toddler, and an infant during a pandemic. 

That's the kind of opportunity that exists on LinkedIn and I'm on a mission to help more people experience it for themselves. 

If you're interested in doing so, visit: 

liamsbrandstand.com to learn more 
-or- 
calendly.com/liamdarmody to book time with me

Thanks for stopping by! 

Hi5, 
LD

LIAM DARMODY

Like many this week, I'm reflecting on what I'm most grateful for. Today it's my health. Two years ago, I was 347 pounds.

I couldn't walk upstairs without getting winded.
Playing with my kids was a physical strain.
I was ashamed and miserable.

After receiving some concerning lab results from my doctor, I knew something had to change, so Megan and I joined Omnia Paratus Health Training.

We started going 3x per week.

It was grueling.
I was perpetually sore.
And I was the weakest dude there. 

But I kept showing up.

Eventually 3x became 4x.
Then 5x.
Now 6x.

Today I'm ~290lbs, which isn't exactly a flex, but I've lost 60 pounds, gained a ton of muscle, and am stronger than I ever have been. 

(Even made the 1000lb club twice!)

Went from being unable to walk up a flight of stairs solo without getting winded to carrying both my kids on my shoulders upsta without elevating my heart rate one bit. 

At my heaviest, I wondered if that would ever be possible.

But more than the physical transformation, I've had a complete mindset shift.

I used to be an all-or-nothing guy. 

I'd set unrealistic goals, like declaring I was going get 10,000 steps in by 10am every day, only to quit shortly thereafter when I realized just how hard that actually is. 

But I'm a changed person now and I've embraced the idea that most things worth doing are not easy and require consistency and patience above all else. 

That meaningful progress doesn't happen overnight.

Instead, it happens:

Day-by-day. 
Week-by-week. 
Month-by-month. 
Year-by-year. 

Meaningful progress is achieved through a bunch of micro actions compounding over time (it's the same thing I preach about building on LinkedIn, coincidentally.)

Show up.
Do the work.
Trust the process.

Now I'm not where I want to be yet--I've got a long way to go--but I'm so damn proud of how far I've come and I'm grateful that I get to wake up every day feeling strong, healthy, and capable.

Turns out it feels good to feel your muscles. Who knew?  

To everyone else on a health journey: keep going.

Every step forward is a step forward and worth feeling proud about. 

Hi5 & stay tuned for gratitude post No. 3!
LD 
🙏🏼

Personal Brand Strategist & AI Coach | Helping humans build soulful brands & smarter operating systems w/ AI | Linkedin Sales Navigator Expert | Hot Sauce Aficionado 🌶️

Beverly Hills. 13 years old. Chubby Canadian kid at an all-boys prep school. I spent my afternoons at the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts waiting for my Dad to finish work, and my nights practicing my American accent. 

A-bout.
Not "aboot." 

Desperately trying to sound less Canadian. 
Less foreign. 
Less different.

Anything to make a friend.

Being an only child who already struggled with connection, I thought if I could just blend in, maybe I'd finally fit somewhere.

My dad and I used to drive around the big mansions belonging to all of the Hollywood stars to pass time. 

One day he asked me: 

"What's the most important thing to you in life?"

Heavy question for a kid. I thought for a second and said: 

"Human relationships."

My dad was stunned. 

He tells this story to this day--he expected me to say video games. Or sports. Or girls.

Human connection was nowhere on the radar.

A few weeks later, we're on a walk and dad asks where I'd want to live if I could go anywhere in the US.

"I've always heard good things about Boston," I said. Turns out he'd been offered a job in Boston that very day.

And that was my first taste of serendipity.

Fast forward three decades. Here I am helping people build personal brands that create stronger connections and manifest serendipity on LinkedIn.

It's everything I've ever cared about wrapped into one business. That lonely 13-year-old practicing his American accent would be proud.

I guess sometimes your biggest pain points become your life's work.

What's a story from your youth that drives who you are or what you do today?

Hi5, 
LD 
🌶️
__
Building your brand on Linkedin? I'd love to help. 
Book an appointment above & let's jam.

Personal Brand & AI Strategist - helping humans build soulful brands, strong connections & smarter operating systems | Startup Advisor | Linkedin Social Selling Pro | Sales Navigator Sherpa | Hot Sauce Aficionado 🌶️

This week I'm taking time to reflect on what I'm truly grateful for and first up is my family, starting with my wife Megan.

She's been the biggest champion I've ever had. Steady. Even-keeled. Exactly the kind of support I always needed.

She's my rock.

