Building, Scaling, and Staying Human: Lessons from Global CEO Dan Khabie
When Dan Khabie speaks, the room listens. It’s not just because of his impressive track record as co-founder of Digitaria, founder and former Global CEO of Mirum (a 2,500-person WPP digital agency operating across 27 countries), and now Co-Founder/Partner of CourtAvenue, one of the fastest-growing digital agencies in the U.S. It’s because he pairs extraordinary business success with humility, curiosity, and a deep humanity that resonates with everyone in the room.
At the October 2025 Big Dogs Network meeting, Dan shared his story, part origin tale, part entrepreneurial playbook, and all entirely authentic. His journey from a 23-year-old founder in San Diego to a global industry leader is rich with lessons on vision, resilience, and the art of building great teams.
A Vision Born from Inspiration and Relentless Curiosity
Dan’s spark came from an early encounter with Razorfish in New York, one of the first digital agencies. “I walked in and I fell in love,” he said. “I thought, I want to build that.” That moment of inspiration became his muse, propelling him to create Digitaria in San Diego when the city barely registered on the national marketing map.
He built Digitaria from the ground up, eventually selling it to WPP, where he went on to build Mirum, a global digital agency created by integrating nine companies across continents into a single unified firm. That experience gave him a global perspective, a deep appreciation for culture, and the desire to shape something lasting.
But even after scaling Mirum into a 2,500-person agency operating in 27 countries, Dan’s curiosity and entrepreneurial energy did not fade. He realized he was ready to take on a new challenge, one that reflected the speed of technology and the changing nature of digital transformation. Leaving WPP, he co-founded CourtAvenue, a company built to combine innovation, consulting, and execution under one roof. For Dan, it was another chance to build something new, guided by the same creative spark that first inspired him in the halls of Razorfish.
Through every chapter, his sense of wonder and curiosity remained intact. “I am relentlessly curious,” he said. “I want to know about people, ideas, everything. That appetite works really well in this business because it is always changing.”
Unyielding Tenacity and the Courage to Reinvent
Dan’s rise was not without struggle. He talked openly about rejection, setbacks, and self-doubt. In order to get WPP interested in Digitaria, he spent summers in New York, waiting outside their offices until he could make his case. That persistence paid off, and the deal that followed changed his career trajectory.
Even after scaling globally, Dan recognized when it was time to reset. “I became too good at being a corporate guy,” he said. “I became a goalkeeper instead of a goal scorer.” When he left WPP, he realized he had to “deinstitutionalize” himself, to unlearn corporate habits and reconnect with the instincts that made him an entrepreneur in the first place.
His next act, founding CourtAvenue in his garage with his Co-Founder (Kenny Tomlin), was about rediscovering those instincts and creating something human-centered once again. “I started the business with a tear in my eye and a pen in my hand,” he recalled. It was the first time his children saw him build a company from scratch.
Five years later, CourtAvenue has grown to more than 200 people, about half of whom are AI engineers. The firm combines expertise in digital transformation, commerce, media, connected experiences, and artificial intelligence. CourtAvenue is growing aggressively, acquiring companies, expanding capabilities, and shaping the future of digital business.
Humility, Humanity, and the Power of Partnership
For all his success, Dan repeatedly brought the focus back to the people around him. “I would not be where I am today without all the talent and amazing people that I have been fortunate to be around,” he said.
He described every thriving business as having three people in the room:
1. The visionary or promoter, who dreams big and inspires others.
2. The operator, who ensures structure, accountability, and discipline.
3. The product leader, who drives the talent and creative excellence that the company sells.
When hiring, Dan said he looks for people who want to grow. He values self-awareness, curiosity, and the willingness to evolve. “If you want to grow and scale, you have to come to terms with what you are,” he explained. “Look in the mirror and say, I am a great product person but a terrible business person. Then go find the people who balance that and trust them.”
