Growing up, I had many diverse interests; I was an artist, an athlete, a born salesperson, a writer, and a scholar (just to name a few identities). The one thing I was certain about was that I was put onto this earth to help others. From age 7 till about age 24 I was committed to the idea of becoming a physician working for undeserved communities in the US and abroad. I started my undergrad education at Santa Rosa Junior College after a slew of heartbreaking rejections from every University of California campus I applied to.  After two years at the JC I started at the University of California Santa Barbara where I was suddenly faced with what I call “silo syndrome.” Students are encouraged to silo themselves into one or two disciplines, which works for some, but not for me. Some of my fondest memories of UCSB came from being a Student Athletic Training intern for UCSB Recreation Sports where I started my journey toward becoming a self-taught graphic designer, photographer, and marketing professional.

After spending a month scrubbing into surgery in Mexico (click here for the whole story), I continued my education at Touro University California where I received a Masters in Public Health Degree. Touro gave me the opportunity to spend 2.5 months in Ethiopia doing advocacy and research in partnership with the Hesperian Foundation out of Berkeley. I realized during my graduate education that I wanted to ignite change at a population level through the mobilization and empowerment of communities. After what now seems like a good fight, I was able to complete my Masters program despite significant push back given my alternative perspective at the time of the importance of researching protective factors and integration of community based healing. I learned the power of showing people how to be healthier in a proper cultural context vs. simply telling them how to be.

A formative part of my personal and professional self development was the three years I spent working for the Marin City Community Services District (MCCSD) where a visionary general manager hired someone solely dedicated to marketing and communications. I was able to employ her creative thinking to develop a campaign to re-brand Marin City and employ social marketing strategies. While working for MCCSD, I developed and fine tuned my strategies for marketing communities, as well as the importance of empowering communities being at the center of change. While working in Marin City I was a part of many exciting projects including the development of George Rocky Graham Park, opening of the Marin City Teen Center, and development of the Marin City Action Academy; a civic leadership and social entrepreneurship program.

I quickly realized I had a different point of view in how to explore and develop solutions to complex problems effecting the public’s wellness, not solely their health. One month after I started in Marin City, in 2013 I sat down at a local Petaluma staple, La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge, with their cheapest glass of prosecco with a cheap PC and a vision. That day I formalized my company brand “Domenica Giovannini Creative Marketing.”

Social entrepreneurs identify resources where people only see problems. They view the villagers as the solution, not the passive beneficiary. They begin with the assumption of competence and unleash resources in the communities they’re serving.
— David Bornstein

After over two years as DG Creative Marketing my company's one person sole proprietorship grew into MaberMe where I have been able to develop a network of talented group of professionals who specialize in marketing, communications, business operations, nonprofit technical assistance, and social entrepreneurship. The goal of MaberMe is to wrap services around an organization and give them the tools to excel. I truly believe that together we are better and we can all be The Expert.

Since then I have worked with clients and teams throughout the Greater Bay area with organizations that provide a myriad of services helping to improve the wellness of the populations they serve. This includes government agencies, universities, nonprofits, and tribal governments. I am always aiming to ignite new and innovative thinking when faced with the ever changing funding and business environment.

I have been known to be disruptive, which at times can inhibit making friends, but what I am certain about is my purpose is to spend my life finding solutions to some of the most difficult questions the world faces. I know now you always will find “your people” if you are genuinely and unapologetically yourself.

You know you haven’t made an impact until you’ve pissed someone off.
— Tennis Wick

Tapping into my knack for busienss and my expertise in messaging, I completed my Doctor of Business Administration Degree at Touro University with Summa Cum Laude honors in June 2024. My dissertation was on Bay Area nonprofit enployee perceptions of internal communications during COVID-19. As a lifelong learning, I am always trying to challenge myself and have new impactful experiences. Cheers to what is next!