When I got laid off and was debating what to do next, she didn’t let fear get in the way. Instead, she said: "You’ve been talking about launching your own business for as long as I’ve known you. Now’s your time."

That was the push I needed to bet on myself. Without her belief in me, I’m not sure I would’ve had the courage to jump. Her faith and fearlessness helped me find my own. 

She’s the strongest woman I know, and every day I’m trying to rise to her level. I’m incredibly lucky to have her.

Then there are the gifts that are Brooks and PJ.

Becoming a dad changed everything for me.

For years, I knew I needed to take my health seriously, but I stayed stuck -- lazy, scared of change, telling myself I’d “do it eventually.”

But my kids gave me a reason bigger than myself to finally become the person I wanted to be.

They push me to show up as the best version of myself every day and I want them to look back and see a dad who didn’t just talk about what he 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 do,  but actually 𝑑𝑖𝑑 it.

A dad who:

Bet on himself at 40  
Built something from nothing  
Broke decades-long bad habits to lose 60 pounds 
Refused to believe “I can’t” was a permanent truth  

A dad who proved it’s never too late to become who you’re meant to be.

Megan, Brooks, and Piper: you make me better every single day, and I love you beyond measure. 

I’m so grateful for & to you. 

Hi5 & stay tuned for gratitude post No. 2!
LD  
🙏🏼

Just crossed 47,000 followers.

Back in early 2020, I wrote an article called “Why LinkedIn is the place to be in 2020" and I’ve shown up pretty much every single day since.

I built this following 100% organically. 

No growth hacks. 
No shortcuts.
No pods. 

Could I have grown faster? Sure.
But that’s never been the point.

Because your personal brand outlives every algorithm shift and every trend and there's no need to rush it. Instead, show up authentically, consistently, and strategically.

Slow and steady really does win here.

Since 2020, my life has changed for the better three times over because of this platform: 

1) A career pivot fell into my lap. 
2) I bought a home sight unseen via the DMs. 
3) I started my business because LinkedIn gave me the confidence and network to take the leap.

I love Linkedin because it is the emotionally intelligent social network that boasts the most empathetic community online. 

It's a place where serendipity manifests and compounds when you invest in people, not vanity metrics. 

And the best part is? 

We're still early! 

If you’re new, here's a bit about what I do: 

I help humans: 

- Craft their authentic personal brand narrative
- Learn how to network with intention
- Build content pillars
- Master social selling through Sales Navigator
- Create smarter, AI-powered content & operating systems

I'm unique because I blend 20 years of go-to-market operations at startups with personal branding.

Authenticity is my operating system and my approach to Linkedin can best be summarized by two of my favorite quotes: 

“There are no strangers here, only friends you haven’t yet met.” — Yeats

“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” — Jefferson

Thanks for being part of this journey.
Thanks for trusting me with your attention.
Thanks for showing up as your real self alongside me.

I truly believe that the best is yet to come.

Hi5,
LD
🌶️
__
Building your brand on LinkedIn? I’d love to help.
Book an appointment up 🔝 & let’s jam.

I don’t judge people who like their own posts (because you do you, my friend), but this is the first thing I think every time I see it... do with that what you will. 

Hi5, 
LD
🌶️
__
Want to build your brand on Linkedin without relying on hacks? Book an appointment above & let's jam. Or snag some of my free resources at stan.store/liamdarmody

No alternative text description for this image

While brushing my teeth last night and pining at my thinning hair, I had a thought: 'I wonder if Nano Banana could show me what I'll look like bald!?' And, well... 

(See real photo for comparison in my profile banner)

Life is beautiful.
I flippin’ love this time of year. 
Happy Holidays to you and yours, Linkedin!
Hi5,
LD

Think about how useful YouTube is. 

Now think about what happens if every professional on earth starts sharing what they know on LinkedIn the way that people share what they know on YouTube. 

Are you gonna show up for that or not? 

Brendan Gahan says that LinkedIn is like early YouTube.
Gary Vaynerchuk says that LinkedIn is like early Facebook.  

These two gentlemen can see the forest for the trees. 

Can you?

Day 3 of posting what I'm thankful for.

Today: the Linkedin community.

For the first 15 years I was on Linkedin, I didn't view it as a community. I viewed it the way most people do: a storage utility for your professional accolades and a place to find your next job.

Somewhere around 2017, I started getting LinkedIn emails that ended with "join the conversation.

"What conversation?"

But my interest was piqued.

In 2019, I decided to feed my curiosity and make LinkedIn a place I intentionally spent time on.

I wasn't here to do business. 
I wasn't here to make money.

I just wanted a place to learn and share my thoughts about business.

