A young entrepreneur, industry pioneer, highly regarded marketing expert and a man who has surpassed new heights of commercial and financial success are just a few ways people have described Daymond John. Over the last 20 years, Daymond John (The Shark) has evolved from one of the most successful fashion icons of his generation to a highly sought after branding expert, author, consultant and as a speaker in business and motivational genres.

Daymond's creative vision and strong knowledge of the marketplace created one of the most iconic fashion brands in recent years. FUBU ("For Us By Us"), represents a lifestyle that was neglected by other clothing companies. Realizing this need in the marketplace, Daymond helped to create the untapped urban apparel space and laid the groundwork for other companies to compete in this newly established market.

Daymond grew up in the community of Hollis, Queens, which was an incubator for stars of a new genre of music called Hip-Hop. With acts like RUN DMC, Salt-N-Peppa and LL Cool J rapidly making names for themselves, Daymond was surrounded by people who gave him the inspiration to create a clothing line, which would ultimately change the fashion world.

His first foray into the apparel market came when he wanted a tie-top hat he had seen in a popular music video, but could not find one for a good price. With the sewing skills he had learned from his mother, Daymond started making the hats for himself and his friends. Realizing he was on to something, Daymond made a sizeable order of the tie-top hats, sold them on the streets of Queens and made $800 in just a few hours. There was a buzz about Daymond's products that simply could not be ignored.

Based on that early success, Daymond recruited some of his neighborhood friends: Keith Perrin, J. Martin, and Carl Brown, and FUBU was born. They created a distinctive FUBU logo and began sewing it on T-shirts, sweatshirts and hats. The brand hit a tipping point when Daymond convinced Hollis native and Hip-Hop superstar, LL Cool J, to wear FUBU for a promotional campaign. This was the catalyst behind the Hip-Hop community supporting the new brand and instantly giving it credibility. In need of start-up capital to keep up with demand, Daymond and his mother mortgaged the home they collectively owned for $100,000. Soon, the home was turned into a makeshift factory and office space.

FUBU gained even more nationwide exposure when Daymond and his partners traveled to the industry trade show Magic in Las Vegas. Despite not being able to afford a booth at the event, the FUBU team showed buyers the distinctively cut, vibrantly colored sportswear in their hotel room. The company came back to Queens with over $300,000 worth of orders. FUBU soon had a contract with the New York City-based department store chain Macy's, and it began expanding its line to include jeans and outerwear. A distribution deal with Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung allowed their designs to be manufactured and delivered on a massive scale. With the brand transcending into the mainstream markets, at its peak, FUBU recorded annual sales of $350 million, placing it in the same stratosphere as designer labels such as Donna Karan New York and Tommy Hilfiger.

The momentum of the line didn't stop there. FUBU quickly became an international success and, in 2001, it grew to almost 75 freestanding stores in countries such as Mexico, Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, China, and Japan. Daymond always admired the effect that brands had on people and culture, and at that point he decided to co-brand some of his FUBU products with brands that he grew up on such as the Cosby kids, the Harlem Globetrotters and Muhammad Ali. In an attempt to expand his fashion empire, Mr. John and his partners also acquired several other apparel companies that appealed to all different kinds of consumer bases, such as -Willie Esco, Kappa USA, Drunkin Monkey, Heatherette, Coogi and Crown Holder -just to name a few. Acquiring and operating so many diverse products slowly made Mr. John an expert in marketing and branding. The media and large corporations alike quickly took notice and sought out Daymond for interviews, consulting and speaking engagements.

Since his humble upbringing in Hollis Queens, Mr. John has never forgotten the importance of giving back. Mr. John and the FUBU foundation have given away millions to various organizations. As Mr. John grew to be a sought after speaker, his dedication to his company would not permit him the time to share his knowledge with as many people as he would of liked to, so in 2005 Daymond entered the literary world with his first book Display of Power: How FUBU Changed A World Of Fashion, Branding And Lifestyle, which tells the story of his awe inspiring journey and provides a roadmap for those who aspire to succeed in business and in life. Daymond followed up with his second book, The Brand Within: How We Brand Ourselves, From Birth To The Boardroom, which examines the loyal relationships companies seek to establish with the public by attaching celebrities to their brands and the instantaneous impulses consumers exhibit when purchasing a product. Drawing on his cutting edge experiences in the fashion business, as well as, his hard-won insights developed as a sought-after marketing consultant to trendsetters and tastemakers, the author argues that branding relationships have now seeped into every aspect of our lives.

