Writer | Marketer | Former Contributor at Forbes

Hi, I’m Dan! 👋

I typically spend my days buried in a booth at a local coffee shop. Ideas flow best with a cup of coffee in one hand and a bagel in the other.

I've spent the last nine years helping brands like Forbes, Entrepreneur, Foundr, Google, Capital One, and SAP connect with audiences through meaningful, memorable content. I've also served as a marketing mentor for programs like the UCCS Scale to $1M Bootcamp, RMMFI, and MicroMentor. 

I now lead content marketing at Bryant Park Consulting, helping clients ditch the chaos and build businesses that run smoother with smarter strategy and tech.

Off the clock, I'm either spending time with my wife, chasing two little kids, or finding new ways to shank a golf ball.

Dan Marzullo

Volker Jaeckel

Key Account Consultant for Germany | B2B | D2C

AUTOMOTIVE SALES & MARKETING LEADER | 24 YEARS U.S. MARKET EXPERTISE

I've spent over two decades transforming how luxury automotive brands connect with customers in the world's most competitive market. One of my greatest achievement? Leading Mercedes-Benz of Temecula to 30% market share growth during the 2020/2021 pandemic, recognized by MBUSA as the ONLY dealership worldwide that grew while others stagnated.

PANDEMIC SUCCESS STORY
- Generated $2.16M additional revenue during COVID-19
- Achieved 300% marketing ROI through AI-driven strategies  
- Increased service revenue by 297% and parts revenue by 174%
- Grew internet leads 39%, inbound calls 89%

HOLISTIC BUSINESS APPROACH & EXECUTIVE COACHING
I don't see dealerships as separate profit centers – I see them as symphonic business systems. As a Certified DISC Business Executive & Marketing Coach, I help C-level executives understand the correlation between R&D, Marketing, Sales, Service, and Customer Experience, using data analytics to optimize total organizational health.

BUSINESS COACHING & ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP
- Affiliate Business Coach: Randall W. Lewis Center for Entrepreneurship, CA 
- Executive in Residence Coach: California State University, San Marcos
- Founder & President: FocalPoint Business Coaching & Training Temecula Valley
- Featured Speaker: "Communication Breakthrough" & "DNA of an Entrepreneur" programs
- International coaching for automotive companies in Germany, Italy, and the U.S.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & SPEAKING
- Author: "The Digital Dealership" (2014) 
- Co-Author: "How to Survive and Thrive" (2024) with Reebok founder Joe Foster
- International Keynote Speaker: Autohaus eMarketing Days & DEKRA Gebrauchtwagentage (Germany), Internet Motors Milano, Digital Dealer Conferences
- Monthly workshops: Entrepreneurial Resource Center, Chamber of Commerce events

MULTI-BRAND EXPERTISE
Latest: Successfully managed 8+ luxury brands simultaneously - Mercedes-Benz, AMG, Sprinter, Audi, Volvo, Polestar, Jaguar, Land Rover with $9.8M budget responsibility.

CERTIFICATIONS
- Professional Certified Marketer® (American Marketing Association)
- Certified Digital Marketing Professional (Digital Marketing Institute, Dublin, IRL)  
- International Business Executive Coach (Brian Tracy International)
- Certified DISC Behavioral Analyst (FocalPoint International)

Currently seeking strategic leadership and digital marketing opportunities with progressive European automotive groups ready for digital transformation and executive development.

German Citizen | EU Work Authorized | Fluent German & English

Member of the Digital Sales & Marketing Advisory Board | B2B

➤ Serving an advisory role thru strategic reviews, suggestions, and program support to continuously enhance the quality of Volvo's national online exposure and programs.
➤ Consult Volvo's national manager suite through monthly meetings to enhance dealer network offerings.

Can you believe it? 17 years later, more gray set, wrinkles - nope, and still on the mission to change the digital automotive strategy here and abroad. To the next 17 years!

Volker Jaeckel - Top-10 automotive eCommerce Directors in the U.S. in 2009

Showing kindness at work doesn't have to make you look like a weak leader. This article explores the balance between kindness and authority in management. It discusses how leaders can maintain empathy and compassion without compromising on decision-making or effectiveness.

#strongleadership #empathy #ThePursuitOfLeadership #businessleadercoaching
https://lnkd.in/gFmiwuHn?

Open article: Transcript: How to be a kind manager — without being a pushover by ft.com

Transcript: How to be a kind manager — without being a pushover

Marcus Aurelius made one of history's worst leadership decisions. He chose his son Commodus as successor, and Rome paid the price. His private journal reveals why smart leaders make catastrophic choices. 

Spoiler: It's probably running your leadership team right now. 

Part 2 of my Marcus Aurelius series is live in The Pursuit of Leadership.

#Leadership #ExecutiveLeadership #Communication #ThePursuitOfLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #CultureMatters

View newsletter: In the Pursuit of Leadership

Part 2 of 3: What Marcus Aurelius’s Private Journal Reveals About Modern Leadership Last week, I told you about binge-watching Gladiator and Gladiator

Open article: When Ego Runs the Show (And Nobody Tells You) by Volker Jaeckel • 8 min read

When Ego Runs the Show (And Nobody Tells You)

Weekend plans: Gladiator (I + II) movie marathon. Unexpected result: Leadership wake-up call. Marcus Aurelius wrote himself daily reminders about not screwing up as a leader. The once most powerful man in the world needed these notes. What makes you think you don't? 

