Danielle Sabrina is the founder of Society22 PR, a Top 10 National PR Firm on Inc.’s Fastest Growing Companies, and ranked #5 Best Company in America by Entrepreneur magazine.
Danielle transformed her life trajectory from teenage mother and high school dropout to becoming one of the youngest traders on Wall Street at just 19 years old. With a successful background in investment management, she guides and supports clients on their journey from seed round to IPO. Leveraging her expertise, Danielle helps her clients navigate crucial brand decisions, optimize strategies, and provide insights that have fueled their growth and success.
Known for her media and brand strategy and her ability to connect the worlds of business development, digital marketing, and PR, her results-oriented reputation earned the trust of many high-profile CEOs, professional athletes, and celebrities over the years. Now, under Danielle’s leadership, Society22 is one of the most sought-after brand and media agencies to incubate new ideas, garner press, and develop strategic partnerships.
Additionally, she was named Female Entrepreneur of the Year, CIO’s Top 20 Female Entrepreneur to Follow, and Entrepreneur magazine’s expert mentor. She also regularly contributes to Forbes, Fast Company, RollingStone, and several other publications.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I start my day with a custom hypnosis recording that aligns with whatever goal I’m working toward. Then I’ll read a chapter from As a Man Thinketh or something by Neville Goddard. I’m a big believer in studying the OGs of mindset—you can never read that material too many times.
After that, it’s oat milk coffee and cuddles with my two French Bulldogs, Frankie and Ziggy, while I catch up on current events.
I stay productive by keeping things highly organized and doing what I call “reflect checks”—pausing to make sure the task I’m focused on still makes sense. It’s easy to feel productive just by crossing things off a list, but I’ve learned to ask myself why. Has something changed that no longer requires my attention? Or is there a higher-priority project that deserves it instead?
How do you bring ideas to life?
As an entrepreneur, bringing ideas to life has never been the problem—in fact, it’s like a drug. There’s always that “I have the best idea ever” moment of the week.
What’s taken real discipline is learning how to evaluate and prioritize which ideas are actually worth executing. I use tools like Strategic Coach’s Impact Filter, and I’ve also trained my team to push back when necessary. Over the years, I’ve learned that new ideas don’t fuel everyone the same way they fuel me. For some, they can actually feel overwhelming—especially for the people responsible for turning those ideas into reality.
When I have a big idea I know I need to bring to life, I force myself to think through every step of what’s required to make it happen. I don’t leave that initial planning to others. Once I have it mapped out, I break it into realistic chunks, clarify expectations, identify the investment needed, and decide what—if anything—needs to move to the back burner.
Only when I’m crystal clear do I bring it to the team. That way, everyone understands the direction we’re headed, and when everyone’s aligned, ideas come to life much faster.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Risking sounding like everyone else, I really do have to say AI. It’s been incredibly empowering to have a companion who helps me accelerate my thinking and articulate my ideas—someone who can break down complex projects or concepts in a way that works best for my brain.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Staying in my unique ability is something I learned through Strategic Coach. It’s the natural talent or skill that gives you energy, produces exceptional results, and makes the biggest impact on others when you’re doing it.
It took me a while to really figure out what mine was, but once I did, everything changed. When I’m working in my unique ability, my productivity is higher and my output always surprises me. When I’m not, I find myself procrastinating and taking forever to get simple things done. That’s usually when I start creating problems that don’t need to be solved, just to avoid doing the thing I don’t want to do.
Now I make a point to check in with myself every day before I start working. When I stay in that space, I’m a rockstar. I’ll be so deep in the zone that I forget I haven’t even had my coffee yet.
What advice would you give your younger self?
To be honest with yourself and take life a little more seriously. I would also tell her she’s a great mom (teen mom here), and that both her daughters end up being highly successful financially and personally early on. I would also tell her to develop her mindset and learn to take control of the thoughts that linger in her head, because they are shaping her life. I would say to her to learn about other people’s psychology so she would be better equipped to deal with difficult personalities in business.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.
I think most people agree to a point, but there are no victims. We came into this life with karma to clear, and our lives are reflections of our beliefs, especially those buried deep in our subconscious.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
I’m constantly working on myself and truly believe everything is connected. I put a lot of effort into transforming any area of my life that feels like friction or discomfort. People often think certain parts of their life are unrelated, but they’re not. Something as personal as not forgiving a parent, for example, could be the very thing holding someone back from success at work.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I start by praying and meditating. After that, I’ll usually do something grounding, like organizing my office or tidying up an area in my home that needs attention. If I’m feeling really unfocused, I take a break. I don’t think people give themselves enough grace for that. Sometimes you just need to do something fun or take a weekend trip to get inspired again. I’ve learned not to push through those moments—they’re usually signals that it’s time to slow down or be more intentional.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Honestly, it was patience. There’s no substitute for time. What I’ve learned is that I can try to hack the system and scale fast, but my business, my team, and my clients all need time to settle in. I used to change things constantly, thinking that was the solution, but the real solution was staying focused on my P&L, keeping cash in the bank, and buying time—for myself and for my team. That space is what allows true transformation and results, and that’s what ultimately attracts more growth to the business.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
It’s not necessarily a failure, but something that’s really stayed with me is the importance of handling team transitions with empathy. I’ve learned not to let HR processes or legal advice overshadow the human element. You can protect the business while still leading with compassion and connection.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Get as much exposure as you can for your business. Write for any publication that will feature your thought leadership, and go on every podcast—even if the audience is small. Focus on growing your personal brand. Every piece of content, whether it’s a podcast interview, an article, or a news segment, becomes permanent real estate for you online. Over time, it builds trust, credibility, and authority in your space.
If you’re not sure where to start, search “contributor guidelines” to find publications that accept guest posts.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Slack. We manage all of our client campaigns in it, and it allows for fast, efficient, and transparent communication around press activities and campaign progress.
What is the best $100 you recently spent?
I was in Washington, D.C. recently for a conference and went to a Michelin-starred restaurant. The food and wine were incredible, and I think it’s so important to treat yourself—especially after a long day of networking and taking in so much information.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?
As a Man Thinketh and The Power of Your Subconscious Mind. I believe everything starts with the subconscious, and both books are great reminders of just how powerful our minds really are.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
The Summer I Turned Pretty was such a cute series. Sometimes it’s nice to just be entertained by something lighthearted and nostalgic that reminds you of being young and in love.
Key learnings:
- I’ve learned that empathy should never get lost in process. You can protect your business while leading with compassion and connection.
- Patience has been my greatest teacher. Sustainable success comes from focus, financial discipline, and giving your team the time and space to grow into transformation.
- Every piece of content—from podcasts to guest articles—is permanent real estate that builds trust and authority over time.
- I believe everything is connected. When you address the areas of life that cause friction, the energy and clarity you gain amplify every other area—including your business.