In 2009, Daymond joined the cast of the ABC entrepreneurial business show, Shark Tank, created by acclaimed TV producer Mark Burnett. As one of the "Sharks", Daymond and four other prominent executives listen to business pitches from everyday-people hoping to launch their company or product to new heights. Investing his own money in every project, Daymond becomes partners with the entrepreneurs and helps turn their dreams into a reality. Millions of viewers tune into the show as Daymond demonstrates his marketing prowess and entrepreneurial insights, which have earned him his nickname as "The Shark."

Due to the increasing amount of requests from major companies, Shark Branding was formed to provide companies with the marketing insights that have made The Shark, Daymond John's companies successful over the years. The firm consults companies on innovative strategies to connect with their consumers more effectively by associating with the world's most influential celebrities, musicians and personalities. Whether it's activating a celebrity endorsement, integrating product in a music video, TV show or consulting on how to effectively speak to their consumers, companies rely on Shark Branding to utilize Daymond's contacts, strategies and relationships to produce real results and increased sales.

In recognition of his contributions to fashion and the face of American business, Daymond has been celebrated with some of the most prestigious awards including: keys to over a dozen cities, Brandweek Marketer of the Year, the Advertising Age Marketing 1000 Award for Outstanding Ad Campaign, the first ever Essence Award given to a company, Crain's Business of New York Forty Under Forty Award, Ernst & Young's New York Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the Brandeis University International Business School's Asper Award for Excellence in Global Entrepreneurship, the NAACP Entrepreneurs of the Year Award and the Congressional Achievement Award for Entrepreneurship just to name a few.

MOST REQUESTED SPEAKING TOPICS
Each of, The Shark, Daymond John’s keynotes are customized to fit your specific objectives. They are informative yet entertaining and involve: lots of humor, high-energy, and audience-speaker interaction. Daymond uses compelling stories from his rags-to-riches journey to illustrate his points and always leaves audience members with practical, tangible, and invaluable tools to incorporate into their professional as well as personal endeavors. With over twenty years of phenomenally successful business experience, Daymond has the ability speak on wide-range of business related matters; however, his three most requested topics are:

 
GOALS/MOTIVATION
In this keynote, presented in his charismatic style, The Shark, Daymond John, takes audience members on an inspiring, emotional rollercoaster ride. They’ll hear, first-hand, how a man, with no formal business training whatsoever, went from driving cabs and waiting tables at Red Lobster to creating a global fashion empire with retail sales exceeding four billion dollars to date, and a starring role on ABC’s hit reality business show, Shark Tank. Daymond entertains and awes audience members with true-life tales of his incredible successes and numerous failures. Equally important, however, he motivates, inspires, and teaches them how to set and go after their own goals with newfound focus and determination.

Audience members will be galvanized as they realize they have been setting goals for themselves all of their lives – whether they realized it or not! What’s more, to their surprise, many attendees will learn that the goals they have been setting have been self-destructive.

Unlike some “motivational speakers”, rather than spitting-out tiresome “I can make it, so can you” clichés, Daymond shares the exact goal-setting strategies that he attributes to his success and teaches audience members how to incorporate them into their endeavors. This keynote will challenge attendees to exercise their brains in a way that cultivates a positive, goal-setting mindset.

THIS KEYNOTE IS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC FOR: SALESPEOPLE, STUDENTS, BUSINESS OWNERS, ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS, AND JUST ABOUT ANYONE WHO WANTS MORE OUT OF THEIR PERSONAL AND/OR PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS.