Part 1 is live in my newsletter "The Pursuit of Leadership."

#leadershipdaily #leadermindset #leadershiplessons #focalpointcoaching #CoachVJ

Part 1 of 3: What Marcus Aurelius’s Private Journal Reveals About Modern Leadership I spent last weekend doing something I rarely do. I binge-watched 

Open article: The Self-Awareness Crisis Destroying Your Leadership by Volker Jaeckel • 7 min read

The Self-Awareness Crisis Destroying Your Leadership

You've read about the self-awareness crisis. You've seen how ego destroys teams. Now here's what to actually do about it. Marcus Aurelius practiced this for decades. Most modern leaders won't touch it. 

Part 3 of my series is live in The Pursuit of Leadership newsletter.

#Leadership #CultureTransformation #ExecutiveLeadership #ThePursuitOfLeadership #LeadershipSkills #TeamBuilding #focalpointcoaching

Part 3 of 3: What Marcus Aurelius’s Private Journal Reveals About Modern Leadership This series started with a weekend binge-watch. Gladiator and Glad

Open article: The Ancient Solution Modern Leaders Won’t Try by Volker Jaeckel • 8 min read

The Ancient Solution Modern Leaders Won’t Try

IQ gets you into the boardroom, but only EQ allows you to lead it effectively. When you are wondering why your team is hitting a wall, the culprit might be a lack of emotional resonance rather than a lack of talent. 

I’m breaking down the findings from Daniel Goleman’s book "Primal Leadership" and how they apply to modern DISC behavioral assesment dynamics in today’s post.

#DISC #FocalPointCoaching #BehavioralAssessment #newleadership #PrimalLeadership

I believe we’ve all seen it. A C-suite filled with the “smartest people in the room.” They have the MBAs, the 10-year growth strategies, and the most 

Open article: The Ghost in the Boardroom: Why Your KPIs Are Crying for Help by Volker Jaeckel • 3 min read

The Ghost in the Boardroom: Why Your KPIs Are Crying for Help

Hey Managers, on which side do you see yourself? More on this can be found in my latest NL article "The Ghost in the Boardroom" - link below 👇 

https://lnkd.in/gxm_Ms-d

If we look past the geopolitical headlines, there is a subtext that every executive needs to hear: The Doomsday Clock is a scoreboard for failed leadership.

#focalpointcoaching #leadershipcoach #wakeup

The Doomsday Clock moved to 85 seconds before midnight this week. The closest it's been in 78 years. Reason? Scientists cite "failure of leadership" at the highest levels.

I read that announcement and saw the same patterns playing out in every boardroom I've worked in. Failed leadership looks the same at every level. The scale changes. The behaviors don't.

You're not negotiating nuclear treaties. But you are making daily choices that either move your organization forward or push it closer to its own midnight.

I wrote about the five specific changes executives can make tomorrow to break these patterns. Read it here ...👇 

#failedleadership #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipskills #5vor12 #eleventhhour

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds before midnight this week. That's the closest it's been in 78 years. The 

Open article: When Scientists Warn Us About Failed Leadership by Volker Jaeckel • 4 min read

When Scientists Warn Us About Failed Leadership

Your leadership style hasn’t evolved since 2016?
Sorry, you aren’t leading!
You’re reminiscing.

A decade ago, we were obsessed with "engagement surveys," "climbing the ladder," and the "globalization" of the office. 

In 2026, those concepts feel like relics. We’ve moved from the Engagement Era to the Augmented Era, and the rules of the game have fundamentally changed.

Leading today isn't about having all the answers.

It’s about being the person who knows how to ask the right questions. Whether addressed to a human team or your AI partners.

The shift from managing to orchestrating is the defining challenge of this year. 

Below is what that looks like in practice:

AI Fluency > Digital Literacy: It’s no longer enough to "use" tools. 
You need to partner with AI to augment your strategy and decision-making.

Psychological Safety > Employee Engagement: Retention isn't about perks; it's about creating "brave spaces" where failing fast is safe, and wellness is a core KPI.

Skills-Based Agility > Corporate Ladders: The ladder is broken. We’re now building internal talent marketplaces based on "adaptability & learnability."

Real-Time Coaching > Annual Reviews: The feedback "sandwich" is officially stale. In 2026, we thrive on continuous, AI-assisted feedback loops.

Check out the visual breakdown below for the full "Then vs. Now" comparison.

#Leadership2026 #FutureOfWork #AILeadership #ManagementTips #CoachVJ  #FocalPointCoaching

Leadership Tips 2026 vs. 2016 by Coach VJ (Volker Jaeckel) @ Focal Point Business Coaching Temecula Valley, California

How did Leadership evolve in the last 10 years?

taplio

The Battle

Dan Marzullo

Volker Jaeckel

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreVolker Jaeckel's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Dan Marzullo

Volker Jaeckel

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);}Volker Jaeckel's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreVolker Jaeckel's LinkedIn Performance