Meet David Brickley

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful David Brickley. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with David below.

Hi David, appreciate you sitting with us today. Maybe we can start with a topic that we care deeply about because it’s something we’ve found really sets folks apart and can make all the difference in whether someone reaches their goals. Self discipline seems to have an outsized impact on how someone’s life plays out and so we’d love to hear about how you developed yours?

Honestly, a lot of my self-discipline comes from how I was raised. My dad was in the military for 23 years as a Special Forces Green Beret, so from a young age, discipline and work ethic weren’t just talked about—they were required every single day. That environment taught me the value of showing up, keeping commitments, and doing things the right way even when nobody’s watching.

On top of that, building STN from my bedroom into what it is today reinforced that discipline. Nothing about that journey was overnight. It was years of consistency, putting in the reps, and staying focused on the bigger picture. I’ve always looked at it like sports motivation comes and goes, but discipline is treating every “practice” like it’s game day. Over time, that became less about willpower and more about identity. It’s just who I am now. If your goal is to go to the gym in the morning and when the alarm goes off you hit snooze and don’t go, that’s a scary thing because you’re not choosing yourself first and foremost. That mindset sticks with me daily.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’ve always been passionate about storytelling and how people connect through sports and entertainment. What started as a dream to be a broadcaster eventually evolved into building a company that helps the biggest brands in the world tell their own stories on social.

At STN Digital, we’ve grown into the leading social-first marketing agency in sports and entertainment. We’ve had the privilege of working with partners like the NFL, NBCUniversal, TikTok, and the Olympics to create content and campaigns that drive real engagement with fans. What excites me most is that no two days are the same—the industry moves fast, and our job is to stay ahead of the curve so our clients can show up in ways that feel authentic, creative, and impactful.

What makes STN special to me is the team. We’ve built a group of passionate experts who thrive on pushing creative boundaries and embracing new technologies. I’m proud of the culture we’ve created where people are encouraged to innovate, take risks, and deliver work that sets our clients apart.

Right now, I’m especially focused on how brands can embrace new opportunities in social and digital. Whether it’s the rise of short-form video, live experiences, or platforms that didn’t exist a year ago, our goal is to help brands not just keep up, but actually set the trends. That’s the exciting part for me—continuing to build a company that evolves with culture and technology, and helps the best in the world connect with their audiences in more meaningful ways.

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?

1. Relentless Discipline: I grew up with a father who was a 23-year military veteran—Special Forces Green Beret—so discipline wasn’t optional in our house. That mindset shaped how I show up daily. It’s not about motivation, it’s about consistency.

Discipline is choosing yourself every single day, even when no one’s watching. For those early in their journey: build structure, set non-negotiables, and don’t rely on “motivation”.

2. Emotional Regulation / Equanimity: I’d say I’m in the top 1% when it comes to emotional regulation. Cool, calm, collected, no matter the chaos. That’s been one of my greatest competitive advantages.

The ability to stay still while others are panicking has helped me lead teams, manage crises, and make smart decisions under pressure. Start by practicing mindfulness, learning how to zoom out, and seeing challenges with proper perspective.

3. Storytelling + Vision: I’ve learned that being able to paint the vision clearly is a superpower. People follow clarity. And clarity comes from storytelling. If you want to improve in this area, study great communicators. Watch TED Talks, write daily, and practice pitching your ideas.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

I’m a big believer in doubling down on strengths. To me, trying to become “well-rounded” usually just means pouring time and energy into areas that will never be world-class for you. Meanwhile, your strengths (which typically are the things that energize you) are where you can create disproportionate impact. I’ve seen it firsthand running STN. The agency didn’t grow because I tried to be great at finance, legal, or operations. It grew because I studied enough to be competent in those areas but really leaned into vision, relationships, creativity, and leadership. Then I built a team around me whose strengths balance out mine. That’s where the magic happens.

One example: early on, I thought being a good CEO meant trying to do everything—sales calls, payroll, HR, strategy, even editing videos when needed. But I quickly realized I was just being average at a lot of things. The real inflection point came when I stopped obsessing over shoring up weaknesses and instead went all in on where I add the most value.

My executive team pushed me to do the things that only I could do…big-picture thinking, motivating teams, and building relationships with clients and partners. By staying in that lane, and surrounding myself with people who are strong where I’m not, the company scaled far beyond what I could’ve done alone. So for me, the answer is simple: strengths are your super power so play to them.

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Katie Orchard

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