Kia ora, I’m Danni Ermilova Williams

Your Thinking Partner

Leadership is a constant juggle of people, priorities, decisions and change. There’s plenty to think about, but rarely enough time or space to think it through properly.

I work with leaders, business owners and executives to unpack the tricky stuff, test ideas, challenge assumptions and figure out - pragmatically - what comes next.

Whether you need a sounding board, a clear plan or specialist coaching, HR and change advice, I bring the nous, experience and perspective to help you see things differently and confidently move forward.

You’re juggling a whole lot more than people. But people are at the heart of almost everything you decide.

If you want better questions., better conversations and better outcomes, let’s chat.

Find out more…

No two challenges are the same. Neither are the solutions.

Here’s an idea of how we’ll work together

  • Personal and professional individual coaching.

    Sometimes life changes. Sometimes you know it’s time for something to change.

    Either way, working out what comes next isn’t always straightforward. I work with individuals to make sense of where they are, challenge what’s holding them back and work out what they want their next chapter to look like - personally, professionally or both.

    I also work alongside women navigating significant life changes, from miscarriage to the complexities of balancing leadership, careers and life beyond work. My programmes offer dedicated support for women at different stages of their journey.

    You don’t need to have it all figured out before we start. You need space to think, someone who will ask the questions that matter, and support to turn that thinking into action.

    Book a free chat

  • Entrepreneur and leadership coaching.

    You’re expected to have the answers. But who do you talk to when you don’t?

    Leading a team, running a business or navigating your next career move comes with decisions, competing priorities and the occasional moment of what now? I work with leaders, entrepreneurs and business owners to challenge their thinking, test ideas, work through the tricky stuff and get clear on what comes next.

    Whether you’re growing a business, navigating people challenges, stepping into a bigger leadership role or figuring out your next move, I bring thoughtful challenge, practical experience and specialist expertise to the conversation.

    Think of me as your leadership thinking partner. A space to think out loud, ask the questions you might not ask elsewhere and turn good thinking into action.

    Book a free chat

  • People + change consultancy.

    Good change starts with people. Making it work takes more than good intentions.

    I work with business, HR and change leaders to make sense of complex challenges, shape compelling change stories and design organisations that are fit for the future — with people at the centre.

    From organisational design and restructuring to change strategy, employee relations and the people challenges that come with growth, I bring strategic perspective and practical expertise to help you work through the options, challenge assumptions and turn good thinking into action.

    Whether you need specialist advice, a sounding board or a partner to help shape the way forward, let’s talk about people, change and work.

    Book a free chat

  • Workshops, facilitation and building connection.

    Change isn’t a process. It’s human. Design for that.

    The best work happens when people have the space to connect, challenge their thinking and get clear on what they’re working towards. I design and facilitate tailored workshops and team sessions that build shared understanding, shape strategy and turn ideas into action.

    I also help leaders, HR teams and change practitioners build the capability to design, govern, lead and deliver change well. From leadership development and organisation design training to formal mentoring and change process reviews, I bring practical experience, fresh thinking and a healthy dose of challenge to the room.

    Every team is different. Every solution should be too. Let’s shape something around what your people need to think, do and deliver differently.

    Book a free chat

  • Speaking events and panels.

    The right conversation can change how people think, what they question and what they do next.

    I speak at events, contribute to panels and facilitate conversations that get people thinking differently about the world of work and the people in it.

    Drawing on my experience across leadership, HR, organisational change and the future of work, I bring practical insight, fresh perspectives and a willingness to ask the questions others might avoid.

    I also speak with openness and compassion bringing greater visibility to experiences that are too often left out of workplace conversations.

    Looking for a speaker who brings substance, honesty and a human perspective to the conversation? Let’s talk.

    Book a free chat

  • Something else.

    Things rarely fit neatly in boxes...

    I help people and organisations define and reframe complex change questions and navigate challenging workforce and workplace situations. If you're not sure if it's something I can help you with, it may be worth asking anyway. I can help you frame your problem and find the support you need…

    Please help me

  • Featured on…

    TVNZ’s Counting the Beat - Series 1: Money


    Dig Deeper with Digby Scott


    Lead with Less with Tash Pieterse


    The Wellbeing Junkie with Philly Powell

  • I engaged Danni as a business coach recently as I was feeling a little directionless and flat in my business.