That proved to be a lifesaver when the pandemic hit and I was stuck inside a tiny house with Megan Bailey Darmody and our tiny humans instead of going to the office every day.

I love my family, but man did I miss the office. 

The energy. 
The coffee walks.
The conversations. 

So I spent my free time on LinkedIn.

People were confused why I was even here if I didn't have anything to sell.

"I'm here for the vibes," I'd tell them.

That's truer today than ever.
(But I make a little money now, too).

I went from never posting to posting daily and leaving 500+ comments per week (made easier thanks to Buffer & Wispr Flow).

In 2021, LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky himself messaged me about being selected for the Creator Accelerator Program and that's when I really started to grow my community here. 

One post at a time. 
One comment at a time.
One DM at a time.

I went from thinking that hopping on a Zoom with a stranger was weird to hosting audio rooms with 50-100 people (remember The Block Party?).

It proved worthwhile when I got laid off and started my own business.

Hundreds of strangers I had turned into friends showed up to support me. Years of building relationships in the comments became the foundation for my first business.

For that I am truly grateful.

The LinkedIn community is special. 

It's an emotionally intelligent social network filled with empathetic humans who want to see you win.

Not everyone sees that, though, because much of it happens beneath the surface. 

The comments sections are like little networking events where people converge to chat. It's subtle and you can't see it unless you're showing up consistently, but once you do, you cannot unsee it.

My next evolution is to start my own community. 

A place to go deeper with a smaller group because not everyone in my comments knows one another, and that seems like a missed opportunity.

(If you're interested, let me know)

To all of you strangers I've turned into friends over these last 6 years: thank you. 

This community has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life.

I'm curious...
How has this community helped you?

Hi5 & have a great day! 
LD

Loving Sims Tillirson’s energy with this post. 

Pivoting from a 20-year career as a W2 employee at 40-years-old opened my eyes to the fact that the definition of success I had been chasing my entire life (money & titles mainly) was the wrong one. 

I made 74% of my most recent w2 salary in my first year in business and I couldn’t care less if I never make more than that if doing so means changing the quality of life I have as am entrepreneur. 

Entrepreneurship is the most terrifyingly exciting thing I’ve ever done, but it’s also the most liberating. So long as the excitement continues to outweigh the terror, I'll keep doing it. 

Because nothing beats following’s your fascination, feeding your curiosity, and pursuing your passion for a living. 

Next week I'm starting the most exciting thing I've done since starting my business. And I can't wait to share it with you.

Hi5 & stay tuned! 
LD

Brand Strategist & AI Coach for founders building standout brands and smarter operating systems with AI • LinkedIn Strategy • Fractional Ops • Hot Sauce Aficionado 🌶️

Don't forget your manners when talking to the robots. Consider it like life insurance just in case there comes a day when they're determining whether to keep us or get rid of us. 😅

You can take the guy out of ops, but you can’t take ops out of the guy. Most brand strategists will teach you content frameworks and engagement tactics.

I do that too.

But after 20 years in go-to-market operations, I also obsess over the systems that make content creation sustainable.

That’s why my tech stack looks more like a startup’s operational backbone than a typical creator’s toolkit.

AI tools for efficiency. 
Video platforms for repurposing. 
Automation to eliminate bottlenecks. 
CRMs to track relationships. 
Voice-to-text to capture ideas in real-time.

While other strategists are debating hook formulas, I’m building workflows that let you show up consistently without burning out.

The reality is most “brand experts” have never run sales ops, scaled a team, or optimized conversion funnels. 

They understand attention but not systems. 

But in order to establish and scale your brand effectively, you need to understand both. 

I spent two decades systematizing everything from lead flow to revenue operations at fast-paced tech companies, several of which were acquired for 9-figure sums. 

Now I apply that same operational rigor to personal branding.

When you work with me, you’re not just getting content strategy.

You’re getting 20 years of operations expertise applied to making your LinkedIn presence actually work like a business asset.

That’s the difference between someone who teaches you what to post and someone who builds the machine that makes posting effortless.

I’m curious… 

What’s one operational bottleneck that’s keeping you from being consistent on LinkedIn?

If you want some help, just holler!

Hi5,
LD
🌶️
___
Find this useful? Saves & sends appreciated. 
Want to jam? Book a free appointment above.

This is how companies should handle situations like Cloudflare's SNAFU that shut down the internet today. It shouldn't come from the head of comms or through a PR firm. It should come from the highest ranking executive of the department responsible for the issue. 

Was it inconvenient? Yes. 
Do I respect Dane Knecht for owning it publicly? You bet. 

