Danielle Austen
Trustee
Danielle Austen, a Chicago native and founder of fluent360, is a nationally recognized leader in marketing and the Chicago Advertising Federation’s 2023 Advertising Woman of the Year.
OVERVIEW
A Chicago native, Danielle 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.
In 2008, Danielle 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. Danielle remains the majority owner, positioning her agency among the few in the country that are both minority- and female-owned.
Before her entrepreneurial journey, Danielle’s career included leadership roles in marketing for Nordstrom, Jaguar North America, and Sony.
Danielle 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.