Tools for developing durable skills for future leaders
CYNDI DARLINGTON, MBA
PROFESSOR, ENTREPRENEUR, SPEAKER
ABOUT CYNDI
Cyndi Darlington is an entrepreneur, marketer, and professor, with particular expertise in helping develop durable skills for future leaders.
Through speaking, writing and teaching, Cyndi provides proven insights and actionable feedback to learn and strengthen the attributes needed in life and in the workplace.
CYNDI’S BIO
Cyndi Darlington is a proven leader in the marketing field, with a wealth of experience coaching and mentoring young people.
After 20 years in corporate marketing for established brands like Amtrak, Prudential and Islands Restaurants, she founded Darlington Marketing Co. (DMC) in 2011. Over the past 15 years, the company has grown to be a leader in the Southern California marketing community, specializing in restaurant, grocery and food services marketing.
In 2016, she also began sharing her expertise at Mira Costa College as an adjunct professor in the business department. Since then, she has taught hundreds of students in subjects such as marketing, leadership and management. However, her favorite subject to teach is Human Relations in Business, which covers the soft skills she believes are critical to students’ future success. Cyndi also holds a “Futures Thinking” certification and teaches a course for other faculty about the future of education, in particular the impact of AI.
Cyndi is a frequent speaker/television commentator on marketing trends and issues. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Cal Poly SLO, and a Master’s Degree in Business from the University of San Francisco.
Cyndi lives in Encinitas with her husband and two children. In her free time she enjoys trying new restaurants, reading any and every book, hiking and volunteering in her community. A lifelong traveler, Cyndi has visited six continents, but traveling to an Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl win, watching in person sitting next to her son, faces painted, would check the last box on her bucket list.
Cyndi has delivered talks and workshops on a wide range of topics, including:
SPEAKING TOPICS
Professional Development & Leadership
Conflict Resolution
Communication & Listening Skills
Motivation & Leadership Styles
Corporate Culture Development
Public Speaking
Myers-Briggs and DISC Personality Styles
Personal Development
Building Self-Esteem
Stress Management
Imposter Syndrome
Effective Networking
Previous speaking clients include the City of San Diego, Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, SCORE, San Diego Small Business Development Center, City of Carlsbad, City of Encinitas, Encinitas Chamber of Commerce, Escondido Chamber of Commerce, Leucadia 101 Main Street, and Teen Volunteers In Action (TVIA).
TESTIMONIALS
“You made me not only think about things I always tried to avoid, but also put them into practice. It has made me a better person and a better workplace professional because of it. You have a gift and for that I'm truly thankful.”
“It helped me build empathy and understand what other people within our professional workplace are dealing with.”
- PROFESSIONALS
“Not only was your course THE best I’ve ever taken but I found it to be the most useful as I start to plan ahead for my future career.”
“I liked how informative the class exercises were and it helped that it was also interactive. I can't say I have ever done anything that was both fun and educational.”
- FORMER STUDENTS
RESOURCES
Download these free resources to support your soft skill journey.
Define your communications style with this easy evaluation.
A step-by-step guide to defining your core values.
A useful worksheet that helps you find activities to get you in the flow state.
Assessing your life balance and creating plans to improve on those areas that need some focus.
Inventory your positive self-esteem attributes, to keep that upbeat self talk going.
S.M.A.R.T. goal setting and tracking - a key to developing that self-efficacy.