    I wanted to get clear WHO I wanted to work with and plan for HOW to reach them. I also wanted help on how to price my services, and to find that sweet spot between feeling challenged but not stressed.

    I immediately felt great working with Danni. She's intuitive, insightful and empathetic. It felt amazing having someone who understood where I was coming from and was able to give me that direction I needed. Within the first session, I'd already made significant changes including raising my prices by 40% and tightening up my terms and conditions.

    I love the holistic approach she takes to work and life which makes sense, because it's all interconnected. It's such a relief to now be clear on where my business is headed and I'm excited to see where it takes me.

    Thanks Danni - I'm so glad I found you.

    Hannah, Business Founder


  • I started my business a year ago, and this year I hit a point where I felt overwhelmed with my workload, working around the clock and needing to come up for air. Finding a female business coach was important to me, and Danni's experience with leadership was exactly what I needed.

    Working with Danni has been a game changer. From our first session, she really understood my challenges and offered personalised, practical advice that I have easily implemented and it has truly worked. At first, I was worried that getting coaching would feel like taking on more, but it has been the opposite. She has helped me put my challenges into bite size pieces that are logical, practical and easy to implement.

    Danni's strategies for time management and stress reduction have transformed my daily routine. She also helped me adopt and strengthen my business mindset, assisting with growth and turning obstacles into learning opportunities. Her support has been amazing, boosting my confidence and helping me identify clear, achievable goals.

    Danni is one of a kind, an amazing mentor who genuinely cares about helping you be the best you can be. If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, needing guidance with change or levelling up - I highly recommend working with her. She has the expertise to guide you through effective change and help you achieve your goals.

    Amy, Business Founder

  • Embracing my strengths as a woman in business did not come naturally. Danni helped me understand the differences I had been self-conscious of were strengths. High EQ, ability to establish connections and empathy did not diminish my impact as a leader, but only enhanced it. How to lead with purpose and authenticity have been some of my most valuable lessons.

    When I made a conscious decision to change my career journey I enlisted Danni's help. Her insights were brave and direct. Danni helped me work through what my career vision was, the values that were important to me and how I wanted to show up. Many of the behaviours I was praised for early in my career no longer served me to the same extent. Danni helped me understand what working in strategic space looked like.

    I co-founded the PINC Ladies Wellington networking group, which centered around the ethos that when women support other women, we all rise. Danni taught me that women should not be required to prove they deserve to be part of leadership, that we deserve equal opportunities, end of. Embracing that philosophy means I take risks and chances I never would have previously. I am now privileged to regularly connect professional women in Wellington with like-minded audacious leaders.

    Dani, People Leader and Network Co-Founder

  • Working with Danni has been an awesome, transformative experience. The most impactful insight I gained from working with her was the deep understanding of myself and my unique leadership style.

    Danni's approach to self-awareness and leadership helped me uncover strengths and areas for growth that I hadn't fully recognised before. By identifying and embracing these aspects, I've been able to implement more effective strategies in my business, leading to increased productivity and a more cohesive team dynamic. This understanding has also boosted my confidence, enabling me to make more informed and decisive choices that align with my core values. Her emphasis on authenticity and leveraging our inherent strengths as women leaders was both empowering and validating. She understands the unique challenges we face and provides tailored guidance to navigate them with grace and resilience.

    Danni's support has helped me embrace my leadership role with greater confidence and has reinforced the importance of staying true to myself while leading others. For any woman in business and leadership considering working with Danni, I can confidently say that her coaching is invaluable.

    Danni creates a safe and supportive environment where you can explore and develop your leadership potential (BIG tick). She helped me create a job offer which attracted the perfect Chief Administrator and I will forever be in awe and grateful.

    Kim, Business Founder

  • I would highly recommend taking the LeadHER course even if you don't think it's for you! If you are a parent, working professional, young person or HUMAN BEING, you will benefit from learning from Danni's knowledge and expertise.

    I think the most surprising thing I found was how applicable what I learnt is to all aspects of my life - personal and professional. I learnt so much about myself and how I tick and how I can use this in my leadership practice.

    Sarah, Business Owner and People Leader

  • I loved working with Danni to help gain clarity in both my personal life and business. She's a fantastic coach who genuinely cares about your particular needs, not just following a cookie cutter formula.

    Even if you don't think you need a coach, I highly recommend working with Danni and you'll be amazed how quickly you can make positive changes in your personal and business worlds.

