about
I used to be the leader people complained about.
Hi, I’m Danielle. I’m an executive coach, an experienced leader, and a trained clinical therapist, and I help talented leaders keep their results and build the relationships they need to lead well.
MY STORY
Great Results, Rough Edges
Early in my career, I was a talented leader who embraced responsibility, held myself accountable, and earned a reputation for delivering results.
I also failed to win any popularity contests in the process. Eventually I found out my colleagues were calling me “Napoleon” behind my back. Apparently, my 5’1” frame and irritability had become more noteworthy than any of my accomplishments.
It took a few lackluster performance reviews, disappointing employee engagement surveys, and feedback from patient bosses before I finally got the message that my approach wasn’t working.
After years of reading anything about leadership I could get my hands on and learning from every leadership coach on the internet, I figured out that great leaders produce results and build quality relationships with the people they depend on to succeed.
What I Learned
Results and Partnerships
I learned to keep delivering results and build partnerships that get amazing things done.
Motivation Without Frustration
I learned to motivate strong performance without letting my frustration get in the way.
Tough Messages, Kindly
I learned to deliver tough messages and still leave people feeling I was on their side.
Trust Over Competition
I learned to build teams that trusted each other more than they competed with each other.
Why I Became a Coach
In fact, I got so good at it that people started telling me I should be a coach. I spent some time protesting that coaching isn’t a real job. Then I signed up for my first class and quickly discovered it was exactly what I was meant to do.
I understand the leaders I coach on a deep level because I used to be one of them.
Today, I partner with senior leaders who are great at the results part of the job and sometimes rub people the wrong way getting there. Colleagues may label them overly competitive, aggressive, or difficult to work with, but I understand they are passionate, committed people who tend to be harder on themselves than anyone in their office could ever be.
I help them preserve what makes them great at what they do and build the relationships they need to lead well, so they aren’t weighed down by the kind of drama and office tension that makes people start to question their career choices.
WHAT I BRING
Three Backgrounds That Rarely Show Up in One Person
Experienced Leader
12+ years leading operations for health and wellness companies: running multi-site operations, opening new locations, and hiring and training teams. With no HR department at any of them, the people side of the business was mine too.
Trained Clinical Therapist
A master’s in behavioral health, with a clinical lens on why people behave the way they do at work, how strong partnerships form, and why interpersonal dynamics are so challenging to manage.
Certified Coach
Founder of Terranova Consulting, coaching 130+ senior executives at Fortune 100 companies, global media and entertainment brands, leading financial institutions, private equity firms, and growing businesses in almost every industry, for the last 12 years.
CREDENTIALS
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MA, Counseling and Behavioral Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine, summa cum laude -
Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
International Coaching Federation -
Certificate in Organizational Behavior
Harvard Extension School; master’s coursework in progress -
Certified Professional Coach and Master Practitioner
Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching -
Interpersonal Relationship Interventionist
The Gottman Institute -
Assessment certifications
Hogan (HPI, HDS, MVPI), EQ-i 2.0 and 360, DiSC, MBTI, Watson-Glaser, PXT Select, and CliftonStrengths
“
Danielle, you had a lot to do with my promotion to CEO. Your executive coaching and your influence on the team helped make it possible. I learned so much from you about being a good leader.
CEO, CONSTRUCTION SERVICES COMPANY
