Nora DiNuzzo

Blood Sweat & Tears

You’ve worked too hard for it to be this hard.

BS&T is a committed partner to ambitious agencies frustrated by inconsistent growth.

We develop and implement a custom growth strategy that meets you where you are today – whether your goal is to stabilize, sustain, scale or sell your agency.

Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer

Pitcher 🍋

Small businesses deserve to grow, too. 

Pitcher is a growth consultancy for entrepreneurs and small businesses (<$25mm).

We work directly with founders to:

+ Diagnose their growth issues 

+ Refine their first-mile strategies (brand, business, content and comms)

+ Optimize their marketing and business development processes to align with growth goals

+ Match small businesses to right-fit service providers

+ Broker strategic alliances and partnerships

Founder & President

Smiths Agency

In September 2022, Smiths Agency (fka Smith Brothers) was acquired by Barkley: barkleyus.com

Vice President of Business Development

Director of Business Development

Business Development Manager

MARC USA

In June 2020, MARC USA merged with two other agencies to form 9 Rooftops: 9rooftops.com

New Business Specialist

Account Manager

You’ve worked too hard for it to be this hard.

Growing up, one thing I never aspired to be was an entrepreneur. 

Running your own company was for the incredibly wealthy (Mr. Burns) or the incredibly innovative (Doc Brown). I was neither.

But what I’ve learned about entrepreneurs over the past few years is that they have one thing in common – they desperately want to fix something that drives them nuts. 

As it turns out – throughout my life and career, a lot of things drove me nuts. 

So nuts that in October 2021, I quit a VP-level job at an ad agency to start my own consultancy – Pitcher – to help small businesses grow.

Because the fact that agencies could rarely find a way to work with companies <$25mm in annual revenue drove me nuts.

Because I believe that small businesses deserve to grow, too. 

In April 2023, I got a call from a friend that I never planned for – with an offer to create something I never considered doing less than two years into being a founder.

A second company.

Because the fact that so many brilliant agencies continuously struggle to grow drove him nuts. 

As it turns out – it drives me nuts, too. 

So nuts that I said yes – and Blood Sweat & Tears was born. 

Yes, born. I have given birth to two human children – and two businesses.

There is not a damn thing women can’t do.

I wasn’t a business developer - until I was.

I wasn’t an executive - until I was.

I wasn’t a strategist - until I was.

I wasn’t a founder - until I was.

I wasn’t a speaker - until I was.

Just because you aren’t yet, doesn’t mean you aren’t in the process of becoming.

So whatever you’re becoming - keep at it.

Until you are.

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This is my quarterly reminder to founders:

GET OUT THERE ✈️

I spent 4 days in NYC this week, and caught up with over 100 people while here.

3 conferences + many co-located events.

An event Christine Olivas and I designed and co-hosted.

Meals and meetups with people who are here in NYC for these events, or are full-time New Yorkers.

Not only did I accomplish a few very specific things with and for some of my clients while here…

But I also strengthened relationships with current clients and partners, and made many new quality connections.

And I learned a lot - particularly at Blackweek. More to come on that next week.

Most importantly… I had a ton of FUN with some of my business besties!

Thank you Christine, Starr Session Varga and Victoria Carrington Chávez✨ for making this week so awesome. Core memory for sure 💖

The hardest thing in business is to say NO.

NO to projects that aren’t profitable enough.

NO to pitches you don’t have a right to win.

NO to people you’d prefer not to enrich.

NO to clients who undervalue you from Day 1.

NO to that one more thing that is going to push you over the edge, mentally or physically.

NO to work that isn’t in your zone of genius.

NO to things that don’t spark joy.

We are so conditioned to people please.

To be yes people. 

Saying no isn’t being difficult.

Saying no is having boundaries and standards for yourself.

As a business owner - it’s also about having standards for the type of organization you are building and leading.

If you lead a team - trust that your Nos and Yeses are being watched very closely by your employees.

