Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Bornowski.
Danielle, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Going through college, I planned to work in non-profit communications. I loved working for a mission-driven organization that was making an impact on the community it served. After a decade serving non-profit organizations, I was the Communications Director of an org in the foster care space. They were undergoing a strategic plan, and I had this quiet voice whispering that I wasn’t the person to lead them through that plan. But I didn’t know what to do about it, so I ignored it.
Until I was sitting in church one day and leaned over to my husband to tell him I was going to quit my job the next day. His response was an easy “Ok.”
The next day, I put in my notice and started dreaming about what life looked like. I didn’t want to go to another organization. I wanted to be able to help more people, so I decided to freelance and see what happened over the course of the summer.
I started attending networking events and getting clients. By the end of the summer, we had a business.
I never expected to be an entrepreneur, so I had no idea what I was doing. I charged too little, said yes to everything, and built a business based on what I thought I was “supposed” to do. It was draining, and on the edge of burnout, my husband sweetly pointed out that I was in charge of the business and that if I didn’t like what I was doing, I should change it.
That conversation pushed me to really dream about the ideal business I wanted to have. I didn’t want to do social media management for people – I hate social media. What I loved was helping them zoom out and create a full strategy to grow their business. Sure, social media could be part of that plan, but I loved working with my clients to create a custom solution based on their personalities, their bandwidth, their budget, and their goals.
So, we transitioned our work to focus on strategy, supporting female-led businesses in creating a marketing and sales strategy that was easy because it was authentic to them, rather than being an out-of-the-box formula that felt like slimy sales.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Oof, no, it’s certainly not been smooth!
I can’t count how many times I’ve asked “who was supposed to tell me that?!” when it came to all the back-end business stuff–tax details, structures, bookkeeping, etc.
I invested in tools and training programs that I thought would be “the thing” to take us to the next level (which they weren’t), only to be disappointed at the investment.
I struggled to figure out what the work-life balance I wanted was – prioritizing taking kids to doc appointments and making dinner over working in the business, (because, as I later realized, I didn’t take my business as seriously as I did my husband’s job), which stalled my growth.
All those frustrations were there to teach me something, though. In the moment, it was hard to see past the struggle, but I look back now and see how much growth I’ve had, and it’s amazing. That growth has allowed me to build a business I love and serve my clients exactly as I envisioned when we made that shift away from social media management.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about DQB Strategies?
I’m a marketing strategist who helps women entrepreneurs build a clear, confident marketing strategy that feels like them. Most of my clients are the face of their business—they’re coaches, consultants, and service providers—and they’re often overwhelmed by all the advice, tactics, and templates out there. They’ve invested in courses and downloaded all the freebies, but they still don’t have a plan they actually want to follow. That’s where I come in.
I specialize in helping them slow down, get clear on what matters, and create a strategy that aligns with their personality, values, and goals. I believe your marketing should feel good to you—and that the best strategies are often the simplest ones. My clients always say they feel relieved when we start working together, like they can finally stop second-guessing and start taking aligned action.
What sets my brand apart is how personal and grounded it feels. You won’t find gimmicks or fluff here—just real conversations, thoughtful strategy, and a commitment to helping women grow businesses they actually enjoy running. I’m most proud when a client says, “This finally feels doable,” or “This sounds like me.”
And because I believe marketing doesn’t have to follow anyone else’s rulebook, I’ve also built a side business called Nest & Nonsense, where I teach backyard chicken keepers how to turn their flocks into fun, community-supported income streams. It’s part passion project, but it’s an amazing case study into the work I do with my clients– proof that when you lean into what makes you uniquely you—and build a simple strategy around it—you can create something that’s both joyful and profitable.
Whether I’m guiding someone through a 90-day marketing sprint, helping refine a signature offer, or selling a digital guide about monetizing your chickens, the heart of my work is always the same: helping people market in a way that makes sense for them.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Marketing has always been a fast-moving industry, but the pace of change has accelerated even more with the rise of AI. It’s exciting—AI tools are making it easier and faster to generate ideas, content, and strategies. But with that speed comes a new kind of overwhelm. I think the biggest shift we’ll continue to see is not just more marketing tactics, but a deeper need for discernment—knowing which strategies actually make sense for your business, goals, and capacity.
There are really two kinds of marketing: paid (like ads and funnels that bring in quick leads) and organic (which is slower but built on trust and connection). Both have their place. But in a world flooded with influencers, content, and one-size-fits-all advice, people are craving authenticity more than ever. The businesses that will thrive are the ones that market with intention and human nuance—not just automation.
While AI is changing how we do marketing, it doesn’t change what people want: to feel seen, understood, and served. That’s why I believe we’ll see more businesses combining smart automation with real strategy—and turning to people like me to help them cut through the noise and build a marketing plan that actually fits.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dqbstrategies.marketing
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellebornowski/
- Other: https://instagram.com/nest_and_nonsense
