20+ Years of Strategic Creative Leadership
Content & brand strategist.
Client tamer.
Creative leader.
Experience
With more than 20 years in strategic communications, I have worked across B2C, B2B, healthcare, education, government, and technology to create impactful and engaging digital experiences that connect with audiences and inspire action.
WORK
University of Michigan Medicine • Tufts Medicine • HAProxy • LEGO • Cogency Global • Mitnick Security • HillTop Contractors • Gunderson Health • Akima • Hasbro • Delta Dental • Roller Rag • Lioness Magazine • BloomNation • Disney • Mastercard • Summer Infant • W. Mass Economic Development Council • Viakoo • Living Security • 2050 Project • Brain Injury Services of VA • Save Mart Lucky • FoodMax • Saltwater Solutions• U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services • Saul Ewing • Standard Insurance Company • Davis Polk •
SKILLS
Brand storytelling and voice creation • Editorial leadership • Best-in-class creative copywriting • Positioning & strategy • Managing and mentoring • Diligent research and fast mastery of complex concepts • Legally-regulated industries & licensed properties • Art direction • Video scripts & production direction • Content globalization • Process optimization • Quality assurance and copy editing • Deep understanding of inbound marketing, buyer personas and the buyer’s journey • CMS website development and design • Change management•Governance • AI • Prompt engineering •
Phase2 Annual Award Nomination:
Erik Summerfield, Director of Engineering
“Dee consistently shows up earnestly, embracing her true self and encouraging others to do the same. Her authenticity is not just personal—it’s contagious, creating an environment where everyone feels safe and empowered to express themselves.
What truly sets her apart is her ability to navigate challenging conversations with openness and inclusivity. She doesn’t shy away from difficult discussions; instead, she leans in, making space for others to join in and contribute meaningfully. She not only opens the conversation but has the special ability to maintain the conversation even when it is difficult. This unique gift makes her an “authenticity multiplier,” amplifying trust, collaboration, and progress across the team.
Her presence and approach allow us to reach the heart of challenges more quickly and effectively. Beyond that, she makes Phase2 a place where I genuinely want to show up every day—a workplace where authenticity and impact go hand in hand.”
Testimonials
Phase2 Annual Award Nomination:
Sierra Alvis Robinson, Director of Content
“Through her genuine approach to leadership and unwavering commitment to fostering an environment of trust and open communication, Danielle exemplifies what it means to be truly authentic in the workplace.
As leader of both the DEI Guild and the DEI affinity group, Danielle creates spaces where everyone feels genuinely seen and heard. Her expertise in non-violent communication and deep empathy enable her to facilitate discussions that bring out the best in people. In meetings, her thoughtful listening style and skilled facilitation create an atmosphere where team members feel safe to share their perspectives and experiences.
What sets Danielle apart is her skill in delivering direct feedback while maintaining strong relationships. Recently, Danielle needed to deliver some candid feedback about a project we were collaborating on. I appreciated the thoughtful and honest way she delivered the feedback, even through this was a difficult conversation for us to have. I believe it made me a stronger manager and strengthened our working relationship.
Danielle's authenticity shines through in her ability to build deep, trusting relationships with both internal teams and clients. Her work with Michigan Medicine exemplifies how being genuinely herself earns clients' trust and respect. She has replicated this success with other clients, including HA Proxy and Akima, where her authentic approach to communication and storytelling has created strong partnerships. Her consistency in being "100 percent herself in all ways" has made her a sought-after subject matter expert in authentic storytelling and inclusive communications.
Danielle Rhodes embodies the spirit of the Be Authentic award through her natural ability to combine genuine human connection with exceptional results. Her authentic leadership style not only drives business outcomes but also creates a lasting positive impact on the people around her. She proves that being true to oneself while driving results isn't just possible—it's the key to sustainable success.”
Phase2 Annual Award Nomination:
Taira Payne, Project Manager
“The HAProxy SOW2 is the first time I have had the pleasure of working with Dee and she has been fantastic. There are certain members of the client team who like to challenge and push back on minute details regarding word choice, etc., and Dee is always prepared with rationale rooted in data and best practices.
Dee is able to converse with the client in a way that is confident, authoritative, respectful, and warm, even when the client is playing devil’s advocate and bordering on argumentative. Dee was facing an uphill battle going into this engagement because while it was clear to Phase2 that the client was/is in desperate need of band definition, voice, and tone, the client saw this work as almost an afterthought when compared to the design work. Dee has done an excellent job converting a resistant client into an engaged partner.”