It’s one of the reasons I left full-time employment 4 years ago.

And now - saying no is the thing I work on the most. 

Much respect to Pikes Ibiza for their very prominent list of NOs posted at the check in desk outside this storied club. 

I particularly agree with the last one. It’s the #1 NO for my businesses, too.

Now more than ever, it seems that people are afraid to tell the truth.

The safe and sanitized parts are regurgitated over and over as talking points on panels, in op-eds and on the nightly news.

Legal-approved.
Board-sanctioned.
Investor-friendly.

We give the same uncontroversial takes, share the same safe ideas in brainstorms. 

Which then get made into the same neutral and ineffective ads, events and experiences.

No boats rocked. No thoughts provoked. 

And we avoid confronting the truth once again.

Because the truth is incredibly uncomfortable.

Difficult. Painful. Hard. Embarrassing. Shameful, even.

This is why the most important event for me and for everyone to attend is Blackweek.

At Blackweek, the truth is told.

By every speaker. On every topic.

Unvarnished. Raw. Real.

But also empathetic. Hopeful. And in a way that builds community.

Thank you to the truth tellers I was able to witness speak this year at Blackweek 2025 - Don Lemon, Joy Reid, Cindy Gallop and Lola Bakare. 

Your talks were all incredibly powerful, rallying and inspirational.

But most importantly - they were truthful to the core.

Thank you to the founders of Blackweek - Walter T Geer III, Joseph Anthony, Monique Nelson, Dabo Ché, Gabrielle Shirdan, andre gray and Adan Romero.

You have created a world-class event and have programmed what I consider to be the top thought leadership event in the industry.

AND you’ve created an environment and community of complete safety, where we can dare to speak the truth out loud.

This year, I invited two of my friends and clients to join me at Blackweek - Starr Session Varga and Victoria Carrington Chávez✨- both of whom are Black women.

Seeing and hearing how safe, supported, included and appreciated they felt in this space was everything.

I got to see them tell their truth to others. 

And I saw a side of each of them flourish that I know they have to keep behind walls at times, with certain people and in certain spaces.

We should all be free to be ourselves, 100% of the time.

We should all be free to tell the truth, 100% of the time.

At Blackweek, this is the reality.

And it’s why when it’s over every year - none of us want to leave 🖤

In a shock to absolutely no one, LinkedIn doesn’t seem to like that I put the words “truth” and “Black” in the same post.

Nevertheless… I hope my post about Blackweek finds you. Please come over to my page and read it in full. It’s pinned to the top so you can find it.

PS - Blackweek is not just for Black people. Blackweek is for ALL of us.

Christine Olivas and I are in NYC! 🍎

Will we see you tonight at karaoke? 🎤 

Come out, sing a song - and support the BLAC Internship Program 🖤

We have a few spots still available. Text/DM me to get on the list!

Weds 10/8 (TONIGHT!) 5-8p. DM for location 😎

Cherishing time with my family at home before my next stint on the road.

Mick Mize gave me the gift of the mantra FOR NOW - and over the last year I have been working to be as present as I can be, wherever I am.

For now… I’m home and looking forward to celebrating Halloween with my kids - one of their favorite days of the year.

This year, they are being Link from Zelda 🗡️ and a Sloth 🦥 

For now… I’m enjoying the games of chess, bedtime chats and Dave DiNuzzo’s amazing meals (his latest party trick - homemade meatballs and sauce 🍝) 

In November, I will be traveling all 4 weeks of the month. The first three for work, the last one for personal.

I have never done this before. I have traveled 3 of 4 weeks, 4 of 6 weeks… but never 4 consecutive weeks.

While the thought of this is daunting and honestly giving me a bit of the Sunday scaries… I know I can do it.

This is what I have designed my businesses to enable me to do. And these are all incredible reasons to be “getting out there.”

Nov 2-5 in Atlanta for Brandweek.

