A Bit about me and my investors
Daniel Giles
Managing Partner & Founder
I founded Dawn Treader Capital out of a lifelong desire to lead a company and shape its culture. I love the potential that a profitable business has to have a positive impact on its people and community, and I am energized by the hard work required to make that happen.
Previously, I worked in Business-to-Business (B2B) sales at Delta Air Lines focused on growing sales through analytical rigor in negotiations and equipping field sales to address client needs. I also led a variety of cross-divisional teams on projects ranging from software development and new product introduction to process improvement and change management. Most recently, I worked in Mergers & Acquisitions with Amphenol, an electronics component manufacturer, helping to improve their systems and processes.
I have an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a Bachelor's in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where I was also captain on the varsity fencing team. I live in Atlanta, GA, and in my spare time, I enjoy basketball, game nights, church, small group dinners, and bad puns.
Core Leadership Values
Why are we called
Dawn Treader
Capital?
In one of my favorite books by C.S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the main characters set off on a long voyage in uncharted territory. While some days are filled with thrilling adventures, the majority are spent hard at work on the day-to-day, unglamorous tasks of sailing on their ship.
I felt that this pattern mirrored a lot of the experiences of a business owner and wanted to name my fund accordingly. It's also just a really great book!
Integrity
A leader, first and foremost, leads by example and therefore must strive towards honesty, fairness, and consistency before calling others to do the same.
Humility
The primary role of a leader is to serve - to empower and equip their teams and then get out of the way.
A leader also doesn't need to have all the answers but must have the humility to ask good questions and to rely on the insights of their teams.
Authenticity
A great leader takes the diverse backgrounds and abilities in themselves and their teams and helps maximize their collective potential, not forcing them into a cookie-cutter.
Excellence
A leader should hold themselves to a higher standard, giving their best effort in every endeavor.
Leaders should encourage and allow for their team members to strive for excellence, both inside and outside the workplace.