Executive Coaching
with Brian Donovan
Whether you choose personalised one-on-one coaching or dynamic group coaching programs, we help you broaden your influence, achieve results through others, and lead with confidence.
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Coaching Pathways with Donovan Leadership
We provide two powerful ways to accelerate your leadership growth:
One-on-One Coaching
Explore our one-on-one executive coaching programs for senior executives or emerging leaders tailored to your leadership challenges.
Group Coaching Programs
Discover your inner superpower, reduce the friction to getting things done and enhance your ability to get to "yes" faster in our group coaching programs.
Why Engage a Coach?
Leadership is rewarding — but it can be challenging, and often lonely. The higher you rise, the fewer people there are who can give you honest feedback or help you navigate important decisions. That’s where working with an experienced coach makes all the difference.
Here’s how you benefit from coaching at Donovan Leadership:
✅ Gain an Outside Perspective
Sometimes you can’t see the wood for the trees. As your coach, I provide clarity and reveal blind spots that may be holding you back — both the challenges you may not be aware of and the opportunities you might be overlooking.
✅ A Trusted Partner in Your Corner
At senior levels, finding someone you can trust with sensitive challenges is rare. As your coach, I listen without agenda and focus solely on helping you succeed.
✅ Honest, Unfiltered Feedback
Many leaders are surrounded by people who tell them what they want to hear. I’ll tell you what you need to hear — respectfully, directly, and in service of your growth.
✅ Accountability That Creates Momentum
Even high performers can procrastinate or self-sabotage without accountability. Coaching ensures you stay committed and on track, turning good intentions into meaningful results.
✅ Play a Bigger Game
A coach challenges you to aim higher, step beyond your comfort zone, and achieve more than you thought possible. Many leaders discover that their coach believed in them before they truly believed in themselves.
To be clear: gentle does not mean soft. Or weak. Gentle leaders are not pushovers. In fact, the gentlest leaders I know are also the strongest. They set clear boundaries. Don’t mistake their calm for passivity—because if you try to bulldoze them, you’ll soon find you’ll come off second best.
I work with leaders who know that real influence doesn’t come from ego or force — it comes from getting the best out of others.
If you’re here looking for a leadership coach who makes it all about them, who thrives on hype and hustle—you’re probably in the wrong place.
But if you’re ready to join the movement toward a gentler, more impactful style of leadership, I’d be honoured to see how I could support you.
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Technical expert to leader
You may be transitioning from technology or cyber expert into leadership.
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Your new problem - people
Now the challenge is getting results through people.
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Expand your leadership influence
We help you move up the ‘influence curve.’ Take the quiz to see where you are on the influence curve and where you need to be.
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Meet Brian
I’m an executive coach and author—and a self-confessed gentleman.
My dad raised me that way. And over the years, working with senior leaders, I’ve seen a consistent truth: the most effective leaders are gentle men and women. They get the best results because they treat people with dignity and respect.
That belief sits at the heart of The Gentle Art of Leadership, the book I co-authored to challenge the outdated notion that leadership has to be loud, brash, or domineering.
To be clear: gentle does not mean soft. Or weak. Gentle leaders are not pushovers. In fact, the gentlest leaders I know are also the strongest. They set clear boundaries. Don’t mistake their calm for passivity—because if you try to bulldoze them, you’ll soon find you’ll come off second best.
I work with leaders who know that real influence doesn’t come from ego or force — it comes from getting the best out of others.
If you’re here looking for a leadership coach who makes it all about them, who thrives on hype and hustle—you’re probably in the wrong place.
But if you’re ready to join the movement toward a gentler, more impactful style of leadership, I’d be honoured to see how I could support you.
What People Are Saying
I have had the privilege of working with Brian as my coach, and I can wholeheartedly say that he is truly exceptional at what he does. Brian has vast experience and deep understanding of the challenges faced by IT professionals, and was able to help me identify and overcome my own obstacles to achieve my career goals.
Cassandra Highfield
Executive Director, Information Technology & Workplace Services | Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, Victorian Government
Brian provided leadership coaching to me over a 6 month period during my time at Amdocs. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of working with Brian and would highly recommend his leadership and other coaching services to leaders of any standing. Whether you are new to leadership or an experienced leader transitioning roles or facing a new challenge, Brian has a fantastic methodology and personal style to help break through the leadership challenge, to build a better you and get the results you are looking for.
Liam Fraser
CRO | Buildxact
I met Brian at a time when I was looking to become a CISO. I achieved that dream and more thanks to Brian. Of a handful of people I respect and care for in my life, Brian is one. Brian taught me the art of commitment, the way to make the impossible, possible. Brian is a great teacher, influencer and change driver. If you are looking for a change or even if you want a different perspective on work or life, take the time to contact Brian. My respect and thanks to Brian for making a change in me.
Sarit Kannanoor
Enterprise Security Leader, Chartered SABSA Master, MBA, BE | Digital Frontier Partners
We came to Brian as a strong team with a desire to do more than our limited time had allowed us. We are passionate about our goals and we wanted Brian's advice on directions to take for massive growth; to "step it up a notch". We finished our time with Brian with an electric energy amoungst us and a restructured path that I am sure will see us continue to grow. I would recommend Brian to anyone who is looking to take that extra step to achieve their business goals.
Meagan Cross
Board Member | Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics
I recommend Brian for anyone faced with the challenge of applying leadership skills to a wide group of senior stakeholders, in particular to technology leaders looking to make an impact on their executive stakeholders.
Geoff Spicer
ICT Manager - Application Delivery | Goodstart Early Learning
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