Seeing things like this further humanizes business. 

And we need that now more than ever. 

What do you think? 

Hi5, 
LD
🌶️

I used to dread getting annual physicals and the lab results that subsequently followed because they reaffirmed what I already knew: that I wasn't taking care of myself. 

 "How bad is it going to be this year?" I would ask myself. 

On Wednesday, I got my annual physical at One Medical & the lab results just came back… 

For the 2nd year in a row, my doctor congratulated me on achieving exceptional results. 

And when I popped them into my ChatGPT Doctor, it clarified that not only am I healthy, I’m actually “metabolically impressive” and in the top-tier cardiovascular risk range. 

At 290lbs.

Proud of myself and pumped for next year’s labs!

Special thanks to Eric & Erika Hoeckberg of Omnia Paratus Health Training and especially Richard Plona for helping me make health a habit. 

And thanks for all of your support, Linkedin!

Hi5 & LFG!
LD

"Be yourself" is not a strategy.

I hear this all the time from people who think authentic personal branding is naive.

I disagree completely.

I'm doing just fine, and I'm literally just being myself.

But most people view their personality as a liability online. 

They think if they share too much, they'll miss opportunities. 
Someone won't like what they say. 
A prospect will scroll past.

So they water themselves down. 
They talk only about business. 
They become another voice in an ocean of forgettable content.

Meanwhile, I'm posting about hot sauce, AI experiments, my weight loss journey, and random thoughts from my neurodivergent brain.

People love it.

(Not everyone. But the right people for me to serve do.)

Being yourself online is a filtering mechanism. 

The people who don't vibe with you were never going to be great clients anyway.

The people who do vibe with you show up ready to work because they already know and trust who you are.

Yes, pair authenticity with strategy. 
Yes, be professional. 
Yes, be intentional. 

But stop putting your personality in a box—it’s your best asset, especially in the AI era. 

And, since personality is subjective, I tell my clients  to treat their LinkedIn presence like a journal they’d share with family, friends, clients and/or colleagues (including your boss, if you have one). 

That’s a good litmus test. 

Remember, the purpose of brand marketing is to attract the right audience and detract the wrong ones with the same level of effort. 

Your personal brand is no different. 

I'm curious... 

How much of the "real you" do we see here?  

Hi5, 
LD
🌶️
__
Dig this? Saves & sends appreciated. 
Building your brand? I'd love to help. 
Book an appointment up top & let's jam!

Who's got recommendations for banner designers? 

A friend of mine is looking for help with her Linkedin banner. I gave her the name of the person who did mine (👀 Jane Kisnica), but I figured it might be a good opportunity to crowdsource a broader list. 

If you have recommendations, we're all ears! 

Hi5 & thanks! 
LD 
🌶️
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Day 5 of sharing what I'm grateful for.

Today, I'm grateful for my clients!

Over the past two years, I've had the privilege of working with 150+ executives & entrepreneurs who trusted me to help them craft their personal brand & social selling strategy on LinkedIn.

As a first-time entrepreneur myself, they've taught me as much as I've taught them and I have learned so much. 

It's invaluable to me. 

Every cohort has its own energy.
Every 1:1 session reveals something new.
Every success story reminds me why I do this work.

I've seen executives go from being terrified to post to becoming confident thought leaders in their space. From being nervous their network would judge them to receiving all sorts of praise for their words. 

I've seen entrepreneurs go from posting and praying for clients to executing a social selling strategy that builds pipeline and converts new business predictably. 

But what I'm most grateful for is this:

My clients don't just show up to learn. They show up to do the work because that's what it takes. 

Because I don't work with people trying to cut corners. 

My ideal clients are: 

Willing to roll up their sleeves. 
Willing to bet on themselves.
Willing to be vulnerable.
Willing to experiment.
Willing to learn. 
Willing to work.

Because success here is worth working for. 

And when they win? I win.

There's nothing more fulfilling than seeing someone finally "get it" and watching their business transform as a result.

So to every person who has trusted me with their personal brand & social selling journey: THANK YOU! 

You've made my first 2 years in business possible, not to mention enjoyable.  You've reminded me every single day why I took the leap and you've proven to me that I'm doing the work I'm meant to do.

I don't take that lightly. 

And being that it's Black Friday here in the U.S., I'm offering the two deepest discounts I ever have: 

50% off a 60-minute strategy session
(https://lnkd.in/e_utpjCS) 
-OR- 
50% off my January Personal Brand & Social Selling cohort.
(https://lnkd.in/eyzACahu)

If you've been contemplating working together, there's no better time than now to make that investment. 

