March 8, 2026
Danielle O’Brien is a strategic communications advisor specializing in investor relations and high-stakes special situations, partnering with corporate clients to navigate pivotal moments with clarity and confidence. She counsels on a broad range of communications priorities, including narrative development, M&A and transaction support, earnings strategy, management transitions, restructuring, investor days, employee engagement, and disclosure policies.
Prior to joining Prosek in 2026, Danielle served as an Executive Vice President at Edelman Smithfield with a focus on investor relations & special situations. Danielle has advised executive management teams across various sectors including consumer, hospitality, technology, healthcare, industrial, and media. Danielle has also worked on several high-profile investor days, including CVS Health, Dollar Tree, General Motors, ADT, and Wingstop.
Before joining Edelman Smithfield, Danielle served as Vice President at ICR, Inc. in the Investor Relations practice, and held various roles at Credit Suisse, including a registered interest rate sales assistant and prime brokerage analyst. During her time as a rate sales assistant, she received her Series 7 and Series 63 licenses.
Danielle is an active member of National Investor Relations Institute and was named NIRI 2022 Class of Rising Leaders Under 40.
Danielle is a graduate of Towson University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Finance. She currently resides in Long Island with her husband and three children.
How I’ve been able to expand my skillset. I’m an IR practitioner at heart, but special sits is something I really needed to raise my hand for and I’m proud of the fact that I can be a resource across multiple practice areas.
I can do a headstand.
She said “loyal, hard working, strong, loving, and maternal”. Thankfully I liked her response!
I like to think I have a high emotional intelligence when it comes to client counsel. In IR and special sits, we’re often partnering with clients at some of their most high-pressure moments. Sometimes it’s just about reading the room and understanding what’s unsaid. Clients just really need to know you’re in it with them!
Pizza. Particularly buffalo chicken, but any type of pizza will do.
The perfect client to me is someone who sees us as an extension of their team, not just an outside advisor. Someone who really wants to hear our thoughts, ideas and counsel. Nothing beats a client who sees us as a true partner to them!
Nothing makes me happier than hanging with my husband and three kids doing pretty much anything outdoors. Outside of that, any type of exercise and (attempting to) cook.
Connecting with colleagues. The work we do is intense and it’s really important to know that we’re all friends first!
I identify so deeply with Leslie Mann in the movie ‘This is 40’.
“Team work makes the dream work”. I say that to my kids almost daily, especially when trying to make them clean up the mess they make of my house!