Despite leading global organizations, Dan’s personal compass remains grounded: Sunday basketball games, meditation, family, laughter. He spoke about the importance of being truly present, whether at home, on a court, or in a meeting, and about staying connected to what matters most. “Every morning I wake up with self-doubt,” he admitted. “Every day I feel like I could do more. But I remind myself, I am alive, breathing, and I am surrounded by good people. That is what matters.”
Defining Your Version of Growth
Dan also encouraged entrepreneurs to make intentional choices about the kind of business they want to build, using what he called the “red pill or blue pill” analogy. The red pill represents scaling aggressively and building a large, global enterprise. The blue pill represents focusing on a smaller, more controlled model.
He made no value judgment about either path. His message was about clarity: success comes from knowing which path truly fits your goals and your life. “Not everything has to become some big storyline,” he said. “You can build something small and be incredibly successful.”
Networking, Growth, and the Power of Ecosystems
For smaller agencies and entrepreneurs, Dan’s advice was both practical and inspiring. He underscored the importance of ecosystems, building circles of trust, reciprocity, and shared opportunity.
“March with the army, but build your own army,” he said. “Find your people, your micro-network. Invest in relationships that open doors, and open doors for them in return.”
He also described his philosophy of cultivating what he calls “the whispers,” the trusted voices to the right and left of decision-makers who quietly build credibility and open doors. “If you can get to the right and left, you will get to the buyer,” he explained.
CourtAvenue itself is built on this philosophy of ecosystem relationships. Dan shared how his team partners with major technology firms such as Adobe and AWS, sometimes using their sponsorship budgets to host networking events and attract new clients. “If they think you have juice, they will back you,” he said. “The key is to make them believe you do.”
Key Takeaways
1. Be curious and stay obsessed. Never lose the drive to learn, explore, and reinvent. Curiosity fuels relevance.
2. Surround yourself with complementary strengths. Success is never solo; great operators, visionaries, and product thinkers amplify one another.
3. Persistence wins. Sometimes the difference between rejection and opportunity is simply showing up one more time.
4. Stay human. Even in a hyper-digital world, empathy, laughter, and humility build lasting partnerships.
5. Build ecosystems, not empires. Strategic partnerships, ambassadors, and shared opportunities can extend your reach far beyond your company’s size.
6. Hire for growth. Look for people who want to learn, stretch, and evolve with the business.
7. Be present. True success includes showing up fully for your family, your team, and your own life.
8. Define your version of growth. Whether you choose the red pill or blue pill, success comes from knowing the scale that fits your goals and life.
A Final Word
Dan Khabie’s story is a masterclass in ambition anchored by humility. His message to the Big Dogs Network was clear: success is not about eliminating self-doubt; it is about moving forward despite it.
“You are going to battle with yourself every day,” he said. “But if you keep showing up, stay grateful, and fight through, you will find your way.”
That blend of vision, tenacity, and humanity is what makes Dan Khabie not only a leader to admire but one whose lessons stay with you long after the conversation ends.
Balancing Scale and Soul
Before we wrapped up the conversation, I asked Dan what is next for CourtAvenue. His answer perfectly captured everything he had shared that morning: growth with intention, powered by curiosity and grounded in humanity. “We’re expanding globally and acquiring new businesses,” he said, “but we’re doing it while staying small at heart, close to our people, and true to who we are.”
For me, the balance of scale and soul may have been the most powerful lesson from Dan’s session, a reminder that true growth is as much about humanity as it is about ambition.
Learn More About Big Dogs Network
The Big Dogs Network connects marketing professionals experienced with $500M+ organizations to collaborate, share ideas, and elevate the marketing profession. To learn more, contact Ron Snyder rsnyder@innovations86.com or Kirsty Nunez kirsty.nunez@q2insights.com.
For information about CourtAvenue’s services, contact Dan at daniel.khabie@courtavenue.com.
This article is part of a continuing series sharing insights from Big Dogs events and conversations with leaders in large-scale marketing organizations.
Article by Kirsty D. Nunez, President and Chief Research Strategist at Q2 Insights, and member of the Big Dogs Network leadership team.