    Liora, Business Founder

  • Danni has extensive experience successfully leading and implementing complex change processes across large organisations. Her experience ranges from supporting the initiation of change through legislation and policy development, to the subsequent strategy and operating model changes, and then into the planning and delivery of the people change processes.

    Danni effectively builds relationships and trust with customers and stakeholders at all levels to enable change, and successfully works with executive teams and senior governance groups through their decision-making processes, building trust and confidence in her ability to deliver.

    Danni is equally effective at leading and mobilising teams to manage the implementation of the change. Change management requires an ability to both plan and adapt to changing demands and emerging risks. Danni's experience enables her to deliver change that both anticipates and responds to risks and issues, which are often uncertain times for organisations.

    Colin, Executive Leader

  • I came across Danni on LinkedIn where she shared her courageous journey that challenged societal norms and expectations - I was inspired and decided to reach out. I felt the need to shake things up and reorder my priorities having not found my feet after suffering the loss of our first baby and starting a new job all within six months.

    Danni offers a safe and unique container where she effortlessly traverses the complexities of our deeply personal experience on this earth (desires, mindset, grief) and the reality of life in the corporate world as a woman.

    I couldn't recommend Danni more for support and coaching when dealing with or planning a significant life change.

    Shelby, Professional

  • Danni brings a refreshing perspective to her coaching which has enabled me to successfully navigate challenges, and grow professionally and personally. Danni's caring and open, providing a safe and productive space to share authentic experiences without judgement. This has allowed us to have challenging conversations to deeply explore areas of insight and opportunities for change.

    I am the leader I am today as a result of the coaching Danni has provided me. I also know that the leader I am tomorrow will be grounded in the tools, techniques and strategies Danni has worked with me on. I would strongly recommend Danni as a coach for anyone in their career, particularly those that are seeking an authentic relationship to support their growth.

    Nik, People Leader

  • Danni is a wealth of knowledge in all things business mindset, work life balance, personal growth and imposter syndrome.

    I worked with Danni for four sessions and each session was very in depth and had a different focus which all led me to feeling so much more confident in my abilities.

    Danni ensures the focus of sessions are what you need specifically as a client and adjusts as needed, for me this was a focus on getting a clearer plan and vision for my working future, what I see myself thriving in and really wanting to do, working through my limiting beliefs and creating clear steps for how to achieve my business/work goals.

    I highly recommend Danni for anyone that is feeling stuck and wanting guidance in this realm.

    Laura Yates, Business Founder

  • We are incredibly grateful for the support and expertise of Danni during our company change process. From start to finish, her kindness, honesty, and genuine care for our situation shone through. She laid out every step of the process clearly, ensuring we fully understood our options and responsibilities, which gave us immense confidence in the decisions we needed to make.

    What stood out most was the way she made us feel supported throughout a challenging and emotional time. Her approachable and empathetic manner turned a daunting process into one where we felt empowered and reassured.

    We highly recommend Danni to anyone seeking HR legal advice, her professionalism and humanity are truly unmatched. Thank you for helping us navigate this transition with such grace and expertise!


    Ruan, Business Owner

  • We engaged Danni to present at our internal Leadership Summit about the future of work and its impact on the skills for the future. Her presentation was insightful and inspiring and was noted by attendees as being a highlight of the day.

    Danni has worked with us since on our future of work programme, to plan and design human centred design workshops.

    We've found Danni to be highly engaging and positive, with great energy and passion for our mahi, and a deep knowledge of navigating organisational transformation. She is particularly strong at making sense of complex information and providing clear, strategic options to navigate needs and progress forward.  

    We have found value in working with Danni and would highly recommend working with her.

    Cat Hall, Toi Moana, Bay of Plenty Regional Council

  • I've been working with Danni one on one over the past few months and it's been one of the best decisions I've made for my business.

    As someone juggling a lot, I usually arrive at our sessions with a head full of competing ideas, and Danni has a real knack for cutting through all of it and helping me get clear on what actually matters.


    Every session pushes me to make a decision and leave with a clear direction, which is exactly what I needed. What I appreciate most is the accountability. She holds you to what you said you'd do, in a way that feels supportive.


    If you're looking for a coach who will help you get unstuck and actually move forward, I can't recommend her enough.

    Maria, Business Founder