Andrew Bowker

Customer Experience | Teamwork | Growth Strategy

Senior Product Manager

IBM PM's operate at the epicenter of multidisciplinary teams which include design, engineering, sales, marketing, finance and legal. PMs build deep and broad skills including market and competitive analysis, planning and shepherding product development, driving adoption through marketing and digital engagement, and sensing how offerings are performing in the market.

"I’ve received very positive feedback from all of Andrew’s peers. He demonstrates a great can-do attitude and is always willing to take on additional projects. He’s curious, always keen to learn and it’s a pleasure having him on the team." - Manager

"Thank you Andrew for always helping our team to move forward and set us up for success. I'm definitely thankful for your work as our PM, and helping us developers the best way you can. Hearing our feedback and working together has been wonderful." - Developer

"Andrew is both a great coach for our bootcamp incubator team and did an outstanding job in his "herding cats" presentation on leading without authority. I've been using the principles he outlined in my daily interactions and they're so useful!" - Mentee

"Thank you for giving great advice to our bootcamp in your session "herding cats without authority". The session taught be a lot about how to take responsibility at IBM and influence people around me.You were down-to-earth and very relatable, which is exactly what all of us needed. I think this session with you is a must for future bootcampers. Thanks again!" - Mentee

“Andrew never skimps out on being generous with his time, energy, and advice. He has given me great excitement for and insight into how to creatively engage with not only my peers in college, but also my future colleagues.” - College Mentee

Product Manager

Drove two "buy-don't-build" businesses cases. Those products went on to make $5M+ in the first 2 years

Product Manager Intern II (MBA Internship)

A to B Coaching LLC

It took me 3 years and 60+ failed applications to break into Product Management. If I could go back, I'd focus on 3 things from the start:

1. Create products
2. Build relationships
3. Interviewing skills

Now I help a community of 24k+ do the same. So far, I've helped folks land at places like Amazon, Zoom, Pfizer, Pendo, IBM, Bandwidth, & more.

I specialize in helping non-technical professionals land roles in the tech industry. Non-technical roles include product management, program management, project management, customer success, strategy, business operations, marketing, sales, and more. When we work together, you'll be heavily guided on:

· How to craft a resume that gets noticed
· How to craft the perfect linkedin presence w/o the cringe
· How to build important relationships w/o the awkwardness
· How to abolish imposter syndrome and interview confidently
· How to perfect your story and pass any recruiter screen
· How to SHOW your work and beat other candidates
· How to negotiate for 45% more money

Ultimately, there is no such thing as a dream job. As we learn and grow, the "dream job: changes. I coach people to find a "dream fit" based on skills, passions, and what the market values that allows for future optionality and growth.

Owner

Wedding Taggers

It's a goal of mine to be a lifelong learner. The best way for me to learn is by starting, growing, and managing a company in my spare time. Hands on.

Founder

North Carolina State University Poole College of Management

Concentrations & Certificates:
Technology Commercialization & Entrepreneurship 
Marketing Management 
Innovation Management
Decision Analytics Certificate

Activities:
Hi-TEC Scholar (1 of 2 selected) 
MBA Student Association President (vote by peers)
Team-Lead for Wolfpack Investor Network (WIN), (start-up company due-diligence reporting)
NC State University Entrepreneurship Clinic Undergraduate Teaching Assistant
University Ambassador for prospective Jenkins MBA students
Jenkins Career Management Peer Coach for 1st-year Jenkins MBA students
Consult Your Community (CYC) Undergraduate Advisor - "Designed For Joy" (a Raleigh non-profit)
Founder of first ever Jenkins Entrepreneurship club (E-Club) for MBA students

Achievements:
4.0 GPA
Selected as a McLauchlan Leadership Fellow (Jenkins' most prestigious development program)
Elected by classmates as MBA Student Association President
Co-founded Chirp, an innovative IoT device to improve emergency response to house fires
1st Place 2019 LuLu Entrepreneurship Games - Design & Prototype Category (Chirp)
1st Place 2019 LuLu Entrepreneurship Games - Fan Favorite Video (Chirp)
1st Place 2019 Poole College Leadership & Innovation Showcase (Chirp)
1st Place 2018 Product Innovation Lab Pitch Night - Investor's Choice (Chirp)

Jenkins MBA Hi-TEC Scholar 

inMotionNow

I was the one they called to save "code red" customers :)

Customer Succcess Consultant 

Customer Success Manager

Account Coordinator

Campus Outreach - Raleigh

A little bit of everything, supporting leadership development at NCSU, UNC, Duke, Campbell University, Meredith College, ECU, and UNC-W.

Project Manager 

L.A. Weaver Co.

Read and interpret depositions, OSHA investigative reports, as well as Safety and Health Standards to craft reports outlining findings, criticisms, and opinions concerning engineering related accidents in the workplace.

Research Analyst

Altec

• Solved a 10 month-old-problem that even full time engineers failed to
• Saved the company $1M+/yr in perpetuity 
• Found out I didn't want to be a career mechanical engineer :)

Mechanical Engineering Co-op

NC State University Housing

Planned social events, team building programs, and community service outings for residents

Resident Advisor

☀️ Product manager by day ☀️  |  🌙 Dad by night 🌙  | 🔨  DIYer / 'maker' by late night 🔨 

I write about product management, career lessons, side projects, and soft skills. 

A core belief: humans are the backbone of business.  Because of that, I like to spend time developing and nurturing personal relationships. I've found that to be the most useful skill despite the random collection of 'hard skills' I've acquired over the years. I've spent time developing start-ups, diving into the intricacies of digital marketing, managing products, selling, creating successful customer outcomes, and sharpening statistical analysis skills to make better business decisions. 

