5 core pillars of a strong employee advocacy program

In this episode, Dasle Hong reveals how she builds long-lasting, people-first employee advocacy programs by aligning culture, onboarding, education, and authentic internal relationships to spark genuine participation and measurable business impact.

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Episode Summary

“It’s not a ‘build it and they will come’ situation, you have to continuously drive adoption, build relationships, and meet people where they are.”

This week on Behind the Post, we’re getting tactical with employee advocacy pro and B2B Social’s Rising 30 star, Dasle Hong, Senior Brand Marketing Manager at DailyPay.

Dasle wears multiple hats: social media, employee advocacy, and brand reviews, and she’s using all of them to build a brand that not only shows up externally but rallies employees internally. In this episode, she shares exactly how she’s built successful employee advocacy programs that align with business goals and genuinely resonate with employees.

From her unique career path encompassing both HR and marketing, Dasle brings a deep understanding of what motivates people to share, how to find your internal champions, and the five essential pillars she uses to run advocacy programs that don’t fizzle out. Spoiler: it’s not just about content, it’s about culture, onboarding, education, and connection.

Plus, she shares the unexpected places she’s found superstar advocates (hello, book club!) and why new hires are her secret weapon.

If you’re building or scaling an employee advocacy program, or struggling to get people to actually post, this episode is your cheat sheet.

Hot Topics:

The 5 core pillars of a successful employee advocacy program
Why new hire onboarding is her #1 tactic for long-term advocacy adoption
How to identify internal ambassadors without forcing it
The HR x Marketing mindset shift that will take your advocacy strategy to the next level

Need to get your hands on more tips, lessons, and advice from our B2B Social’s Rising 30 cohort of 2025? Get inspired in one click.

Meet Dasle

Dasle Hong is an innovative digital strategist with 10+ years of expertise in employee advocacy, social media strategy, employer branding, and internal communications.

She is a versatile HR and Marketing professional who is passionate about connecting people to company values, mission, and vision through corporate philanthropy, brand campaigns, and authentic storytelling.

Dasle is a published author in the Oxford University Press textbook: *Digital Strategies: Data-Driven Public Relations, Marketing, and Advertising.*

B2B Social’s Rising 30

Dasle Hong was crowned one of B2B Social’s Rising 30, the list celebrating standout voices shaping the future of B2B social media through their personal brands on LinkedIn.

Dasle brings calm, clarity, and purpose to the fast-paced world of brand marketing. Her personal brand is rooted in empathy, advocacy, and intentional leadership, always focused on lifting others up. From celebrating teammates to mentoring the next generation, Dasle shows that real influence starts within. Her posts reflect a deep care for people and culture, making her feed a refreshing space for social pros who value authenticity, community, and meaningful impact over empty metrics.

Want to see why Dasle and 29 others made the list? Learn more about the full B2B Social’s Rising 30 Class of 2025.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the essential pillars for building a sustainable employee advocacy program in a B2B context?

A sustainable employee advocacy program goes beyond just content; it fundamentally aligns company culture, integrates robust onboarding, provides continuous education, and fosters authentic internal relationships. These pillars drive genuine employee participation and achieve measurable business impact.

How can B2B organizations ensure high employee participation and prevent advocacy programs from losing momentum?

To prevent programs from fizzling out, B2B organizations must continuously drive adoption, build strong relationships, and meet employees where they are. The focus should be on nurturing a culture of sharing, embedding advocacy into onboarding, providing ongoing education, and fostering genuine connection, rather than just pushing content.

Why are new hires considered a strategic asset for long-term employee advocacy adoption?

New hire onboarding is a #1 tactic for long-term advocacy adoption because it embeds the program into an employee's initial experience. This early engagement cultivates a foundation for genuine participation, helps identify enthusiastic advocates from day one, and builds a sustainable pipeline of brand champions.

What critical mindset shift is required for B2B companies to elevate their employee advocacy strategy?

Elevating an employee advocacy strategy requires an 'HR x Marketing' mindset shift. This involves deeply understanding employee motivations, connecting people to company values and vision, and leveraging authentic storytelling. It ensures that advocacy efforts genuinely resonate internally while effectively projecting the brand externally.

What are effective strategies for identifying genuine employee advocates within a B2B organization?

Effective strategies for identifying advocates involve building authentic internal relationships and observing employees' natural inclinations. True champions often emerge from those deeply connected to company values and culture, sometimes in unexpected places like internal clubs, rather than from mandatory participation lists.

The 5 core pillars behind a standout employee advocacy program