Meet Danielle Velasquez | Entrepreneur, Technology Sales Director, & Life Insurance Agent

We had the good fortune of connecting with Danielle Velasquez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danielle, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My entire career has been in the business development space. I have worked in various sectors from education to wealth management. I am currently in the technology space, providing Internet connectivity to multifamily owners and developers. A passion of mine is developing a mission driven business from genesis to launch. Another layer to me is my love and appreciation for creative endeavors, which I inherited from my Mom.

My Mom was so talented, painting free hand around the house, a great chef, a dancer, an educator, etc. When she passed, I dedicated time to do things she liked to do and during the winter of 2021, I decided to perfect candles. I researched materials, tested and perfected various scent profiles and gifted them. I received awesome reviews and decided to pilot a small batch on Instagram. The rest is history and Deeelicious Brands AKA Deeelicious Scents was officially born in April 2022. Every Deeelicious Scents Candle is handmade and is one of many ways my Mother’s light and legacy continues on in this world.

Around the same time, I became interested in life insurance and decided it was time to pursue my license to have the opportunity to educate individuals on the importance of having a proper insurance plan in place. A resonating theme in my personal mission is legacy and inclusivity in minority communities. That has been an ingrained and lived mission of mine since childhood. Being a Latina woman with a voice is a position that I do not take for granted and has propelled my business alliances in order to contribute back to the community that has held me up. With that in mind, that is also why I took a leap of faith in the technology space and aligned with BAI Connect.

BAI Connect provides Internet service to over 60,000 subscribers in southern California, Denver, Las Vegas, and Portland in the multifamily, hospitality, commercial, and live event space. As the Director of MDU Sales, I focus on our growth in the multifamily space partnering with Owners, Developers, and HOAs to ensure that their communities are technologically future proofed. What attracted me to BAI Connect was their mission for inclusivity and their advocacy in providing free services to community centers in low income areas in Los Angeles to bridge the digital divide. This was extremely crucial during the pandemic and an effort that the company continues to refine and push towards.

It is beautiful to see a life’s passion for advocacy and inclusion turn into business ideas and be inculcated into all professional avenues. My advice to you, the reader, is to be relentless in your action plan. If you have an idea. Go for it. You will make mistakes, as I have along the way, but there is always a solution. The hardest step is just doing. Get your idea off the ground and everything will fall in line. I can vouch from experience. If I listened to every person who said that it sounds impossible or I have too much on my plate, I would not be speaking with you today.

What should our readers know about your business?
Every step that I take in business is meticulously curated with depth and purpose. My “why” as a business owner, whether it be in a partnership, creation of a business idea, consulting, etc. is done in alignment with my core values. Deeelicious Scents (IG @deeeliciousbrands) was cultivated out of love and during one of the hardest periods of my life.

My Mother lost her battle with Kidney disease right before the pandemic and I took that time to channel grief into creativity. Every candle that I create is made with her legacy in mind. She was a vibrant creative and was a candlemaker herself, among other talents. She spurred the business idea in me. I decided to move forward with my life insurance license because of her passing.

Unfortunately, I have lived through how a family is affected when income is lost and a life insurance policy is not in order. The impact this may have on a family is not only financial hindering, but emotional. It is my mission to educate middle class, minority families on the importance of having their financial house in order and how life insurance is a stepping stone in achieving that. Legacy is at the forefront always.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would start the day by grabbing a coffee or tea. We have some awesome choices in LA. Some personal favorites are Stereoscope (Echo Park), Maru (Arts District), and Kumquat (Jonathan Club DTLA). Take a scenic hike at Runyon Canyon or hike to the Hollywood sign. After the hike you’ll be hungry! I suggest The Ivy for some of the yummiest dishes in LA and a beautiful ambiance that transports you to Europe. I also suggest Great White in Weho or Venice. After lunch visit some of our beautiful museums (The Getty Villa [Malibu], LACMA [Miracle Mile], The Hammer Museum [Westside], The Broad [DTLA]). If you’re thirsty for a rooftop cocktail, may I suggest Dante (Beverly Hills), The Conrad Agua Viva (DTLA), The Edition Hotel (West Hollywood), Elephante (Santa Monica), or Grandmaster Recorders (Hollywood). For dinner, score a coveted reservation at Funke, visit famed Nobu Malibu, or view the city from the sky at 71 Above. For after dinner cocktails I always recommend Wally’s Beverly Hills.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to thank my parents and family for always believing in me and instilling a fervent tenacity to persevere. I remember feeling like the world was my oyster at a young age and I could be anything that I desire. I now realize how rare and special that is and I thank them for that every day. To the educators and bosses that have taught me to stay resilient, to speak up, and to share my two scents at the table—I thank you.

Website: https://www.deeeliciousscents.com

Instagram: @itsdani_marie @deeeliciousbrands

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellemvelasquez/