About US
We believe in the power of conversation
Our approach rests on creating spaces of meaningful connection through conversation. It is in those connections, even in the moments of messiness and uncertainty, where innovative and creative solutions can emerge.
We support leaders to gain new, more effective mindsets and skillsets make sense of their context, and move towards clarity and better outcomes. And we provide transformational coach education programs to help others learn to support leaders.
We believe in bespoke, customized solutions that meet people where they are and get them where they want to be.
Our Difference
We specialize in inclusion-based leadership development, coaching and coach training – read more about our commitment to inclusion and equity here
We offer a boutique-style experience, customized to context and intention
We prepare leaders & coaches for the future – grounded in latest research & responsive to current context
Our Work
We work with companies across a broad range of industries – everything from non-profit, government, education, insurance, media and resource-extraction.
Leadership Team
Maggie Coulter
Donna Forde
Marina Sinclair
Maggie Coulter, Professional Certified Coach (she/they)
Maggie Coulter is Co-Principal of PeopleDynamics Learning Group (PDLG), an Executive Coach and a member of PDLG’s faculty of their ICF-accredited Business Coaching Advantage Program™. They bring a wealth of business experience as well as coaching and facilitation experience to their work as an instructor and mentor coach.
While not limited to this area of focus, Maggie specializes in career and leadership coaching for people who have experienced past trauma that may hold them back in the present.
Maggie’s clients are typically mid- and senior level leaders that need support around taking on a new role or leading through complexity and change. They want to level up their skills and presence for increased confidence and greater impact. This can include creating more collaborative connections with their teams and executives, managing their own energy and reactivity in the moment, and developing the bigger picture thinking required to lead at their level.
Before embarking on their own career transition to coaching in 2009, Maggie established a successful career in financial technology management. Their last position was Vice-President, Technology for one of Canada’s major banks, wherein they passed the Partners, Directors and Senior Officers Exam (CSI) and earned her Project Management Professional (PMP) designation. Maggie was also a contributing author to “Starting a Hedge Fund: A Canadian Perspective,” along with several industry journals.
Maggie holds the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) designation from the International Coach Federation, and the Registered Corporate Coach™ designation from the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches™. They are also recognized as an Applied Mindfulness Meditation Specialist (University of Toronto), a Certified Trauma-Informed Coach (TICC) and is certified in EQ-I 2.0™ and Hogan personality assessments. They hold a B.A. in Management Economics from the University of Guelph and completed the Strategic Leadership Advanced Certificate Program at University of Toronto.
In their individual and group coaching work with executives and senior managers, Maggie’s clients have included: Panasonic, SICK Ltd., Canadian Corporate Counsel Association, University Health Network, Sick Kids Hospital, Rogers Communications, Stephen Thomas Ltd., Shoebox Ltd, Thunder Bay Health Sciences Centre, Marketing CoPilot, and many others.
Donna Forde, Master Certified Coach
Donna Forde works with PeopleDynamics Learning Group (PDLG) as a senior executive coach and a member of the faculty of our ICF and WABC Accredited Business Coaching Advantage Program™. She brings over two decades of experience in leadership and organizational development, a rich background in individual and team coaching plus extensive facilitation expertise to her work as a PDLG instructor and mentor coach.
Donna is a professional coach, leadership educator, and relationship strategist who is inspired to connect with people and support them in living life authentically by aligning passion with purpose. She believes in the power of gaining insight through curiosity and linking personal intent to measurable outcomes. Donna partners with clients to support them to shift from inspiration to action. This quote by Nelson Mandela sums up her approach to coaching, “There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
Donna creates meaningful learning experiences by inviting others to explore the edge of who they are becoming. She loves creating connection with others through conversations that are honest, deep, intimate and playful. She shares frameworks and perspectives from a pragmatic and experiential approach that provokes inquiry and evokes possibility. Her supportive, empathetic and open nature creates a safe environment to challenge beliefs. One of Donna’s greatest contributions to developing a dynamic learning space is her ability to observe and sense what is present in the learning field at any given moment and use it to create powerful moments of insight.
Donna’s coaching focus includes leadership development, executive presence, communication, somatic embodiment, personal growth and couples coaching. In working with individuals, teams and large scale groups, she has helped organizations of all sizes in the public and private sector explore what is possible though self and team discovery, create awareness to frame opportunities and build commitment to take action. She has worked in diverse industries including telecommunications, healthcare, financial services, retail and not for profit.