Nov 10-14 in Austin for a client retreat - my 3rd one with them.

Nov 17-20 in Boston and Rosemary Beach, FL for two events with the 4As ❤️ 

I am so fortunate to have incredible clients and partners who value the time together in-person to exchange ideas, learn from each other, and accelerate our progress.

Nothing will ever beat in-person for collaboration, relationship building and strengthening.

But traveling is full on. It’s exhausting. And I miss my family like crazy when I’m gone.

I’m so grateful to Dave for being my partner that makes this all possible. I could never do this without him holding it down for our kids every day that I’m on the road.

He stepped away from full-time work exactly 1 year ago, so I could pursue my dream of building the businesses I want to run, and believe the world needs. 

For now… this is what we need to do for our family to thrive.

I share this because traveling and building businesses can seem glamorous. And sometimes, it is.

But it also involves an enormous amount of coordination, tough decisions, and sacrifices. Especially if you are a parent or have a partner.

Whatever FOR NOW looks like for you this week, next month or the rest of this year… I wish you peace and presence to enjoy every single moment.

But also - I know how hard it all is, too. And it’s okay to say that out loud and admit it.

Back on my travel grind ✈️ 

Q4 has historically been my busiest quarter, and this year is no exception!

I’m traveling 13 of the next 19 days. 

Next up - Atlanta for Brandweek with RP3 Agency! Come find me if you’ll be there 👀 

Anyone else a road warrior this quarter?

My top tips for staying healthy while traveling during the Fall (besides getting your vaccines):

💦 3X Hydration - water, electrolytes and tea! ☕️ My fave is Throat Coat by Traditional Medicinals - an OG singers trick, if you have to talk a lot for work like I do.

💊 Vitamin Boost - New Myers IVs at Restore Hyper Wellness every other week, and green goodness from JOE & THE JUICE 💚 

💤 Rest & Recharge - I try to limit alcohol and caffeine to maximize quality sleep. Endel is my favorite app to relax and fall asleep to.

Let me know if I can catch you during my travels:

Atlanta - Nov 2-5
Austin - Nov 10-14
Boston - Nov 17-18

The advice I needed to hear from Bozoma Saint John at Brandweek yesterday:

Don’t listen to anyone.

What she said next made us all sit up and lean forward…

“They will advise based on fear. Especially the people who love you and care about you.”

Throughout my career and more recently my moves into entrepreneurship, I received plenty of unsolicited advice and opinions about the choices I was making.

And Boz is right - so much of it came from the people who care about me the most.

I didn’t listen.

Instead, at every turn - I followed my instincts, and trusted my gut.

Boz said because of this, she has such confidence in the decisions she makes - and that even when something can outwardly look like a mistake to others, it’s all part of the path that gets you to your next thing.

I have only one regret in life, which is that I never got to see Prince perform live 💜

But professional regrets? Zero.

Everything I said yes to.
Every time I trusted my instincts.
Each time I didn’t listen to anyone else.

Those are the moments and the decisions that got me to precisely where I am today.

Ahmad's Body Shop

Owner

Wellbeing @ Work

W@W is a digitally mastered experience designed by Careots and powered by Gallup’s science and proven best practices. There are 3.3 billion workers worldwide. All have the right to a thriving life, resilient mind, and engaging work. W@W is the only global standard to get them there.

Head of Growth

Careots

At the height of the pandemic, it became clear the workplace was changing. And I knew I wanted to be part of the change. With the mission of helping people experience a thriving life, resilient mind & engaging work, I joined Careots. Over 4 years, I grew to Head of Growth as we continued to grow while with customers like Avalanche Studios, EasterSealsNJ & NativeRoots. As the impact work has on our Wellbeing, helping organizations care with precision is as important as ever. Because no matter the work we do, we all want to feel cared for while doing it. Without that care, it’s impossible to show up & be our best.

