Danielle Austen, founder and CEO of fluent360, has been appointed as the newest member of the Adler University Board of Trustees.
A Chicago native, Austen brings broad experience and expertise in the field of multicultural marketing and leadership. The Chicago Advertising Federation named her the 2023 Advertising Woman of the Year, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the advertising industry.
“We are delighted to welcome Danielle,” said Adler University President Raymond E. Crossman, Ph.D. “Her contributions to Adler will be invaluable as we continue our work as an institution rooted in excellence in education and student experience, community impact, and social justice.”
In 2008, Austen founded Team Ignition LLC with a single client and five employees. Her vision was to create a cultural marketing hub that celebrated the power of multicultural consumers and their vital role in American society. Her agency has since evolved into fluent360, which today employs a team of nearly 100 and manages a portfolio of Fortune 500 clients. Austen remains the majority owner, positioning her agency among the few in the country that are both minority- and female-owned.
Before her entrepreneurial journey, Austen’s career included leadership roles in marketing for Nordstrom, Jaguar North America, and Sony.
Austen holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Emory University and a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University. She is actively involved in industry organizations, serving on the Mosaic Council and as a corporate board member for the American Advertising Federation’s National Board of Directors. Additionally, she proudly serves on the Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana.
In her personal life, Austen has a passion for art and fashion and enjoys spending quality time with her family.