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With more than 20 years’ experience across operations, leadership development and organisational capability, Donella brings a broad commercial perspective and a strong focus on what works in practice. She is skilled at turning business and people priorities into practical solutions that strengthen capability and support performance, with particular expertise in leadership development, mentoring and coaching, and digital and blended learning.
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Donella has more than 20 years’ experience spanning business operations, leadership development, learning and development, coaching, facilitation and mentoring. She has held senior leadership roles with responsibility across multiple areas of business operations, giving her a strong understanding of the commercial and operational realities leaders navigate every day.
Alongside her operational leadership experience, Donella has extensive experience designing and managing leadership and capability initiatives. She has coached leaders, facilitated leadership development, and designed and managed mentoring programs, blended learning solutions and large-scale development initiatives across a range of organisations and sectors.
Donella brings a practical, considered and outcomes-focused approach. She connects the bigger picture with what needs to happen in practice, bringing structure to complexity and turning ideas into solutions that can be implemented and sustained.
Her experience across operational leadership and leadership development gives her a strong understanding of the realities leaders and organisations face, including competing priorities, leading people, managing change and delivering results. She brings a commercial lens to her work while keeping the experience of leaders and participants firmly in view.
As SMG’s Head of Operations and Digital Learning, Donella works across the business to strengthen how SMG operates and delivers for clients. She also leads SMG’s digital and blended learning capability, exploring practical ways technology and AI can enhance the reach, experience and impact of leadership development.
Outside work, Donella enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, catching up with family and friends, running, travelling, camping and exploring new places.
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