Donna’s concentrated approach to coaching and leadership development is a distillation of many years of personal transformation and study. She holds the Master Certified Coach designation from the International Coach Federation (ICF). She is a Certified Executive Coach through the Professional School of Psychology, a Certified Business Coach through the PeopleDynamics Learning Group, and holds a Master’s Degree in Human Systems Intervention from Concordia University. She is certified to administer a variety of assessment instruments including MBTI, SDI, DISC, and the Rhodes Thinking Intentions Profile. Her work with assessments and modalities coupled with an interest in systemic change and adult human development helps to support increased self-awareness, learning and personal and professional growth for her clients. Her current areas of growth and exploration include mindfulness, systemic constellations and narrative coaching.
Marianne Williamson said: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.” Donna believes her role as a coach is to help others shine their light.
Marina Sinclair, Program Development & Infrastructure (she/her)
Marina is a Principal Partner at PeopleDynamics Learning Group Inc., where her role includes program design and content architecture for program development. She facilitates selected programs in the conversation space, with special interest and expertise in Diversity and Inclusion.
Marina has been supporting clients in the consulting, coaching and leadership development domain over the past 15 years with a unique combination of skills in information design, creative design, logistics and planning, communications, data management and facilitating conversations.
Delivering a game-changing impact to any team, Marina is sought-after for her thoroughness and effectiveness in managing complex projects and finding ways to execute whatever is needed to deliver the most valuable result. Her flexibility and ability to enter projects and join teams at any level are invaluable.
Marina’s role at PDLG includes program design and content architecture for new program development as well as facilitation in several programs. She also manages the logistics of bringing programs to life online, and maintaining and developing new infrastructure to provide program participants a rich virtual experience.
Marina has worked with a variety of clients in the leadership training, coaching and consulting world, including the Dorothy Wylie Leadership Institute, Instincts at Work, AMT Associates, SHiFT Coaching, LCI Associates and the Inquiry Institute. The work Marina has helped to create and support has made an impact for a variety of end-clients, including CBC, Hamilton Health Sciences, J&J, Johns Hopkins, Parkland Fuels, NASA, Rogers, the US Navy and Woodbine Entertainment Group.
A special interest in neuroscience underpins Marina’s approach to content development and informs her work in creating conversation spaces where different types of learning can take place. Whether the learning intention is the transfer of knowledge, creating self-awareness, or engaging in challenging conversations, there is always the focus on ensuring that effective action is part of the picture. Marina’s training in Restorative Practices and Circles as well as Non-Violent Communication informs her approach to coaching, facilitating conversations and leadership development.
Associates
Dorien Bouma
Eileen Chadnick
Aileen M. Edwards
Jess Robinson-Lychak
Arlene Williams
Dorien Bouma
“BRAINSPACE – having the mental capacity to focus on the things that are important, at that time.”
– Dorien Bouma
Hi, I’m Dorien.
Curious as I am, I have always loved change. To me it is something new to explore, something exciting to learn, a new adventure to go on. This is also the reason why I have moved more times than I can count, never followed the standard career path and instead climbed, jumped and combined ladders and have (had) so much fun doing so.
Not following the standard career trajectory, I have also learned that we can get stuck at times – lost in the clutter of our own minds. Because how do we get from A to B? What are our strengths we can draw from? Or, how do we make decisions in the overwhelm of information coming to us daily?
These questions and experiences, combined with my career background and my love for anything organizational (really, give me a closet, room or document to organize and I am the happiest) drew me to becoming a Brain-Based certified Coach and focus on supporting others in creating brainspace and what’s important to them.
I call myself CaDutch (Canadian and Dutch) as I am from The Netherlands, but have lived in Canada long enough to also feel slightly Canadian. With these 2 cultural influences I’d describe myself as a positive, practical, nurturing and respectfully honest Coach.
Besides being a Coach, I am also a big lover of plants, sailing, homesteading and karaoke.
About my background and qualifications:
Business Coaching Advantage Certified Coach™ – PCC level
Registered Corporate Coach with the WABC
Certified in Applied Neuroscience
Bachelor of Social Work
Before becoming a Coach, I worked as a TV Producer, had a year of travelling around Canada setting up teams for new-to-open tea stores and was an Executive for a large advertising company where I lead the Talent and Operations teams.
As a Coach, I have experience coaching Executive Leaders, Solopreneurs, Entrepreneurs, Freelancers, Managers and Directors.
Eileen Chadnick, Professional Certified Coach
An experienced certified coach, learning facilitator, and communications pro, Eileen Chadnick helps leaders and organizations live into the questions: What is it to thrive and to create meaningful work and life experiences – for ourselves, and for others? How do we navigate the increasingly complex and ever- changing landscape of work and life with more confidence and efficacy?
