In Conversation with Dom Santry, CEO and Co-Founder of Daisie
This piece originally appeared in the Strand Magazine's February 2020 "Young Creatives" Issue here
Young entrepreneur Dom Santry is the CEO of creative collaboration platform Daisie, which he founded alongside highly-acclaimed actress Maisie Williams. The platform has amassed over 100k users and aims to bring creatives together to kickstart their projects.
Strand chats with Dom about his role, experience and advice for young creatives.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your role at Daisie?
I'm Dom and I'm the CEO and Co-Founder of Daisie. I founded the company at the beginning of 2017, and we're now a community of 145,000 creators and a team of 18 people.
How does Daisie aim to influence/support project developments?
We provide our community with the digital tools they need to establish a network, build professional profiles, and collaborate on projects, all in one place.
Daisie is clearly a big project, how do you run this as a young adult? What motivates you?
I receive incredible support from my team, close friends and family. Running a startup has massive highs and lows, so staying focused and locked into the big vision at times of turbulence is key to keeping calm and making good decisions.
You’ve worked in the film industry as well as various other projects, what has been your favourite part?
Working on projects that improve people's lives. With Daisie, it's changing how a whole generation of people connect and work. With film projects, it's their ability to change audience's perceptions of the world.
What are the main things you’ve learnt from the process, and the tribulations that come with being an entrepreneur?
Learning to sell, and to find investment. Learning patience, transparency, and compassion. Embracing what you don't know, and understanding how to leverage.
There has always been a tension between the creative and business worlds. What has your experience been like working in both?
There's a fluidity between the two that can be used to great effect. A lot of business is creativity and thinking through decisions in an atypical way. People who think differently (thanks, Apple) are the ones who will go on to change the way the world works.
What advice would you give to those starting out?
Do it. Find something you're passionate about doing long term, and find the people who share your vision for the future. Then work as hard as you can to make it happen.
What do you hope to see happen in the near future for Daisie and yourself?
Daisie's mission is to connect the creative world, empowering them to have an unparalleled impact on our future. I want to help that happen, and have fun whilst doing so.
You can find Dom on Daisie here
To find out more about Daisie click here!
Image Credits to Reuben Selby
Strand Design Credits to Morgan Bakinowski
