I’m Adanna: an ICF (ACC) accredited leadership coach, consultant, speaker and writer.
My work is varied and exciting, including coaching executive headteachers, delivering corporate training on staff wellbeing and leading writing projects with pupils in UK schools. I also work with private clients from a wide range of backgrounds, including doctors, lawyers, engineers, artists and business owners.
I draw on two decades of professional training and experience - including 13 years as an English teacher and school leader - to create unique and impactful coaching and training. My qualifications include a BA in English Literature, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), an MA in Language, Ethnicity and Education, and an ICF (ACC) accreditation.
Catalyising Your Personal and Professional Development
My unique approach is person-centred, with a focus on the relationship between identity, language and wellbeing. I combine evidence-based scientific modalities such as Positive Psychology and Transactional Analysis, with my expertise in language, writing and creativity to facilitate powerful transformation in individuals and teams.
I particularly love working with ambitious people and places genuinely committed to positive social impact and creating a world that is more equitable, values-led and creative.
This includes coaching and training individuals or teams in creating a culture of socially conscious leadership and healthy wellbeing practices that foster shared purpose and more impactful performance. I also work with young people to empower them with life-long skills in self-awareness, creative thinking and resilience that equip them to flourish as emergent leaders in their own right, forging exciting paths ahead for themselves and their communities
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Alongside my work, I’m a governor for an inner-London primary school and a Trustee for Mandala Theatre Company, a youth charity committed to championing social justice through the arts. Born in Nigeria and raised in Manchester, I live in London with my husband and our two children.
My Story
A career in teaching was always an obvious choice for me. From a very early age, I was often being asked to mentor, coach or teach others in some capacity, from paired reading with younger students in primary school, to netball coaching at summer camp in my teens and voluntary work in a local school during my undergraduate degree at Warwick University. Therefore, it came as little surprise to anyone when I went straight from my degree in English Literature into teaching training.
I spent a total of 13 years in London secondary schools as an English teacher and in a range of departmental and whole school leadership roles. I progressed quickly in my career, and loved the dynamic, varied work I did. I particularly relished especially inspiring young people with the power of language and storytelling, and mentoring and training new and experienced colleagues.
A Turning Point
After becoming a parent, I was surprised to experience a massive shift in my identity. I was still highly ambitious and committed to effecting meaningful social change, but also wanted more flexibility to work around the needs of my family and parent in a way that felt most natural and fulfilling to me. At this time, I had some career coaching that helped me become aware of the importance of prioritising my own wellbeing, not simply putting work and family first to the detriment of my own health. This inspired me to leave classroom teaching to retrain as a coach, in order to offer similar support to others.
As a result of my personal experience, I initially focused on working with professional women on maternity leave, using Therapeutic Writing as a coaching tool to support self-exploration and personal development in this this new phase of life, with a strong emphasis on wellbeing. This soon grew into coaching women more widely in a wide range of personal and professional areas: career progression, family dynamics, launching a new business, confidence and mindset, challenges at work and personal transitions.
I now combine my fascination with identity, language and wellbeing to offer my unique coaching approach to equip professional women with the tools they need to create the sense of purpose, fulfilment, balance and enjoyment they want in their lives.
I love to blend head and heart; evidence and intuition; science and creativity for deep, meaningful and practical coaching experiences. Clients describe me as having a ‘rare’ approach that has a ‘grounding’ effect, which make them feel seen, heard, valued and supported – and importantly, helping them to step forward into the vision they have for themselves and their lives.
Who I Work With
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For Schools
I am passionate about and committed to supporting the development of effective, equitable and person-centred education system
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For Organisations
I support organisations that are passionate about creating social change to support, engage and value their middle and senior leaders
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For Individuals
I offer a unique coaching approach to equip professional women with the tools they need to create the sense of purpose, fulfilment, balance and enjoyment they want in their lives