Strengths:
1. Achiever - I come alive when I can work hard, get many things done, and achieve audacious goals.
2. Belief - I can talk to the hearts of people and see past the surface. High Emotional Intelligence.
3. Self-Assurance - I have the power to persuade and lead passionately. This shines during presentations and in situations where I need to persuade. 
4. Restorative - I love to solve problems and constantly improve things. "It can be done better".
5. Woo - I have a knack for "winning others over". Relationships are important to me.

Now accepting clients for Career Cheat Codes 2023 - https://careercheatcodes.tech

It took me 3 years and 60+ failed applications to break into Product Management. If I could go back, I'd focus on 3 things from the start:

1. Create products
2. Build relationships
3. Interviewing skills

Now I help a community of 24k+ do the same. So far, I've helped folks land at places like Amazon, Zoom, Pfizer, Pendo, IBM, Bandwidth, & more.

I specialize in helping non-technical professionals land roles in the tech industry. Non-technical roles include product management, program management, project management, customer success, strategy, business operations, marketing, sales, and more. When we work together, you'll be heavily guided on:

· How to craft a resume that gets noticed
· How to craft the perfect linkedin presence w/o the cringe
· How to build important relationships w/o the awkwardness
· How to abolish imposter syndrome and interview confidently
· How to perfect your story and pass any recruiter screen
· How to SHOW your work and beat other candidates
· How to negotiate for 45% more money

Ultimately, there is no such thing as a dream job. As we learn and grow, the "dream job: changes. I coach people to find a "dream fit" based on skills, passions, and what the market values that allows for future optionality and growth.

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

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 🌶️

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  
🙏🏼

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

No alternative text description for this image

I was supposed to record an episode of the Connection Accepted podcast with Daniel Greenberg and Matt Huang today but parenting happened and I had to reschedule.

My 8-year-old son had a birthday party and I was going to send him with a neighbor so that I could record the episode. 

Then he said, “I wish you were coming ice skating with me, Dad”

“Huh? That’s random. What made you think of that?”

“The birthday party today. It’s ice skating!”

(So this is what Megan Bailey Darmody means when she says I need to listen better, eh?)

It’s only his second time on skates and as a proud Canadian father, I can’t let him do that alone! 

I was really looking forward to talking to Daniel and Matt today and have been binging their pod leading up to our recording session—I’m fascinated by their approach, dedication, and perspectives on Linkedin and personal branding in general. 

When I shared my scheduling dilemma last minute, Daniel said: “We are 100% flexible and family always comes first Liam.”

Appreciate that, fellas!

Looking forward to making some core memories with the kiddo today and recording Connection Accepted next weekend instead. 

In the meantime, give a few episodes a listen. Their takes are fresh and fascinating. 

Hi5 & have a great day!
LD

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

Saw this incredibly spicy take by Jib Hunt. 

My response, which has 5,000+ impressions: 

Linkedin is incredible for top of funnel marketing and relationship building that pays off in the long run. 

It’s not great for the dopamine hits we’ve been conditioned to chase by all the other socials.  

It's rumored that only a single digit percentage of LinkedIn’s member base create content and only 25% of members even log in monthly. 

So engagement is hard to come by unless you've cultivated a strong, targeted network of active Linkedin users. 

If you treat the platform like one big conversation and you know who to follow to get into conversation, you’ll usually get what you’re looking for.

I launched a business after being laid off that generated six figures in it's first year entirely through LinkedIn (not bragging, just fact). 

Yes it takes work. 
Yes it can be frustrating.
It’s also incredibly worth it.

Think of Linkedin as the world's largest CRM, only the leads are already there and you just need to know how to navigate it.

If you learn to look for signals (they're everywhere).
If you strike up genuine conversation strategically.
If you stay consistent & patient for long enough. 

This platform has the power to change your life. 
It's changed mine 4 times in 5 years.

All because I showed up.
Started yapping about what fascinated me. 
And turned strangers into friends. 

There's a lot of complaining about Linkedin on Linkedin. It is ironic that posts like these get a ton of distribution & engagement, but not surprising given recent algorithmic changes. 

But you won't see me posting one because I understand how this place really works. Linkedin is a serendipity manifestation engine and once you see it that way, you can't unsee it. 

You don't need hundreds of thousands of followers, impressions, or engagements to thrive on Linkedin. You need the right followers & impressions. 

You can build a healthy business working a focused 1,000-person Sales Navigator lead list than waiting for your following of 10,000+ to do it. 

Remember folks: 
Impressions feed your ego, not your wallet. 

If you want to build a business, there's no place like Linkedin. 

Want to jam about it sometime? 
Snag time above. 

Hi5 & have a great day, 
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

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!

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 🌶️

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? 

Nice try, Linkedin, but not gonna happen!

I've created 4,500 posts in 6 years on this platform. I don't regret it for a second, but there is zero chance I'll ever pay to boost a post here. 

Zero. 

Because once you do, they know you will, and that's when you can really kiss organic reach goodbye. 

Not to mention, you don't need to boost your posts here. There are many other ways to build & be seen by your target audience (Sales Navigator, anyone? IYKYK.) 

I'm curious... 

Have you/would you boost your Linkedin posts? 

If you're on the fence, do yourself a favor and snag some time with me before you do... I promise it'll be worth it :) 

Hi5, 
LD
🌶️

taplio

The Battle

Andrew Bowker

LIAM DARMODY

Followers

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Performance ScoreLIAM DARMODY's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Andrew Bowker

LIAM DARMODY

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

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);}LIAM DARMODY's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreLIAM DARMODY's LinkedIn Performance