Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Cockerell.
Dan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
After a fulfilling and exciting 26-year career with the Walt Disney Company, and upon becoming empty nesters, my wife Valerie and I made the decision to set out on a new venture and start their own consulting and speaking business. Along with my book, “How’s the Culture in Your Kingdom?”, our focus is on building organizational culture, in a nutshell, we “educate companies, regardless of industry, to create a culture that guarantees sustainable success.” Valerie’s book, “Manage Like a Mother” is due to be released in Spring 2023.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Not to say that my life has not been full of challenges, but I firmly believe that life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I started out as a parking attendant at Disney’s Epcot Center. Subsequently, I joined the Disneyland Paris Management Trainee Program. I was transferred to France to join the opening team of Disneyland Paris three months prior to the grand opening. While in France, I held various management positions in Park Operations. That is also where I met my wife Valerie, who was also with Disneyland Paris, we were married in France and spent five years there before moving back to Orlando in 1997. Since that time, we have raised three children – Jullian, Margot, and Tristan.
Since then, I have held various executive operations roles at the Walt Disney World Resort, both in the theme parks and resort hotels, and retired as the Vice President of the Magic Kingdom where I led 12,000 cast members and entertained over 20 million guests annually. In addition to my operational responsibilities, I was a keynote speaker for the world-renowned Disney Institute for 18 years. Lessons surrounding culture, leadership, and employee engagement are what I share from my 26-year experience working for the Walt Disney Company.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Stay persistent, and positive. There will be plenty of moments you are ready to give up, or try something else. Give your goals a chance to develop.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dancockerell.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancockerell/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancockerellspeaker
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Dancockerell
- Other: https://youtu.be/eWG_iQyVTWQ
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