Dani Woolf (She/Her)

User Experience Specialist

Founder & CEO @ Audience 1st | Content @ Nucleus Security | Customer Research Certified

Five years ago, I pissed off a CISO so badly in front of my CMO, he helped me build a $1M+ cybersecurity buyer intelligence business. That humiliating moment during a website messaging feedback session? Best career move I ever made. Here's the uncomfortable truth about B2B tech marketing most won't tell you:

Most marketers create buyer personas in echo chambers instead of interviewing real buyers to get direct buyer insights. They're selling to fictional characters while their actual prospects choose competitors.

I learned this the hard way when a CISO, my customer, publicly destroyed me for using a buzzword out of context. At that time, I'd never actually talked to a single security leader about their real problems.

Instead of defending my approach, I asked him for coffee to learn why I upset him. That conversation led to thousands of conversations with CISOs, security architects, and IT leaders who taught me what B2B marketers get dangerously wrong about technical and business buyers.

What I discovered:
→ IT buyers don't trust marketing because marketers don't understand them and their environments
→ The best "research" comes from actual conversations, not survey data
→ Skeptical IT buyers will tell you exactly what they need - if you ask the right questions
→ Authentic relationships beat aggressive outreach every time

Today I help B2B cybersecurity companies understand their skeptical buyers through:

🎯 CyberSynapse - Direct access to vetted IT decision-makers for buyer intelligence that actually drives revenue

🍳 Cooking with CISOs - A TV show that builds real relationships with technical leaders (yes, over actual food)

📺 YouTube/Content - Sharing what 1000+ technical buyers taught me about effective B2B marketing

Some of the most skeptical and hard-to-reach cybersecurity buyers have dubbed me the marketer they actually trust - and I teach other B2B marketers how to earn that same trust and credibility.

Ready to stop operating in the dark and start growing with confidence?

Visit the links in my Featured section to see how I can help.

Founder and CEO

I'm removing the barrier to customer insights for go-to-market teams in growth-stage cybersecurity companies so they can scale growth and retain loyal customers.

Dani Woolf

Securion

Securion is an expert information security consultancy creating innovative solutions to the most demanding security challenges facing companies today.

Our company was formed following a merger between two veteran security engineering and architecture consultancies, with a strong belief that security should be an integral part of any business.

With decades of experience designing, implementing and supporting some of the largest and most critical security infrastructures in the world, you can be sure our consultants have walked in your shoes and experienced the challenges that you face. This enables us to offer your organization the expertise, resources and knowledge of a full-service information security consultancy.

Regional Director of Information Security Solutions

Sunified Group

Sunified is a pioneering provider of trusted, integrated IoT sensor solutions dedicated to maximizing solar asset performance. Its technology has been developed by a global team operating from the UK, Netherlands, Australia, Canada and the U.S. The company's focus is delivering data fidelity and pivotal operational metrics for sophisticated solar generation insights. Sunified empowers solar park owners to maximize their assets’ full potential by providing an API Platform as a Service (PaaS) for high-fidelity operational data and machine learning insights. Sunified turns solar panels into smart panels.

Advisor

ISTEC - Israeli Technologies

ISTEC provides a holistic approach to protect and defend organizations, incorporating people, processes, and technology into a unified cyber security program.

Onclave Networks, Inc

Onclave Networks, via Secure IoT®, is the industry’s first true, Zero Trust platform that runs and protects all devices regardless of age, operating system, manufacturer or protocol.

Referral Partner

Optiv Inc

Helped companies plan, build and run effective cyber security programs by addressing the entire security lifecycle. Optiv is the largest holistic pure-play cyber security solutions provider in North America. We help clients plan, build and run successful cyber security programs that achieve business objectives through our depth and breadth of cyber security offerings, extensive capabilities and proven expertise in cyber security strategy, managed security services, incident response, risk and compliance, security consulting, training and support, integration and architecture services, and security technology.

Client Manager

Carriage Hill, Inc.

Sold investment banking services to private companies and private equity funds. Sold companies to private equity funds. Developed key relationships with middle market company owners to accelerate their growth and drive value in their businesses. This boutique, startup investment bank generates multi-million dollar fees by matching multi-billion dollar private equity funds and client companies who need capital.  Other duties included project management, directing and implementing all IT processes, procedures and security activities.

• Initiated relationships with hundreds of clients and closed several transactions across a variety of industries
• Completed key transaction with an advanced security systems integrator and major defense sector investor
• Served as de facto IT Director driving technology improvements through the organization
• Developed training and user support materials for all employees

Senior Vice President

Iridium Partners LLC

Responsible for business development and deal origination for this investment banking firm, which was a predecessor to Carriage Hill Partners and Carriage Hill, Inc.

Vice President

CipherTechs, Inc. - Cyber security

Responsible for selling professional services and products to Fortune 1000 accounts and boutique accounts including financial services companies, technology companies, service providers and government agencies.  

• Initiated a new line of professional service offerings for risk assessment/management, regulatory compliance, vulnerability assessment & information security assurance that led to 8 new clients and a 10% revenue increase
• Developed and delivered customized presentations for target clients

Account Executive

Predictive Systems

Responsible for selling professional services to Fortune 1000 accounts in the areas of cyber security, managed services, network operations and management, asset management and customer service delivery.  This company was a leading $60M public consulting firm focused on building, optimizing and securing high-performance infrastructure to increase operational efficiency, mitigate risk, and empower the new business initiatives of Fortune 1000 firms.

• Increased sales by 38% and 52% respectively in 2001 and 2002
• Generated over $1M in new business with Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce World Markets in 2002
• Managed relationships with the 5 largest Canadian banks
• Booked nearly $500K in new business with Sirius Satellite Radio in 2001
• Created a corporate sales presentation that became a template for the entire team

Business Development Manager

Mien Information Solutions

Hired as the first outside sales manager to broaden the customer base for this high-end infrastructure service company which provided design, implementation and technical support for high availability IP-based networks.  Focused on solution-oriented sales in the areas of infrastructure builds and upgrades, WAN connectivity, and security, with a special focus on VPN solutions.

• Exceeded new customer account objective by 29% within the first three quarters
• Generated Mien’s first opportunities in Fortune 1000 accounts
• Worked closely with manufacturers such as Cisco, CheckPoint and Nortel on enterprise sales efforts

Account Manager

AI/ML I Risk Mitigation I Resilience I Cyber Security I Music

Known as a high-impact business executive with an exceptional record of delivering measurable value to companies and clients in multiple industries.  My wide range of pursuits has facilitated engagements across many verticals, including cyber security, information technology, finance, construction, entertainment and hospitality. 

Possesses a keen ability to develop long-standing relationships with repeat customers due to a unique combination of skills and experiences that have provided broad perspective from high level to ground level.  

With a knack for understanding both the business and personal drivers that lead to project and investment funding, and the risks inherent in all areas, I have thrived in the competitive marketplace.

Key skills include:
• AI / ML
• Cyber Security 
• Consulting
• Capital Raises
• Strategic Planning
• Solar Power / Solar Tech
• IT Planning and Infrastructure
• Process Optimization	
• C-Level Client Relationships
• B2B Sales and Business Development		
• High Impact C-Level Presentations	
• Startups

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The Battle

Dani Woolf

Andrew Esterman

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