I look forward to chatting with you!

Hi5,
LD

Client Testimonials for Liam Darmody

🗳️RANDOM WEEKDAY POLL🗳️  

I am connected to 200 Linkedin employees and 16% of my profile views over the last 365 days are from people who work at Linkedin. 

That's by design. 

(Hoping one day the deciderer of Top Voice badges bestows one upon me). 

My "Linkedin Team" list in Sales Navigator allows me to see all of their posts in a single feed whenever I like so that I can: 

A) See what they're talking about
B) Join the conversation

Do you know what a lot of them are talking about right now? 

TRUST. 

The word TRUST gets used a LOT by Linkedin employees--almost as if it's a corporate strategy objective or something ;) 

So many social networks have lost people's trust because they're so filled with bombastic growth hackers trying to sell things. 

For a while there, Linkedin seemed to be going down that path as well, but I believe that they are taking steps to remedy that situation (in fact, I know they are because I see them talking about it here). 

And it makes sense when you think about it. 

Linkedin requires us to use our real names. 
Linkedin requires us to use our real likeness. 
Linkedin encourages us to verify our identities. 

All of those things help build TRUST. 

So before you decide to work with someone you find on Linkedin, ask yourself one question: 

Do you TRUST that person? 

If one iota of your being thinks twice, listen to it. 

One of the most common things I hear from people I meet 1:1 (virtually or IRL) is: "you're exactly the same person I thought you'd be from your online persona." 

That used to surprise me because I can't imagine being different online than I am in real life, but I've come to realize that's not always the case. 

To me, your personal brand isn't who you are online. 
To me, your personal brand is who you are. 
Online. 

(grammar is powerful, eh?) 

And so, I'm curious...

The author can see how you vote. Learn more

🦃TURKEY DAY POLL🦃 

FUN FACTS from Perplexity:  

Americans consume approximately 46 million turkeys on Thanksgiving Day alone, representing about 21-22% of all turkeys eaten in the United States annually. 

The average turkey purchased for Thanksgiving weighs around 16 pounds, meaning Americans consume roughly 736 million pounds of turkey during this single holiday.

Americans consume 80 million pounds of cranberries during Thanksgiving week, which represents 20% of the 400 million pounds of cranberries consumed annually in the United States. This includes approximately 5 million gallons of jellied cranberry sauce purchased specifically for the occasion. 

Americans purchase about 214 million pounds of potatoes in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving in the U.S. and around 50 million pounds of sweet potatoes for the holiday. 

Happy Thanksgiving y’all!

The burning question on my mind is…

Do you eat cranberry sauce with your Thanksgiving meal? If so, what kind? 

Hello my friends, it’s time for another edition of The FoLD, my newsletter about authenticity, branding, and business innovation in the age of AI. I’d be honored if you’d give it a read: https://lnkd.in/et3xGcg4

Hi5,
LD
🌶️

graphical user interface, text, application

Smiling Bowtie

I used to teach people how to lead with emotional intelligence.
Now, I build technology that does the same.

After two decades in tech, product, and leadership, I realized something big... the apps we use every day influence how we feel just as much as how we function. Yet most are built for efficiency, not empathy.

So, I pivoted.

Today, Smiling Bowtie helps founders, solopreneurs, and small business owners turn their boldest ideas into AI-powered apps that hit different. Designed with trust, emotion, and human connection built right in.

What that looks like:

AI App Development — Custom AI applications built with emotionally intelligent UX. From concept to deployment, I design for trust and adoption, not just features.

Human-Centered AI Consulting — Helping product teams design user flows that increase engagement and retention by turning powerful AI into experiences people actually love using.

Fractional Product & Experience Partner — Architecting both the technology and the human journey behind AI products. Strategy, security, and emotion in one.

Because the best tech doesn’t just work.
It feels right.

And that’s the real competitive edge.

Founder and Chief Product Officer

Human connection has always been at the core of what I do.
After two decades in tech and leadership, I realized people weren’t hiring me for my technical skills, they were hiring me for how I showed up: authentic, curious, and connected.

That insight sparked The Bowtie Effect. A framework for strengthening emotional intelligence to build trust, engagement, and psychologically safe teams.

Through keynotes, coaching, and workshops, I’ve helped 100+ leaders and teams turn emotional intelligence into real connection and communication that actually sticks.

Because great leadership isn’t about charisma, it’s about connection.