As a champion of personal, professional, and organizational wellbeing, Eileen is known to be authentic, compassionate, and creative – and a high-impact connector of ideas, people, and possibilities. She serves mandates related to leadership development, career navigation, communications efficacy, engagement, and culture initiatives.
Eileen has coached hundreds of people at various stages within the continuum of their careers, including leaders from emerging to senior-level. As well, she’s designed, lead and facilitated learning and engagement initiatives for teams and companies to discover, refine, and live into their own internal brands (Culture DNA) — and foster more ‘leadership-ability’ in teams and individuals.
Certified since 2003, Eileen earned her coaching certifications from the Adler School of Coaching (ACPC) and the International Coaching Federation (PCC). Eileen is also certified in the EQi 2.0 and EQi 360 programs; VIA strengths; and has additional training related to neuroscience, positivity science, Conversational Intelligence® (and more).
A member of International Coach Federation since 2003, Eileen served as a Director on the GTA ICF Board earlier in her career. She is a recipient of an International Coach Federation Prism Award – recognizing excellence in leadership and performance coaching for her work with Tribute Communities.
Additionally, Eileen is an awarding-winning, and Accredited Business Communicator (ABC) and brings 20+ years of experience as a communications professional. She has successfully operated her own communications consulting firm, Chadnick Communications, since 1998. She has also held various senior-level communications roles with two of Canada’s leading PR agencies (Hill and Knowlton and Environics Communications/ now known as “Proof”), a Canadian bank, and a financial services payments association. Over the years, Eileen has served a wide roster of top tier clients in financial services, business and consumer products, education and other sectors.
Eileen earned a Bachelor of Education from McGill University, majoring in fitness, as well as Marketing Certificate. Earlier in her career taught fitness and wellness (for eight years).
Eileen is author of the book, Ease: Manage Overwhelm in Times of ‘Crazy Busy’. Since 2007, she has been a contributing columnist with the Globe and Mail careers and is a frequent source of insight to media on issues related to leadership, careers, and wellbeing.
Outside of her work, Eileen loves to cook, eat, see movies and theatre and read a good book. She plays golf irregularly (and with no apologies), hikes, runs (has run for more than 30 years – including 3 full- distance marathons before the age of 20). She has volunteered her time and expertise to many varied organizations over the years. Eileen is blessed with an abundance of very special people in her life. Her “VIA Signature Strengths” include: Gratitude, Creativity, Curiosity, Love of Learning and Honesty (really its true!).
Aileen M. Edwards, Associate Certified Coach
Aileen M. Edwards is an Executive Coach who draws on a range of models and frameworks in bringing about transformational change. Aileen works with a range of clients and organizations and enjoys working with clients at all levels who want to make changes to move forward in their career and personal lives.
A coach, mentor and facilitator who brings Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity skills to focus conversations that facilitate performance, change and learning relevant to their personal, organization or business context. A relationship builder with strengths in positivity, influence, and inclusiveness. Aileen uses her coaching skills and strengths to assist clients to achieve their goals and achieve success by engaging in a learning partnership with them to create purposeful actions for their goals.
Aileen has expertise in human resources, organizational development, diversity, equity and inclusion training and leadership development. Aileen excels in building strong and trusted relationships with boards, senior management, employees, and labour unions. She is an authentic collaborative and experienced leader and coach with a strong executive presence, who is capable of positively influencing stakeholders by blending big-picture viewpoints with tactical considerations to inspire, build trust and deliver unified business outcomes.
MAIN FIELDS OF ACTIVITY
- Executive Coaching using lived Marginalized and Racialized background
- Healthcare Experience
- Executive Human Resources expertise
- Leadership Development
TRAINING, ACCREDITATION AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY
- Master of Arts degree in Leadership
- Queen’s University Leadership Excellence certificate
- Business Coaching Advantage Certified Coach (BCACC™)
- Team Coaching Advantage™ certificate
- Associate Certified Coach (ACC), International Coach Federation (ICF).
Jess Robinson-Lychak, Professional Certified Coach
Jess is a creator and host of transformative conversations. She is passionate about building emotional and social skills, unpacking assumptions, and generating the courage to successfully lead in complexity, crisis, and continuous change.
Her career has spanned being a professional actor, starting and leading Calgary’s first award-winning feminist theatre company, running an LGBTQAI+ Film Festival, leading engagement initiatives on multi-billion-dollar capital projects, serving as an internal leadership development specialist in healthcare, and working in the private sector.
