The College of Communication and Information (CCI) is proud to have some of our distinguished alumni featured in the 2024 Seminole 100. Keep reading to learn more about CCI alumnus Brian Dooley, founder of Independence Digital, and one of the recipients of the Seminole 100 award.
Dooley graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Media Communication Studies with a second major in Political Science. He worked in several industries before eventually entering healthcare, “but there was always a background thread of marketing,” he told CCI.
After graduating, Dooley found his side hustles, such as wedding videography and writing an automotive blog, opened even more doors for him, “That gave me a creative outlet and helped me learn how to operate my own business.” Referencing the entrepreneurial theme of his work experience, Dooley shared, “Those opportunities only came because I was building something outside of work.”
Independence Digital is a marketing agency that works exclusively with healthcare organizations. They specialize in connecting medical practices with patients who need their specific services. When asked about his day-to-day, Dooley said, “A lot of my time is spent as a marketing consultant and fractional Chief Marketing Officer. The practices we work with are relatively large businesses, but it may not make sense for them to have a full-time marketer on staff.”
When asked about his time with CCI, Dooley shared that the College “helped me build a foundation in media law, which helps me advise clients on issues like copyright, fair use, and defamation. There was also one course that I got an introduction to Photoshop. I rely on it heavily for client work that includes website and social media images.”
When asked what Dooley would tell current CCI students, he said, “The best advice I’ve heard for excelling in the communication industry is to create a talent stack. You’ll do alright if you’re a good writer or video editor. You’ll do exceptionally well if you can combine any of those skills with another.” He also spoke about the importance of exploring different career paths “Find what you’re good at or enjoy.”
To students interested in starting a business, “Focus on doing great work and over-delivering for your clients. Don’t be too proud to work for free to get your foot in the door. Establish relationships. Build a portfolio of great work. If your work is good enough, people will want to pay you for it.”
For more information on the company and founder, visit Independence Digital.