Founder & Chief EQ Strategist

University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies

•In-class instruction for continuing education students on DevOps, its principles and practices, and applications in the current workplace
•Developed, and presented topics surrounding DevOps: Life Before DevOps, SDLC framework, Agile Principles, Continuous Integration, Continuous Testing, Continuous delivery/deployment, Pillars of DevOps, DevOps tools

DevOps Guest Lecturer

ObjectSharp (a Centrilogic Company)

Helping teams deliver value through the benefits of business agility through mentorship, training, and team/1-on-1 coaching.

Team Agility Coach

•Helped form several cross-functional, self-organizing scrum teams across the areas of learning, networking, and employee enablement within TD's Infrastructure Technology Solutions.
•Coached and led one-on-ones, on-the-spot coaching, and workshops for up to 30 people.
•Facilitated Scrum Events, Agile Games along with Scrum of Scrums.
•Identified many scrum anti-patterns that were the root causes of impediments and ongoing late delivery through Value Stream Mapping
•Helped teams build trust and psychological safety through assessments and custom workshops, and increasing throughput by 20%
•Increased team happiness factor which increased the amount of value-based outcomes by 30%

Scrum Master / Agile Coach

AntonIT Training

•Presented technical topics with emphasis on Google Cloud Platform, resulting in 100% pass rate for certification exam
•Developed and implemented a complete syllabus and 80 hours of instructional videos for the Associate Cloud Engineer, Professional Cloud Architect, and Professional Cloud Security Engineer Google Cloud certifications
•Learned new technologies and apply knowledge to teach 1500+ students’ and communicate in Slack community
•Coached and mentored leaders, teams, and individuals on cloud, DevOps, Agile, career growth, and certification prep to secure cloud related roles

Trainer / Agile Coach

Slalom

•Facilitated first virtual Cloud Academy with 35 students with a 100% pass rate for AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification
•Developed 20 hours of in-class technical training content with an emphasis on Amazon Web Services
•Measured the effectiveness of the training through created activities, reporting a 90% student comprehension rate
•Coached and mentored students to deepen their knowledge and for better understanding of technical concepts
•Partnered with cross-functional stakeholders and Slalom Partners (Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Hashicorp) to develop new AWS, GCP, and Terraform training initiatives to upskill technical staff

Technical Cloud Instructor / Team facilitator

IGNITE

LinkedIn Local Panel Speaker

Linux Academy

•Developed and implemented a complete syllabus while presenting all the technical topics needed for passing the  Google Cloud Professional Cloud Security Engineer certification exam on the Google Cloud Platform, leading to 15K+ students taking the course
•Developed Lucidchart architectural diagrams accompanying each component of the course

Google Cloud Training Architect

Slalom Build

•Communicated with clients on a business level and translated their needs into technical solutions
•Collaborated with a team of engineers to create fully automated pipelines for developer environments 
•Cloud agnostic architect (AWS, GCP, Azure) with specialties on the AWS platform
•Developed/implemented complex automation tasks using DevOps methodologies and Agile principles, resulting in a 40% reduction of time
•Contributor/facilitator in Scrum events (backlog refinement, daily scrum, sprint planning, sprint reviews, and retrospectives)
•Coached and mentored junior engineers
•Facilitated internal/external learning activities and presentations, to promote knowledge sharing
•Designed and implemented end to end Continuous Delivery pipelines (Bitbucket, CircleCI, Jenkins, Codepipeline) while using configuration management and Infrastructure as Code tools (Cloudformation, Terraform, Ansible, Packer)

Senior Cloud and DevOps Engineer

Make happiness your company’s superpower | Using positivity experiments and a happiness blueprint to unlock your team’s performance | Team Coach | Founder @ Smiling Bowtie

You’re Not Just Building an App. You’re Building a Feeling.

Most founders think they’re selling a product.
They’re not.
They’re selling a feeling.

Confidence. Ease. Trust. Belonging.

But somewhere between the idea in your head and the code on the screen, that feeling gets lost. 
It gets buried under features, frameworks, and friction.

That’s where I come in.

I don’t just build apps.
I build experiences that feel right.

The kind that makes your audience say, “Finally, someone gets me.”
The kind that turns your big idea into something people actually use and love.

Because good tech doesn’t just work.
It connects.

And connection is what makes your brand unforgettable.

ABOUT ME
🧠 EQ-Driven App Builder & Fractional CTO
💡 I turn ideas into apps that hit different
👔 Former Engineer, Product Manager & Leadership Coach
🎤 7× Career Pivoter & Global Keynote Speaker
🎀 Bowtie Loyalist | 🍕 Pizza-Fueled | 💻 DevOps Nerd Turned App Genius

Hey, I’m Antoni!