While in healthcare over the course of 10-years, she had two distinct honours. The first was in guiding Cancer Patient & Family Advisors to share their healthcare stories to be the catalysts for change and process improvement in the system. The second was while working in leadership development and team effectiveness, she co-designed a new course on conflict resolution for over 130,000 employees.
Jess has been facilitating and hosting conversations for over 13 years. In addition to coaching teams, she is a leadership development specialist who has customized hundreds of training strategies to enhance emotional intelligence, resilience, conflict resolution and coaching skills, accountability, trust-building and change management effectiveness.
With almost 10-years as a Certified-Coach, she has experience partnering with leaders in various industries, including oil and gas, retail, and telecommunications – especially within the healthcare sector including frontline clinical services, physicians, surgeons, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), finance, quality improvement, clinical engineering, and information technology. Jess possesses a unique skillset which allows her to connect with individuals from any industry and partner with them to reach their full potential.
Her approach and expertise are a fusion of her training and experience as an actor, career in the arts, certification as a Coach, Graduate degree from Royal Roads University in Leadership Development and continuous self-studies in the neuroscience of change. She is a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coach Federation, is certified in the EQi 2.0 model of emotional intelligence and the EQ 360, and a member of the faculty of the Business Coaching Advantage® accredited Coach training school.
Arlene Williams, Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
After being introduced to coaching by two amazingly supportive and growth-oriented supervisors, I knew it was the right path for me to show up and contribute in a way deeply aligned with my values. During my undergraduate degree I volunteered then led a peer counselling and crisis support centre grounded in the principle that people are the experts on themselves, but sometimes need a partner to help talk things through. For the longest time, that was my standard for meaningful work. But, to my continual delight, coaching both embraces and moves beyond that framework. I love how it creates a focused space for people to have learning conversations about how to achieve goals and create the life and success they want — as leaders and as human beings. And I feel profoundly privileged to have found this pathway to supporting people in meaningful ways on their unique journeys.
Key things that contribute to the perspectives I offer include: two years spent living in the UK; five years supporting educators on exchange programs to other countries; a Master’s degree in Communication & Culture; 20 years managing communications and policy for the post secondary education sector; three years helping leaders advocating for responsible tech; and having thoughtful colleagues continually expand my understanding of inclusion and belonging. Throughout my career, I have been devoted to deepening my learning around emotional intelligence, leadership and supporting positive change.
My current areas of focus are on supporting diverse young leaders; on integrating key neuroscience principles into my practice; and on helping people to engage constructively with conflict. I bring a strong learning mindset, combined with humility, compassion and a profound sense of wonder and humour. Look forward to opportunities to connect!
Jess Robinson-Lychak, Professional Certified Coach
Jess is a creator and host of transformative conversations. She is passionate about building emotional and social skills, unpacking assumptions, and generating the courage to successfully lead in complexity, crisis, and continuous change.
Her career has spanned being a professional actor, starting and leading Calgary’s first award-winning feminist theatre company, running an LGBTQAI+ Film Festival, leading engagement initiatives on multi-billion-dollar capital projects, serving as an internal leadership development specialist in healthcare, and working in the private sector.
While in healthcare over the course of 10-years, she had two distinct honours. The first was in guiding Cancer Patient & Family Advisors to share their healthcare stories to be the catalysts for change and process improvement in the system. The second was while working in leadership development and team effectiveness, she co-designed a new course on conflict resolution for over 130,000 employees.
Jess has been facilitating and hosting conversations for over 13 years. In addition to coaching teams, she is a leadership development specialist who has customized hundreds of training strategies to enhance emotional intelligence, resilience, conflict resolution and coaching skills, accountability, trust-building and change management effectiveness.
With almost 10-years as a Certified-Coach, she has experience partnering with leaders in various industries, including oil and gas, retail, and telecommunications – especially within the healthcare sector including frontline clinical services, physicians, surgeons, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), finance, quality improvement, clinical engineering, and information technology. Jess possesses a unique skillset which allows her to connect with individuals from any industry and partner with them to reach their full potential.
Her approach and expertise are a fusion of her training and experience as an actor, career in the arts, certification as a Coach, Graduate degree from Royal Roads University in Leadership Development and continuous self-studies in the neuroscience of change. She is a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coach Federation, is certified in the EQi 2.0 model of emotional intelligence and the EQ 360, and a member of the faculty of the Business Coaching Advantage® accredited Coach training school.