This week’s Milwaukeean of the Week is Angela Damiani, part entrepreneur, part community builder, and full-time connector. If you’ve ever been to a NEWaukee event, plugged into a founder gathering, or experienced a brand activation that actually felt human, there’s a good chance Angela had something to do with it.
She has built a career around connection. Not the LinkedIn kind. The real kind.
What is your background?
I was born in Boston, raised in the Bay Area outside of San Francisco, and went to high school in Greendale, Wisconsin. I moved away for college and returned to the area in 2009. So now, almost half my life has been in the state. When do you stop being a transplant and start being from a place???
Any stories from your youth that define your path?
I never thought of myself as an entrepreneurial person. To be honest, starting my own business at 23 felt more like a natural outgrowth of my curiosity than a pull toward a lifelong dream or ambition.
Where did you study?
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
What do you do for work now?
I’m the CEO and co-founder of NEWaukee, a Milwaukee-based experience design and community engagement company. My work sits at the intersection of brand, community, and trust.
I lead strategy and partnerships, help design programs and experiences for organizations, and oversee our team as we work with brands, cities, and institutions to create experiences that build belonging and real human connection.
Can you talk about your career journey?
My career has been a mix of entrepreneurship, community building, and creative work. I’ve started and grown multiple ventures over the years, often focused on connecting people and helping organizations engage more meaningfully with their audiences.
NEWaukee grew out of that same instinct. It started as a way to bring people together in Milwaukee and evolved into a company that helps organizations think differently about how they show up in the community. Every step of my career has been shaped by experimenting, learning from failure, and staying rooted in relationships.
Can you talk more about your community involvement?
Community work has always been central to what I do, not something separate from my job. Through NEWaukee and Midwest Founders Community, I work closely with entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and civic organizations across the region.
My favorite thing to do these days is support earlier-stage founders as they start and grow their businesses through peer mentorship with Midwest Founders Community.
What are some ways you’ve impacted the community through your work?
My work has helped create spaces where people feel connected to Milwaukee and to each other. That includes launching and growing founder communities, designing public events and experiences, and helping brands and institutions engage in ways that feel human rather than transactional.
A big part of my impact has been helping entrepreneurs and organizations build trust with their audiences, their communities, and each other. I’m especially proud of the way our work supports local founders and strengthens the broader startup and civic ecosystem.
What do you like about living in Milwaukee?
Milwaukee feels real. It’s a city where relationships matter, where people care deeply about their neighborhoods, and where you can actually see the impact of your work. It has the creativity of a bigger city but the accessibility of a smaller one.
What do you want to see for Milwaukee’s future?
I want to see Milwaukee continue to invest in its people, especially entrepreneurs, creatives, and young leaders. I hope we keep building bridges between business, community, and civic life so growth feels inclusive and shared.
I’d love to see Milwaukee become even more known as a place where ideas can turn into real impact and where collaboration is part of the culture, not the exception.
Anything else we should know?
At the core of everything I do is a belief that connection matters, not just for business, but for how we experience our cities and our lives. I’m motivated by helping people feel like they belong and helping organizations show up in ways that are authentic and human.
Milwaukee is the place where I’ve been able to bring together entrepreneurship, creativity, and community in one career, and I feel lucky to do work that connects all three.