A systems-thinking creative who spent 20+ years leading in fashion, tech, devops, coaching, and EQ before realizing something big:

I wasn’t meant to just build systems.
I was meant to build experiences that make people feel something.

Now I help founders, solopreneurs, and small business owners bring their ideas to life through emotionally intelligent design. The kind of apps that feel as good as they function.

Sometimes that looks like building custom AI apps designed for trust, not just features.
Other times it’s helping product teams craft user flows that increase engagement and retention.
And for growing businesses, it’s partnering as a Fractional Product & Experience lead, architecting both the tech and the human journey behind AI products.

Because the future of tech isn’t just artificial intelligence.
It’s emotional intelligence... built right in.

Antoni Tzavelas, ACC

I’m ecstatic to have started this software company with Danny DelVecchio ✌️ over a month ago, and I'm making it official today that I’m Co-Founder at Content On Easy Mode!

We're about to make waves!!

Your App Genius | Turn your ideas into full apps that feel as good as they function | AI Technologist | Fractional CTO | Coffee + Pizza Aficionado

I spent the whole weekend knocked out by the flu.  
Not the cute kind either.

Even coding felt challenging, like I had mittens on.
 
So I tapped out and Netflix and tea it was.
 
I’m still a bit wobbly, but I’ll be back at it tomorrow with more updates on what I’ve been building.
 
Funny how a little forced shutdown reminds you you’re human.

Yesterday I took a little field trip downtown to the Google offices.  

Yes… an actual show and tell.  

Showing off the apps I’ve been building like they were my secret recipes.
 
I wanted to give the team some real context on the apps I’m building and how they could support me and my co-founders as we get ready to scale. 

And honestly, it felt a bit like coming home. 

You see, I’ve used Google Cloud for years. 
I’ve passed their certs. 
I even used to teach this stuff. 

So of course, it’s the platform I chose to launch everything on.
 
Plus, I want my apps to be ready for 1000's of users overnight (you never know when something you build is about to take off, and I like being prepared).
 
The best part?

Even in a room filled with tech, the real magic was the people.

Through my friend Victor, I met Ashley and Jeffrey, who jumped in right away and helped guide me through exactly what I needed for my startups.

Connection always changes the game for me.  

It’s wild how a single conversation can turn a hard thing into a clear path forward. 

That’s why human connection isn’t just something I teach, it’s how I build, lead, and partner.
 
------
 
Moments like this remind me why one of my unfair advantages is knowing how to build things the right way in the cloud and knowing how to build things with people.

Fast, secure, and built to grow.

Not just the apps, but the relationships behind them.

Not just “it works,” but “it scales,” “it’s safe,” and “it won’t explode when 4,000 people click the same button at once.”

And Google Cloud… you made Bowtie Wednesday feel extra special.  

Like grown-up show and tell with coffee, real conversations, and way better snacks.

We’re finally here.
 
After a month of long days, late nights, and a bit of dancing in my studio… Danny and I are almost ready to launch this thing.
 
It still blows my mind how fast this all happened. One comment, one conversation, and suddenly we were building a real product.

A tool made for creators who want their content on easy mode.
 
I’ve poured everything into it. Not just the tech, but the feeling behind it. I wanted this to run like software people actually want to use. 

Clean. Fast. Simple. 

Something you can open and instantly think, “Yep… this makes my life easier.”
 
Danny’s been right there with me the whole time... refining, testing, and dreaming up what this could become.
 
And now I’m down to the final touches. The tiny details no one sees, but the ones that make all the difference.
 
What gets me is how far we’ve come in just a month. It started as an idea… a spark… a “hey, what if?”
 
Now it’s real. And we’re days away from letting people get their hands on it.
 
I’m psyched. I’m proud.  

And I can’t wait to share what we’ve built.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Americans!

Grateful for you to be in my life, and me in yours. ❤️

The last 24 hours was one giant reminder that control is a myth… especially when you spend the whole day wrestling a bug that pretends it isn’t there.

My app worked perfectly on my machine.

Then I deployed it… and it fell apart like wet cardboard.

I kept whispering, “I’m in control,” while the bug laughed at me from behind the cache I wasn’t even looking at. 

Classic.

But honestly? This is why I love building.
The surprises keep me curious.
The chaos keeps me humble.
And the struggle gives me stories.

So no, I didn’t fully win my bug battle.
But I did remember something important:

You can’t predict the future.
You can only debug the present.
And if you can’t laugh at the mess, the mess will laugh at you first.

And here’s a pic of my morning, bug-free  cortado to satisfy the algorithm.

I used to roast people who said AI would change everything. 

Now I’m using it to build apps like it’s nothing.

