How it started.
I’m Donna – executive coach, business owner, and mum of three.
After my first maternity leave in 2019, I was excited to return to a job and team I loved – but people and products had changed, expectations were high, and within weeks I felt overwhelmed. Determined to prove I was still the same capable, ambitious person, I found myself exhausted, uncertain, and full of self-doubt. Coaching helped me reset. It gave me space to clarify priorities, set boundaries, and reclaim my confidence.
I knew then that I wanted every new parent to feel equally supported in their transition back to work. That’s why I created Birch.
I completed my Diploma in Business & Executive Coaching at UCD Smurfit and earned EMCC accreditation in 2023. Since then, I’ve delivered over 300 hours of coaching, supporting more than 100 working parents and emerging leaders.
Why we chose the name Birch.
Just like the coaching process, trees grow from the inside out. With strong roots and a solid foundation, you create the stability needed to grow, adapt, and reach new heights.
The birch tree symbolises renewal, resilience and new beginnings. In Irish mythology, it’s a marker of fresh starts and personal growth – values that align beautifully with the transition into parenthood and leadership. And in a lovely coincidence – birch wood was traditionally used to make cradles for newborns.
Our coaching approach.
Everyone’s parenthood journey is different – which is why you deserve personalised support when navigating leave and returning to work.
Whether working with individuals or partnering with organisations to design parental support programmes, Birch tailors every coaching engagement to meet unique needs – using our proven parental leave transition framework, but never taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
Grounded in EMCC-accredited training and evidence-based methods, our structured, collaborative process helps clients navigate change, reconnect with their strengths, and move forward with confidence.