Turning Rocks

into Sponges

Helping people absorb confidence, clarity, and practical skills.

Thriving through emotional intelligence, creative thinking, and purposeful wellbeing.

My journey has led me to one purpose:

Supporting others to grow, lead, and thrive with clarity, creativity, and care — creating a world of sustainable wellbeing.

Hi, I’m Donna — coach, facilitator, and creative human who’s been on both sides of challenge and breakthrough.

This work comes from both personal experience and professional practice. I’ve faced burnout, and I’ve also spent years helping individuals, teams, and young people grow and succeed. Along the way, I’ve learned that real transformation happens when people are supported in ways that are practical, playful, and grounded in science. Creativity, emotional intelligence, and well-being practices have guided both my journey and my approach, and I’m passionate about creating neuroscience-informed, neurodivergently inclusive spaces where everyone can thrive.

My experience led me to a simple question:

“What if everyone had hands-on, meaningful experiences to help them grow, feel capable, and reach their potential?”

At Dynamic Potential Academy, we bring this to life through facilitation that turns challenges into clarity and skills into confidence. Alongside facilitation, we offer Expand, our structured training programmes for individuals and young people, and Collate, self-guided online resources that let people learn at their own pace — all designed to support lasting personal and professional growth.

Two of my favourite quotes that sum up the impact of our sessions:

  • “I’ve witnessed rocks turn into sponges in your sessions.” — Colleague

  • “Wow, that was a radically different experience, something truly special.” — Participant

Our USP.

This isn’t ordinary facilitation. It’s personal, purposeful, and built to last.

Paper planes on a blue background, four white and one yellow, with dashed lines indicating flight paths.

What I believe…

  • Growth through creativity is for everyone. It’s not about being artistic — it’s about thinking differently, empathising deeply, and approaching challenges with curiosity and heart.

  • Innovation grows from safety. When people feel safe to speak up, question, and explore ideas, they create remarkable outcomes.

  • Sustainable success starts with self-awareness. Understanding how we think, feel, and work helps us act with confidence and care.

Inspired by…

My work in facilitation is driven by creating the conditions for people to think, feel, and lead differently. I take a pragmatic, creative, and research-informed approach shaped by the frameworks that influence my Creative Leadership model:

🧠 Emotional Intelligence

🧬 Neuroscience-informed Leadership

🤝 Psychological Safety

🎨 Design Thinking & LEGO® Serious Play®

🌱 Well-being & Self-Regulation

💡 Transformational Learning & Growth Mindset

🌍 Systems Thinking

These foundations help me design experiences that are emotionally intelligent, psychologically safe, and creatively stimulating—spaces where meaningful transformation can happen.

Why I work with, who I work with.

Because when people feel safe, supported, and inspired, they transform—individually and together. Creating a greater positive impact for everyone.

That’s why I work with young people, educators, teams, and organisations committed to growing, thriving, and staying human.

Why is this great for Business?

✓ Stronger team engagement and retention
✓ Increased creativity and problem-solving across functions
✓ Greater adaptability during change and growth
✓ A healthier culture that supports high performance and wellbeing

Group of hands stacked in a circle, symbolizing unity and teamwork.

A little more about me.

  • 20+ years across well-being, leadership, and creative development, blending neuroscience and emotional intelligence.

  • Has taught over 1500 people in the fields of leadership, business and communication; Supported over 150 students and entrepreneurs, contributing to the launch of 50+ businesses, including award-winning ventures

  • Facilitated development programmes for organisations including NHS, WMCA, WM Police, SSE, and TEDx, focusing on resilience, confidence, and creative thinking. Including leading an enterprise incubator programme that included a field trip to MIT and Silicon Valley, connecting young innovators with global tech leaders

  • Passionate about making leadership more compassionate, curious, and courageous.

  • Known for holding spaces where people open up, think differently, and actually change.

  • Illustration of a brain on a blue gradient background

    Emotional intelligence

    Grounded, Neuroscientific evidence-based insights.

  • Top view of sharpened yellow pencils in a cup on a gray background.

    Experiential learning

    Not just talking, but doing creating and reflecting.

  • Five diverse young adults sitting on a wooden floor, smiling and talking, wearing business casual attire. They have laptops and tablets.

    Safe, human-centred spaces

    Because growth needs trust to thrive.

  • Blue background with a calendar, wooden clock, coffee cup, pencil, and colorful sticky notes.

    Real talk and practical tools

    For leaders who want depth, not fluff.

  • “I am always in awe of her ability to handle even the most challenging personalities effortlessly, harnessing their differences and inspiring them to remember their 'why'. And even those who were initially on completely different pages quickly rally and get on board with implementing ideas that make a difference.”

    Morgan Lionel, Business Consultant

  • “Donna can look at a person, see what they’re dealing with, see what their challenges might be and adapt the process to fit your needs. It’s just the most amazing thing!”

    Oliver Whitehouse, Founder at OG Films

  • “She is not only patient, funny and open to questions, but the content she created and her teaching style was very engaging and motivating.”

    Sarah Bauroth, Marketing, Project Management and Communications.

  • “I would highly recommend Donna for anything related to coaching and teaching, but she’s also a lovely person to work with. She’s highly skilled, and her ability to work with people is undeniable.”

    Anca Mihaela Bogdan, Marketing Executive

Who I’ve supported.

I collaborate with educators, creatives, psychologists, industry consultants and businesses. We are unified by the vision of people living positively effective lives, full of wellbeing and purpose.

“I define a leader as anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes, and who has the courage to develop that potential.”

—Bréne Brown

Person taking a selfie by a swimming pool, wearing a pink blazer and red shirt, with earbuds and curly hair.

Let’s connect

If you’re curious about how practical facilitation, creative thinking, and well-being practices can help you, your pupils, or your team thrive, I’d love to hear from you.

Get in touch to book a call and explore what’s possible.