Meet Danielle Codere

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Danielle Codere a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Danielle, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

Being the only one in the room has been my reality more times than I can count—whether it was because of my size, my identity, or my background. I grew up poor, I’m part of the LGBTQ+ community, I’ve always been plus-sized, and I didn’t follow the straight-line path into business. I was a scrappy, multi-talented gig worker who pieced things together until I built Free Range Unicorn LLC into the powerful creative agency it is today.

What I’ve learned is that standing out in the crowd can feel isolating, but it can also become your superpower. Instead of trying to blend in, I leaned into what made me different. That choice forced me to build resilience, confidence, and an ability to trust my own instincts. It also taught me empathy—because when you know what it feels like to be on the outside, you naturally look for ways to bring others in.

I’ve become most effective by turning those differences into tools for collaboration. I can walk into a room that wasn’t designed for someone like me, and instead of shrinking, I expand. I listen, I connect, I make space. And in doing that, I’ve found not just success, but also a sense of leadership that’s rooted in authenticity.

For me, being “the only one” is not a limitation. It’s the very reason I’ve been able to create something original, inclusive, and impactful.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I like to say that I built Free Range Unicorn LLC out of both necessity and vision. I didn’t come from wealth or a straight-shot career ladder — I came up scrappy, multi-talented, and determined. Over the years I’ve been the gig worker, the creative, the strategist, and now, the founder and “Chief Executive Unicorn” of a company that helps thought leaders, healers, authors, and entrepreneurs step fully into their visibility.

At Free Range Unicorn, we specialize in spreading messages that matter. We do that through digital media, social storytelling, event production, and consulting. What makes it exciting is that no two days look the same: one day I’m producing a nationally syndicated TV show (Living Abundantly with Sarah Vie), another I’m building a YouTube growth strategy, or curating a sponsorship package for a red-carpet event. The common thread is that we’re creating opportunities for people to be seen, heard, and celebrated.

What I feel is most special about my brand is the heart at its core. I work with what I call “Healers, Feelers, and Spiritual Dealers” — the people who are leading with empathy, truth, and vision. I believe visibility is an act of love. When someone shares their story, their business, their art — it ripples out. My job is to make sure that ripple turns into a wave.

The Free Range Unicorn ecosystem is built by creative-minded individuals who mirror my own tenacity. Most of us came up through the school of hard knocks — hungry to help others, driven to achieve personal success, and resilient enough to carve out new paths. Every one of my business partners is a fellow minority business owner, and our growing team of unicorns stretches around the world. They are making a great living that allows them to support their families while sharpening their skills, creating a ripple effect of empowerment and possibility.

Right now, I’m focused on expansion in a few directions. I’m building immersive “Magic Media Bundles” for clients that combine branding, social content, PR, and video production. I’m continuing to scale the Unicorn team and nurture our global creative community. And I’m doubling down on helping our VIP clients — authors, coaches, chefs, healers — step into their next level of impact with visibility strategies that are bold, soulful, and unapologetically different.

At the end of the day, I’m most proud that I get to take my own lived experiences — being LGBTQ+, plus-sized, raised without much, but always willing to stand out — and turn them into a company that champions other people’s brilliance. Free Range Unicorn is about showing that when you dare to shine, you give everyone else permission to do the same.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been resilience, creativity, and collaboration.

Resilience Through Risk-Taking
The biggest rewards in my life have come from the leaps that felt agonizingly hard to take. Moving to a new state without a safety net turned out to be one of the best career decisions I ever made. Walking away from a “cushy” job without a plan ultimately led to me creating Free Range Unicorn. Each risk forced me to trust myself in ways I hadn’t before. Grit has been the foundation of everything I’ve built. My advice: learn how to bounce back faster than you break down. Every obstacle is training for the next level. Experiment, take risks, and don’t be afraid to stand out — originality is where the magic lives.

Building Upon Joy With Creativity
This is advice I give to every client: when you feel stuck, follow your joy. For some, that might mean karaoke one week -which is always medicine for me – or a karate class the next. Tapping into joy has always cracked open the next opportunity, especially when the bigger vision wasn’t clear yet. I’ve always been a multi-talented gig worker turned entrepreneur, which meant I had to adapt, pivot, and invent new paths when the traditional ones didn’t fit. If you’re early in your journey, guard your creativity like it’s your most valuable asset — because it is.

Amplifying Impact Through Collaboration
Collaboration is what transformed my vision into a company — and it’s the co-creation with my clients that helps us all shine brighter. Free Range Unicorn is powered by an ecosystem of creative, tenacious people who mirror my own drive and determination. Success has never been a solo act. For those starting out, surround yourself with people who share your values and complement your skills — whether they’re partners, team members, or clients you trust deeply. And then share it. Visibility grows when you shine a light on others, and the more I celebrate those around me, the more my own business thrives.

Together, these three qualities didn’t just help me survive — they helped me create a business and a brand that feels authentic, impactful, and sustainable.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

The people who have been most helpful in my journey are my clients. I’ve been lucky to work with a wide spectrum — from people who are brand-new to business and visibility, to seasoned professionals who have been leading in their industries for decades.

Working with someone brand new has taught me how to break things down to their simplest form — whether that’s guiding them through setting up their very first email sequence, building the foundation of a website, or helping them find their authentic voice on social media. Those moments remind me of the courage it takes to start, and they’ve sharpened my ability to teach, mentor, and make the complex feel approachable.

On the other side, working with seasoned thought leaders, bestselling authors, and established entrepreneurs has stretched me in an entirely different way. They bring big visions, high expectations, and the kind of industry knowledge that keeps me on my toes. Supporting them means staying innovative, anticipating trends, and always being ready with strategies that scale.

Through this wide range of clients, I’ve learned that growth isn’t linear — it’s a dance between beginner’s mind and expert insight. And honestly, I feel like every client I work with teaches me something new. My success is a direct reflection of the trust they’ve placed in me, and the lessons I’ve gathered from walking alongside them.

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Image Credits

All images credit to: Hannah Duncan Photography EXCEPT the rainbow heart wall image, that is credit to Wendy Yalom Photography

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