About Me
I'm a humble, ambitious, razor-sharp professional and lifelong learner. I'm a leader who believes that success is only meaningful when achieved as a team. A former stand-up comic who knows that timing is everything, I have a quick wit and great communication skills. I believe in maintaining a growth mindset, and I always stay open to new ideas (unless you're talkin' new pizza styles, since a good slice of NY pizza ain't broke and don't need to be fixed).
My key strengths include:
- I experiment within reason and take risks when necessary, with a focus on achieving the end goal
- I'm all hustle. I'm thorough, persistent, and like to roll up my sleeves
- I'm an avid woodworker and crazy about precision and attention to detail
- I'm both a strategist and an execution expert
Experience & Education
2022 - 2023
Manager, product growth strategy
Altman Solon
Senior leadership position overseeing and managing various aspects of consulting projects, responsible for leading project teams, conducting research and analysis, formulating strategic recommendations, and collaborating closely with clients to address their specific business challenges
2019 - 2022
Engagement Manager, Product & Business Design
EY (ERNST & young)
Senior leadership position with significant responsibilities leading and managing large consulting engagements, providing strategic direction and guidance to project teams, and ensuring the successful delivery of client projects.
2016 - 2018
Founder and president
Hoke poke
Conceived the original restaurant concept, developed the brand, menu, and operational systems, and expanded the business model through franchising, and ensured the overall success and growth of the franchise network
2015 - 2016
Strategy and business development consultant
Greenlight media & marketing
Advised clients on strategic decisions related to business growth, expansion, and mergers or acquisitions, and providing expert insights, conducting market research, financial analysis, and due diligence
2006 - 2015
co-founder, vice president of product and strategy
inhance media
Led and oversaw the development and execution of the overall product strategy and collaborating with the executive team, product managers, and other stakeholders to define the company's long-term product vision, identify market opportunities, and prioritize product initiatives that align with business goals
2004 - 2006
associate consultant
EY (ERNST & young)
Managed risk services projects for the leading provider (Big 4 Accounting Firm) in assurance, tax, transaction, and advisory services
2017 - 2019
master's Degree in Business Administration, strategic management
Temple University
Graduated Dean's List
2000 - 2004
Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Accounting
University of California at Riverside
Graduated Cum Laude
Full resume available upon request
What I can do
Skills & Proficiencies
Go-to-market strategy and ops
I have led and supported clients on their E2E navigation and validation of the right strategy (biz case/product/value prop) and operations (execution and readiness) to bring ideas to life.
user segmentation
I have led target-based segmentations to assess how clients can best serve their existing users and target new user acquisition for growth.
digital transformation and cx
I have led digital strategy and launch execution for self-serve, CX/AX, and product initiatives by utilizing design/innovation methodologies, market research, and cognitive walkthroughs to keep customers in a digital ecosystem.
product management and developement lifecycle
I have led and supported clients in transforming their E2E delivery process to be more agile/collaborative and have supported in bringing features from ideation to the customer's hands.
Beyond the Office
I am an accomplished woodworker
One day I decided I was tired of not being able to fix anything, so I started taking woodworking classes and discovered a love and talent for woodworking
I can throw down in the kitchen
I love to cook but don't find as much time as I would like sometimes for really involved dishes
I have two wonderful, wild sons
I have two young boys who are amazing, funny, frustrating, lovely, wild, annoying, incredible kids.
Shout Outs
"I have had the pleasure to work with Darin over the years as a business partner and friend. He is intelligent, thoughtful, efficient, and both a team player and a leader who can balance multiple responsibilities at once. Any organization would be lucky to have him."
CEO - avenue homes
"As a business leader, I’ve met my fair share of smart, driven entrepreneurs with good ideas and plenty of gravitas – but only a handful have the integrity and hard-won, in-the-trenches experience that Darin has. I have seen him contend with the good, the bad, and the ugly. He takes it all in stride, and embodies many values I wish more business leaders did."
CEO - Arkive
"As long as I have known Darin, I have been impressed by his professional business acumen, his enthusiasm, and his ingenuity. He has a keen eye for the “big picture” as well as a solid plan for what it might take to make it happen. Darin excels at whatever he puts his mind to because he is goal-oriented, focused on execution, and driven to succeed."
founder - matt leinart foundation
Musings
A long time ago, in a bowling alley not too far away, I had dreams of being a stand-up comic. My jokes were good, but someone should have talked to me about my style choices (who left me out of the house wearing a pookah shell necklace and cell phone belt clip?). Back then, I was friends with a few comics who hadn't made it big yet. We were all just crappy, struggling comics looking to get better and work out material. We all worked as many open mics, coffee shops, and backyards as we could.
Fast forward 15 years and what happened? I gave up comedy for the sake of pragmatism. I was a working professional and didn't have the time to write jokes and go to the office all the time. Adam Ray stuck with it and has become hugely successful and is funnier now than I ever could be. Sometimes I wonder what could have been if I had continued on the same path, but it's not productive to worry about. Instead I take comfort in knowing that my kids think I'm the funniest person on the planet, and that's good enough for me.
My first son was born when my wife and I lived in our brownstone apartment in Brooklyn, NY. I loved the neighborhood of Fort Greene and would have stayed there long term, but having kids changes things. I didn't realize how much we would truly need family (and a yard).
Having kids is hard. That's obvious to anyone who has ever raised children but it wasn't clear to me before we had kids. Now that I'm four years into my parenting journey I can truly say that it's not just hard, but most of the time it's a bummer. It's thankless, frustrating, agonizing, anxiety-inducing, hard-ass work. A friend of mine once told me before I had kids, that not having them is way more fun than having them. You'll be angry often, overwhelmed, exhausted, and longing for your life before you had them. There is no quantifiable or logical way you would ever say that having kids is good. And yet, it's just a better life. It's difficult to explain and I'm not a good enough writer to even attempt to. I just know that my life wouldn't be as meaningful without my boys, Miles and Lucas.
