Hi, I’m Danielle. I was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia at 49 — I sought assessment later in life after recognising patterns I had long worked hard to manage. Like many women, I had built systems, structure and resilience that allowed me to perform at a high level – while quietly carrying the cognitive load alone. I masked, overcompensated and worked harder than most to maintain standards that looked effortless from the outside. My diagnosis didn’t diminish me — it finally explained me.

For over 30 years, I have led teams, navigated complex, high-pressure environments, and helped lead and scale a business that generated over £30 million in publicly reported turnover. I have always believed in calm, values-led leadership — something that was recognised when I became the only civilian to receive a formal commendation from the Chief Police Commissioner for compassion and leadership during the 7/7 London bombings. I am also incredibly proud to be a mother to two remarkable daughters, one now studying Medicine at Oxford. Supporting them through resilience, divorce, ambition and academic excellence remains one of my greatest achievements.

What I now understand is that many of the traits that challenged me — fast thinking, intensity, hyperfocus, relentless drive — were also the source of my success. But high achievement can come at a cost when understanding is missing. Today, as a Business, Life and ADHD Coach, I help capable, ambitious individuals replace self-doubt with clarity, build structure without shame, and create sustainable success without burnout. I combine lived experience with commercial credibility to help ambitious, capable individuals work with their brains rather than against them.

I am becoming an ADHD UK Ambassador because representation with credibility matters. Late diagnosis can feel isolating, especially when you “look fine” on paper. I want to help shift the narrative from deficit to depth, from stigma to strength, and ensure that high-performing individuals are seen, understood and supported properly. ADHD is not a flaw to be fixed — it is a difference that, when understood, can become a powerful force for leadership, innovation and impact.