“…Daymond John is clearly one of the best! Daymond has an innate ability and powerful presence that invites every attendee to turn off their cell phones, Blackberrys, iPhones and other devices because they don't want to miss a word. Each attendee feels Daymond is speaking to them one on one.  He infuses lessons, humor, insight and experience into his keynotes unlike anyone else we have hosted. I strongly recommend Daymond when planning your next event. You won’t be sorry nor will your audience be disappointed.”
 — David Freschman, Founders & CEO of Early Stage East Venture Capital

 
BRANDING/MARKETING
When William Shakespeare said, "All the world's a stage", he was indirectly talking about branding! This informative keynote is like nothing else on the market. Sure, there are other speakers that may explain how to market and brand a product, but how many explain, step-by-step, how to brand yourself and transfer that power into your job, company or product? Did you realize that you’re a brand? According to The Shark, you were branded the day you were born and continuously every second since!

In this keynote, The Shark, Daymond John, gives audience members in-depth insight into how your personal brand affects all aspects of your life. Not only will attendees learn the importance of branding, Daymond will reveal some of the tricks that helped him expand his brand into dozens of countries around the globe. The techniques shared can be applied to personal branding as well as to the branding of products and concepts.

Corporations love employees with a strong sense of branding because it inspires out-of-the-box thinking, creating an infectious energy that flows throughout the work environment.

It's no secret that the world has gotten smaller. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Foursquare, and dozens of other social websites have increased the desire for people to be noticed as a brand, let The Shark, Daymond John, show you how.

THIS KEYNOTE IS GREAT FOR: SALESPEOPLE, MARKETING AND ADVERTISING PERSONNEL, BUSINESS OWNERS, ASPIRING ENTREPENEURS, AND ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN PERSONAL BRANDING OR THE BRANDING OF AN IDEA OR PRODUCT.

“I am proud to report that I have received numerous notes of appreciation from sponsors, participants…and guests…It was inspirational to the students to have you with us… [They] told me how contagious they found the entrepreneurial spirit in the room and you clearly fostered that…You were the perfect choice for our Master of Ceremonies and we appreciate your infectious enthusiasm for your work and your support of entrepreneurs.”
 — Joshua E. Aaron, President – Business Technology Partners, Inc., Planning Committee Member, Entrepreneurs Organization of New York

NEGOTIATION STRATEGIES FOR WOMEN
Women - You have more power than you may think!

Although The Shark, Daymond John, is one of the most recognized negotiators on network television, and has conducted hundreds of negotiations with both men and women throughout his twenty years in business, he never planned on speaking on negotiation strategies for women; that is, until California First Lady, Maria Shriver, called upon him to speak on this very topic for her annual Women’s Conference.

Feeling a bit out of his realm and comfort zone, The Shark, Daymond John, decided to immerse himself in research to find out what, if any, differences existed between how men and women tend to negotiate with each other. In this keynote, Daymond shares what he discovered in his research and personal experiences over the years. His findings will have audience members sitting up and taking notes! According to The Shark, not only do women have several distinct advantages over men when negotiating in both professional and personal settings, but quite a few disadvantages as well.

Daymond will share specific techniques on how to respond to today's negotiation challenges. Not only will this keynote leave every attendee feeling empowered, more confident, and ready to tackle the world, they will have lots of fun and laughs in the process.

THIS KEYNOTE IS EXCELEENT FOR: SALESPEOPLE, BUSNESS OWNERS, ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS, AND ANYONE WHO IS LOOKING TO IMPROVE THEIR INTERPERSONAL SKILLS.

“…Daymond’s keynote address on how to negotiate effectively at work and at home received overwhelming praise from conference attendees. Many people find it difficult to communicate clearly and speak up for themselves. Daymond’s speech addressed this critical area, giving women the appropriate tools to implement good communication in both their public and personal lives. Daymond captivated his audience with his positive outlook and engaging style of presentation…Daymond John is a fantastic speaker that will be an asset to any event.”
 — Tamara Torlakson, Program & Speaker Manager (The Women’s Conference)