Dan Cockerell

Upon graduation from Boston University in 1991, Dan Cockerell moved to Florida and worked as a parking attendant at Disney’s Epcot Center. Subsequently, he joined the Disneyland Paris Management Trainee Program as part of the opening team and moved to France in 1992. While working in Paris, Cockerell held various management positions in Parking, Ticketing, Guest Relations, Food & Beverages and Human Resources.

After spending 5 years in France, Cockerell relocated to Florida and held a variety of executive roles at the Walt Disney World Resort, both in the theme parks and resort hotels. His last 9 years with the company, he was successively Vice President of Epcot, Vice president of Disney’s Hollywood Studios and eventually Vice President of the Magic Kingdom where he led 12,000 cast members and entertained over 20 million guests annually.

In addition to his operational responsibilities, Cockerell was a keynote speaker for the world-renowned Disney Institute for 18 years. He has addressed open-enrollment participants from all over the world as well as attendees in custom programs including the USAA Bank, General Motors, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Army, the Southern Methodist University Business School, Porsche A.G., and United Airlines.

After a fulfilling and exciting 26-year career with the Walt Disney Company, Cockerell and his wife Valerie made the decision to set out on a new venture and start their own consulting and speaking business. Cockerell provides customized, authentic presentations, insightful workshops and one on one coaching, focusing on leadership and management practices drawing upon his extensive Disney career with relevant examples and inspiring storytelling.

He earned his MBA in 2001 at the Crummer School of Business at Rollins College.