Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Kelleher.
Hi Danielle, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Like most college students, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I started college at ESU in PA, studying hospitality, but I always felt like I was meant to do more. I was not happy there, but I was scared to move far from home (New York). After my first year in college, I made the decision to pack my bags and head to Tampa to figure out my life. I didn’t know what I wanted, but I knew being in the environment I dreamed of living in would be a good start.
Once I got to UTampa, I started in marketing and began to learn a little more about UGC (User-generated content), and I thought to myself, this was something I wanted to do and learn. I saw all these other girls getting pr packages and working with many of my dream brands, so I thought I could definitely do that too. After my first year at UTampa, I realized marketing wasn’t for me, and Advertising and Public Relations had all of the classes I would need to succeed in this field.
There was a huge hurricane that hit Tampa in 2024, and everyone was stuck in their houses for a good week. I took that time to study UGC and filled an entire notebook on how I was going to start, and that was definitely a pivot point in my life because after that, I started working with so many brands, including Clinique, Olaplex, Prada, Valentino, etc. Once I got the hang of that, I wanted to do more. I wanted something of my own, something to help students succeed, help brands “RIZE”, and work with all different brands!
In 2025, I started building Rize Collective LLC, a social media and branding agency, which is redefining what it means to build an online presence by blending creativity with strategy. Built for small businesses, growing brands, and creators, Rize Collective helps clients transform ideas into intentional, effective brand strategies. Unlike traditional content-focused agencies, Rize Collective goes beyond the aesthetics. Every interaction is intentional – rooted in strategic thinking, consistent messaging, and clear positioning to deliver sustainable growth for clients. I like to say “Brands don’t struggle because they lack potential. They struggle because they lack direction and consistency.”
I built Rize Collective as a full-time senior in college, walking and boarding dogs, studying for my life and health insurance license, all while balancing a good work/social life balance. Now in 2026, I really want to focus on building out Rize Collectives internship program. When I created the Rize Collective internship program, I built the program I wish I had in college. I didn’t want interns spending weeks doing busywork, sitting in meetings, or scrambling at the end of the semester trying to figure out what to put on their resumes or portfolios. I wanted to add something valuable to their professional growth. That’s why our interns work on real projects that translate directly into portfolio pieces and resume experience. From building and optimizing their own social media grid, analyzing performance metrics, developing content strategies, conducting community engagement, researching target audiences, and creating campaigns, every task is designed with a purpose. We don’t just tell you what social media marketing is. We teach you how to think strategically, explain why certain tactics work, and give you the tools to bring ideas to life and execute them confidently. By the end of the program, you won’t be wondering what to show future employers. You’ll have real work, real results, and real experience to back it up. That’s the difference between an internship that fills time and an internship that builds your future.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges was not knowing exactly what I wanted to do. I changed schools, changed majors, and took a leap of faith, moving from New York to Tampa without having a clear plan. While that decision ended up changing my life for the better, it came with a lot of uncertainty and self-doubt. Building experience in the creator and marketing space was another challenge. When I first started learning about UGC, I saw creators working with brands I admired and wondered if I would ever get those same opportunities. I had to spend countless hours teaching myself, researching, pitching brands, creating content, and learning through trial and error before seeing results.
Starting Rize Collective brought a whole new set of challenges. As a full-time college student, I was balancing classes, running a business, walking and boarding dogs, studying for my life and health insurance license, and trying to maintain a social life. Time management became one of the most important skills I had to develop. There were many late nights, moments of burnout, and times when I questioned whether I could successfully manage everything at once.
Another challenge has been building credibility as a young entrepreneur. Sometimes people underestimate you when you’re a college student, so I’ve had to consistently prove myself through my work, results, and professionalism rather than my age or experience level.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that growth comes from being willing to take risks before you feel ready. Moving states, changing majors, learning a completely new industry, and starting a business all felt uncomfortable at first. Looking back, every challenge became an opportunity that pushed me closer to where I wanted to be.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Rize Collective LLC is a social media and branding agency built to help businesses, creators, and personal brands grow with intention. We specialize in social media strategy, content creation, brand positioning, community engagement, and digital marketing support. Our goal is not just to make brands look good online, but to help them build a strong foundation that supports long-term growth.
What sets Rize Collective apart is our belief that successful brands need more than aesthetic content. While visuals matter, strategy is what drives results. Every piece of content, campaign, and recommendation we create is backed by intentional planning, audience research, and clear brand messaging. We focus on helping clients understand not only what to post, but why they are posting it and how it supports their larger business goals.
One of the things I am most proud of is the internship program we have built. As a college student myself, I saw firsthand how many internships leave students with little real-world experience to showcase. I created the Rize Collective Internship Program to be the opportunity I wish I had. Interns work on real projects, build portfolio-worthy content, analyze metrics, create strategies, conduct audience research, and gain hands-on experience that translates directly into future career opportunities.
At its core, Rize Collective was created to help brands and people rise into their potential. Whether we are helping a small business establish its online presence, supporting a creator in building their personal brand, or mentoring the next generation of marketers through our internship program, everything we do is centered around growth, education, and intentional strategy.
The message I want readers to remember is simple: brands do not struggle because they lack potential. They struggle because they lack direction and consistency. Rize Collective exists to provide both.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
My mom knew well before I did that I would be my own boss. She used to tell me that I was a 20-year-old trapped in a toddler’s body. I was always more mature than the other kids, I was more creative than into sports, I was more of a leader than a follower, and I always had what some people would call unrealistic dreams and goals, but I never found them “unrealistic.” I’ll leave you with this… don’t give up on what you dream of…you can’t beat someone that doesn’t give up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.therizecollective.co
- Instagram: rize_collective
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CgVnzoZYn/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rize-collective-llc/?viewAsMember=true
