Take Up Space: Be a Risk-Taker. Rule-Breaker. Path-Maker.

Damon Haley has been in the decision-making rooms with some of the biggest players at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. From leading marketing and partnership initiatives for iconic brands like Nike, Jordan, Pepsi, Lionsgate and HBO, Haley brings a rare blend of strategic thinking and creative vision—consistently adding unique value to the rooms and spaces he navigates.

He’s collaborated with legendary high performers in the sports world and built enduring brand moments in entertainment, always moving beyond the numbers and performance to help brands sustain excellence and cultural impact. Haley is deeply committed to the people he’s had the privilege to work with and serve—and to the culture. He never forgets where he comes from and continues to reinvest in the communities and individuals who nurtured and supported him.

Today, Haley advises organizations and individuals on building successful businesses, brands, and careers. His new digital series, DH Drops, blends timeless street smarts with practical leadership and personal transformation insights—designed to elevate yourself and those you are tasked to care for, love, and lead.

The Daily Coach spoke with strategy consultant, author and former Nike executive Damon Haley about the art of building trust, navigating complexity, and his inspiring project The Book of Dreams and Hopes.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Damon, we're grateful for you doing this. What are some of the most important lessons you took from your childhood that continue to guide you today?

I think the biggest thing is fearlessness. Growing up in South Central Los Angeles, you learn quickly that there are situations outside your control. Every time I stepped outside, I had to keep a lucid mind — to see clearly what was real danger and what wasn’t. That kind of thinking isn’t just about being fearless. It’s also about being analytical — not overly emotional or reactive.

It’s about asking: What’s a threat? What isn’t? What’s an opportunity? What’s not? That mindset — a mix of fearlessness, quick analytics, fast assessments — it’s fueled me throughout my life. Whether in adverse situations or hostile environments, I’ve always leaned on that ability to create strategy and tactics quickly to find a way forward.

Then, there's what was happening inside the home. That was all built on integrity, love, and patience. My dad always taught me to be integral. I never felt the need to lie — because I didn’t have to lie in my own household. I could be myself. I was allowed to make mistakes. I was encouraged to be creative.

And love — there was a tremendous amount of it, both in our home and on our block. It was a community. And when there’s love, you can share vulnerability. You can help others. You can live in a state of family, even outside your immediate one.

That’s the environment I was raised in. And that’s what still drives me today. I’m a community builder. A connector. I take relationships seriously, and people respect that. I’ve always had this risk-taker, rule-breaker, path-maker mentality — which all goes back to that same foundation of fearlessness.

You’ve built trusted relationships with some of the most iconic athletes in history — Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. What do you think enabled you to earn that trust and sustain those relationships over time?

All of those relationships were initially introduced to me through the Nike brand — it served as the starting point for everything. I was fortunate to be in a position where I could perform in a way that built trust with key decision makers—and that trust opened the door to those relationships.

The next key was creating win-win scenarios, because that’s what relationships are: a mutual exchange of value. I always say the difference between a good deal and a bad deal is 90 degrees. A palm facing up? That’s begging. But a palm facing sideways? That’s a handshake—a mutual agreement. That handshake represents a balanced exchange.

So I always approached it from that lens—not with ‘what’s in it for me,’ but with ‘what’s in it for MJ and his team? What’s in it for Kobe and his team? What’s in it for LeBron and his team?’ Because the team matters. They need to win. They need to look good. They need to be advancing a bigger strategy. If I could support that, the relationship would grow.

That’s really how I built trust—by starting with them first. What’s the win? What’s the bigger picture? Of course, being able to perform and deliver is a given. That’s the baseline for being in the room. But the real question is: Are you delivering to the right house? Are you delivering to the right messenger? That’s what helped me nurture and evolve those relationships.

What qualities or habits have been most important for you in successfully navigating complex challenges with clients or teams?

Organization, optimism, and openness — those are the big three. When you’re working with people, they want you to be open — open to listening, open to really hearing them. So that’s the first thing: I listen, copiously.

Once I understand what’s going on — then it’s about organizing all the thinking and the moving parts into a coherent scenario: This is the plan moving forward.

So my process really comes down to: Be open to listening. Organize the thoughts. Be optimistic about a solution. That’s the framework I typically always use.

Sometimes I’ll say, “Get this person, this person, and this person in a room, and let’s talk about it.” And when we do, I’ll do the least amount of talking. I take notes. I listen.

Then I communicate what I heard. Being able to take something complex and articulate it simply — both orally and in writing — is a skill and a lost art form. But it matters tremendously when you're aiming for buy-in, driving transformation, and moving the collective vision forward.

What inspired you to write The Book of Dreams and Hopes?

I’ve been blessed beyond measure to be able to impact lives, and that’s really what drives me. I’m not some executive who just works with a group of rich people who get stock options and all that. I’ve always been around people — and loved helping people.

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, went to Berkeley for undergrad and fell in love with Oakland. Then I earned my MBA at Michigan and developed a deep appreciation for Detroit. I’ve lived in Atlanta and traveled the world — leveraging the power of sports, entertainment, and lifestyle culture to support and advance some of the world’s most recognizable brands, organizations, and high performers.

So when people would hear me talk — whether about life, business, or leadership — they’d say, “You should write a book.”

That’s what inspired me. People said, “Let’s do it,” and I did it.

The Book of Dreams and Hopes offers a look into the world of high-level marketing, brand strategy, business coaching, entrepreneurship and personal transformation. Through my story, I try to share real, lived lessons about how to move through power structures and how to constantly reinvent yourself.

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Q&A Resources

Damon Haley ― Website | The Book of DH | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

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