I swore AI would never touch the coaching world, and honestly, it still can’t do the human stuff.

Feeling someone’s energy.
Catching the pause before the truth lands.
Building trust from real connection.
 
But vibe coding?  Yeah… that flipped everything for me.
 
3 months ago, I went from full-time EQ coaching to building apps. Not because I stopped caring about people, but because I finally saw the future.

Human instinct + machine speed.
 
Every day I sit down, start talking to AI like it’s my co-builder, and watch entire features spin up in front of me.  

It feels like creativity with rocket fuel.  

It’s wild.  
It’s fun.  
And it’s made me rethink what “tech skills” even mean anymore.
 
Here’s the part that even I didn't want to accept... 

If you refuse to adapt, you will fall behind. 
 
Not because AI replaces humans, but because humans who use AI will outpace everyone else.
 
I used to teach emotional intelligence.  
Now I’m building apps that breathe emotional intelligence into how people connect.  

And honestly? 
It feels like my past and my future finally shook hands.
 
This isn’t humans vs AI.  

This is humans who know how to vibe with AI…  and everyone else catching up later.
 
The train’s already moving.  

Better jump on before the doors close.

I found this photo last night and honestly… I had to laugh.

It was a reminder of how far I've come.

When I was 12 my Dad moved my family from the big city of Toronto to the country.

I grew up on a marina in the small town of Pefferlaw, still sporting that city vibe I loved, with a dog named Bronco who loved me more than anything.
 
And honestly… this was me dreaming big before I even knew what dreaming big meant.

Back then, my “big plan” was simple.

Make it through High School, get back to the city, and chase the big dreams of becoming a big name fashion designer... even though my world at the time meant selling minnows and pumping gas.

And trust me… I had zero idea what was ahead.  

No roadmap.  
No strategy.  

Just raw confidence and a dream bigger than the boat parked behind the house.
 
And somehow… that messy, clueless energy carried me through a wild career ride.  Fashion.  Tech.  Cloud.  Coaching.  And now building apps that help people connect in ways that 90’s-me didn’t even know existed.
 
Which brings me to the fun part:
 
If a kid who wanted to be the next big fashion name with absolutely no plan except “look cool in photos” can grow up to build apps that actually make a difference…
 
You better believe your dream is worth chasing too.
 
Go for it.  

Your younger self already thinks you’re cooler than you realize.

I’m sitting in a coffee shop right now vibecoding.  
Yes, actually coding.  

Past-me would’ve laughed at this.

For anyone wondering what “vibecoding” is, it’s simply telling AI what you want and letting it write the code while you focus on the idea. 

No magic. Just prompts.

Now here’s the funny part:  I used to be on the “AI isn’t real coding” train.

Mostly because I didn’t understand it.  

Once I got curious, everything changed, and realized that the train was on it's way to nowhere.

I began prompting, testing, and building, and suddenly, I wasn’t just reading code anymore.

I could build full applications from end to end. 
Architecture, security, frontend, backend. 

All of it.

AI didn’t replace my skills.  
It removed the walls that kept me from using them.

Here’s the part I want you to hear:  

You don’t need to be a full-stack developer to benefit from this.  

If you’re in tech, product, security, devops, coaching, design, heck, anything... curiosity is all you need to start.

Try it.  
See how it fits.  

Not because it’s trendy, but because it might open a door you didn’t know existed.

Because the moment you drop the ego and pick up the curiosity…  You might just find the same freedom I did.
 
And trust me.

That freedom hits different.

If you need instructions for your GPT, it’s not a product. 

It’s homework.
 
You know the drill.  You built something cool inside ChatGPT or Claude.  
It works… as long as people follow your step-by-step guide.
 
Truthfully, if your customer needs a tutorial just to use your tool, you’ve already lost them.
 
The problem isn’t your idea.  It’s the container.
 
GPTs and Claude projects are great for building and testing, but they’re not how real people want to interact with your brand.
 
That’s why I turn them into full apps.
 
Real apps feel natural.  
Real apps feel intuitive.  
Real apps feel like 𝘺𝘰𝘶.
 
When your tool becomes an actual application with your branding, your flow, and your personality baked in, it stops being “a side project” and becomes an extension of your business.
 
People shouldn’t have to learn your product.  
It should just make sense the second they open it.
 
That’s the difference between something people try once, and something they build their business around.


If you want your idea to feel real, not clunky, DM me and I’ll show you what’s possible.

taplio

The Battle

LIAM DARMODY

Antoni Tzavelas, ACC

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taplio

The Battle

LIAM DARMODY

Antoni Tzavelas, ACC

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