Business Development 

Partnerships

Passion of the Weiss

Passion of the Weiss (POW) is one of the most respected publications in music journalism. Headed by Jeff Weiss, contributing writers have the chance to break the mold and ask the questions no one else will; all the while, keeping the spirit of true music journalism alive.

Journalist

Woden

Recognizing the power of stories, Woden created the first productized approach to Brand storytelling. Armed with the StoryGuide, companies have the ability to say exactly who they are & who they help in a unique way that not only aligns each part of their business, but connects them to the right customers. As much as we relied on proven best practices, it was not at all out of the ordinary to create bespoke strategies for clients trying to break the mold. Along with being the cultural glue that inspired some of our best work — as part of the creative team — I had the opportunity to develop & contribute strategy for clients like Bush Hog, Shaw University & tech-unicorn Chargebee. In a special engagement, I ran social for PhillyWeekly, producing weekly X (Twitter) threads that saw over 300% growth in channel engagement.

Writer | Brand Architect | Experience Strategist

52nd & Forever Media LLC

After ripping & running in some of the most innovative companies in the world, it felt like the perfect time to establish something of my own. So, I said goodbye to corporate America. And, started 52nd & Forever Media with a simple mission: to help organizations tell stories that reach their customers. Working with clients, I created & delivered strategy leveraging my understanding of Digital Marketing (Google Ads, Google Analytics, SEO, Copywriting). In one unique engagement, I helped a client develop framework, design & copy for a community-focused Cryptocurrency platform inspired by CoinMarketCap. All in all, this one of the hardest periods of my career. In it I experienced the euphoria of wow-ing a client. Along with personal lows stemming from it being a lonely journey. Though I had to close shop — I am much better for taking the leap.

Entrepreneur

Datadog

As a Google Cloud Partner of the year winner, Datadog has become the go to security & cloud monitoring platform for companies like Toyota & the London Stock Exchange. With a recent round of funding ($94mil) in 2016, as part of the People Ops team, we ramped up the entire employee experience & more. New office move to the New York Times Building, deeper employee security processes, management of larger dedicated vendors list for maintenance, execution of more company-wide events & continued systems optimization aided in single year growth from $48mil in 2016 to $100mil in 2017. What a wild ride it was.

Sr. Office Coordinator

Wyng

Established as a leader in User Generated Content (UGC); Wyng led campaigns for the likes of People Magazine & the Green Bay Packers. As part of the People Ops team, the crash course began day 1 in establishing processes that scaled within a lightning fast environment. Designing & executing company- wide events along with establishing partnerships with Bevi — to lower our waste footprint — were just a few responsibilities that led me become a key contributor to company culture & people experience.

Jr. Facilities Manager

Billionaire Boys Club & Ice Cream LLC

The brainchild of world renowned creative Pharrell Williams; BBC is a business all its own. Moving through the worlds of Fashion, Music & Media, on any given day I could sell industry defining garments, establish strategy for an upcoming social campaign & deliver an exceptional experience for unique events like Beyoncé’s Bee Line Timberland release. Being multifaceted was not only required but became one of my truest strengths.

Stylist | Brand Ambassador

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Known as one of the best training programs in the world; from interning my freshman year of college to establishing key accounts like Netflix’ Nurse Jackie &  running a stand alone branch of 20+ cars, ERAC gave me the building blocks I needed in sales, communication & problem solving to step into any environment — and thrive.

Management Assistant

Management Trainee

Intern

i’ve done many different things over my career. i've worn many hats & titles. 

but it took walking away from everything to find exactly who i want to be.

this is why i'm building Ahmad’s Body Shop. for people like me.

who need a place where we can remember who we were, celebrate who are.

and dream about who we can be.

taplio

The Battle

Nora DiNuzzo

🛞 Dante P.

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taplio

The Battle

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🛞 Dante P.

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);}Nora DiNuzzo's LinkedIn Performance

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