Debi Madden

Coaching and facilitation sit at the heart of my work. Whether I’m supporting an individual through a personal or professional transition, or helping teams and organisations navigate strategic or operational challenges, I draw on a rich blend of NLP, leadership development, and real-world experience across the voluntary, community, and public sectors. My own life and career have shown me that change is inevitable, sometimes chosen, sometimes unexpected, and NLP offers a uniquely powerful set of tools to navigate it with clarity, confidence, and empathy.

I am an experienced coach, facilitator, trainer, business development consultant and project manager. Over the past two decades, I have supported individuals to achieve meaningful change in their lives and work; helped start‑ups and social enterprises to plan, grow and innovate; and guided voluntary sector organisations to develop strategically and deliver impactful programmes. I have designed, delivered and assessed training in leadership, coaching and mentoring, life planning, money management, personal development, anger management, and more. In 2018, I led the development of the UK’s first specialist counselling qualification for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, a project that deepened my understanding of trauma‑informed, person‑centred practice. I also provided personal development coaching for post-counselling clients supported by the specialist charity delivering this course. 

My professional journey spans Northern Ireland and Vancouver, Canada. Highlights include delivering a multi‑million‑dollar social housing programme for First Nations communities; leading a creative writing charity working within disadvantaged communities; managing Cruse Bereavement Care’s largest UK service; coordinating a cross‑border community leadership programme for 145 grassroots leaders; and supporting hundreds of voluntary and social economy organisations to collaborate across organisational boundaries. During the Covid‑19 pandemic, I led the rapid transformation of training for the NI Covid Community Helpline, ensuring staff and volunteers could support thousands of people in crisis.

I care deeply about collaboration, coproduction and community-led change. In 2023, I supported the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service to develop its first Innovation and Coproduction Strategy. Since 2024, I have been working with ANLP as part of a dedicated team of volunteers to deliver the annual NLP Ireland Festival, helping to grow a connected NLP community across the island.

I am passionate about lifelong learning, having returned to education as an adult. I achieved a BSc in Management Practice (2013), Level 5 qualifications in Leadership and Management Coaching and Mentoring, and in Facilitation (2014), an NLP Advanced Practitioner qualification (2016), followed by an NLP Master Practitioner qualification (2019), and most recently, an MSc in Business Development and Innovation (2023). I continue to invest in my development through ongoing CPD.

My coaching is grounded in the belief that most development is, at its core, personal development. Whether the challenge appears in work, relationships, confidence, leadership, or self‑belief, change begins with us. A safe, confidential space, and a trusted professional to help frame the process, can make any change process smoother and more empowering.

I work with individuals and teams, in person or online. I offer a free online consultation to help you explore your goals and decide whether I’m the right person to support you. Together, we can craft a tailored approach that meets your personal or organisational needs, whether you’re feeling stuck and unresourceful, navigating a life transition, developing as a leader, growing a business, or working with diverse stakeholders to deliver meaningful outcomes.

Please reach out for a conversation if you would like to explore options for working with me.