Hi, I’m danya.

I believe in — and have personally experienced — the power of coaching to help leaders be more whole, healthy, and inspired so they can more effectively make the impact they intend.

As a startup advisor and executive coach for individuals and groups, I help leaders see themselves clearly, prioritize intentionally, and influence authentically.

experience

I’ve spent nearly 20 years building businesses, brands, teams, and communities from scratch and at scale across tech (Skillshare, Patreon), venture capital (Spark Capital), non-profit (Teach For America), and as the founder of a wellness & spirituality media company (Arq).

I’m a proud generalist who follows my heart and knows how to put my brain to work.

I’ve designed CEO & founder summits for hundreds and women’s new moon retreats for dozens. I’ve built and executed hiring processes from scratch and I’ve inherited teams and supported their holistic and ongoing growth. I’ve led crisis communications and crafted brand narratives, and I’ve spoken on main stages and delivered lessons on Zoom. I’ve brought intimate and global communities together online and off. I’ve been in the weeds on individual projects and envisioned company-wide strategies. I’ve been profiled in Bloomberg Businessweek and been an On Being Fellow.

All of my experiences — including my 98-day stay in the NICU with my (now thriving and spitfire) daughter, my 4-month family sabbatical in Europe, and my days as a triathlete — have given me the perspective and wide range of skills that I need to support leaders with huge potential who are under great pressure to make a seismic impact.

disciplines

In order to design effective, outcome-based coaching programs, I draw on the following, in addition to my operational experience:

  • New Ventures West Integral Coach certification

  • International Coach Federation Associate Certified Coach (ACC) certification

  • A life of practice that includes meditation to build presence and patience, journaling to get curious and be self-aware, exercise to build stamina, and reading to be a constant learner

  • Over a decade of personal experience as a coaching client, beginning as a Women’s Impact Alliance Fellow and continuing through today

  • I’ve found value in the Enneagram, Positive Intelligence, astrology, and other assessments and may invite you to reflect on their results

  • The Barnraisers Project racial justice training

currently

I live with my husband and daughter in sunny Los Angeles, although I’ve left pieces of my heart in New England (where I grew up), Brooklyn (which I never thought I’d leave), the south of Spain (where we went on sabbatical during the pandemic), and Whidbey Island (my special place).

Essential Spirituality is on my desk, I’m reading Dream Yoga and Hello Beautiful in bed, Everything Happens and The Ezra Klein Show are my go-to podcasts, and I’m dabbling in somatics training with the Strozzi Institute and Leadership Embodiment.

I’m slowly learning to surf and usually nurturing a passion project like LA Families Bike.