Meet Coach: Donna Garratty

My Background

My journey as a business owner has been one of extraordinary highs and challenging lows. I founded my first business in 2002 and experienced early success, only for it to be swept away during the recession in 2008 due to my lack of financial and business knowledge at the time.

I’ve also been part of two “unhealthy” UK franchises, navigating mediation and a protracted legal battle to extricate myself successfully from these ventures. While these experiences were undeniably tough, they also became the catalyst for profound personal and professional growth. They taught me resilience, equipped me with invaluable business knowledge, and gave me a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed.

These lessons have fuelled the success of my subsequent business ventures. Today, I draw on my lived experience and professional expertise to guide other business owners through their challenges, helping them achieve clarity, balance, and sustainable success.

Clients I love to work with

I work with passionate, purpose-driven business owners who are committed to their vision but feel overwhelmed by the pressures of leadership. Whether you’re grappling with burnout, decision fatigue, team challenges, or the stress of scaling, I can help you overcome these obstacles and build a thriving business. I particularly enjoy working with those navigating the complex intersections of personal and professional life, helping them regain control and achieve their goals with confidence and focus.

What I’m great at

I combine emotional insight with practical, actionable strategies to create meaningful and measurable change for my clients. I understand the human side of business—the fears, the self-doubt, and the feelings of isolation—and balance these with tools and strategies to achieve tangible results. Here’s what I specialise in:

• Mindset Transformation: Helping clients overcome impostor syndrome, build resilience, and reconnect with their purpose.
• Strategic Planning: Creating clear, actionable roadmaps for sustainable growth and measurable outcomes.
• Navigating Relationships: Supporting clients to improve team dynamics, resolve conflicts, and maintain healthier work-life relationships.
• Work-Life Balance: Guiding business owners to protect their health and well-being while achieving professional ambitions.
• Leadership Development: Empowering leaders to step into their potential with confidence and clarity.

My best advice for small business owners

1. Focus on your health and relationships. You are the cornerstone of your business. When you take care of yourself and nurture key relationships, you create a strong foundation for success.
2. Failure is a stepping stone. Every challenge holds a lesson. Embrace these moments as opportunities to grow and make better decisions in the future.
3. Invest in strategy. Spend time working ON your business—setting clear goals, planning strategically, and building robust systems—so you can achieve sustainable growth.

Let’s Talk

If business coaching with me sounds like something you’d like to explore, I invite you to book a confidential 15-minute call so we can each assess whether or not it will be a fit. If it looks like it will be a fit for both of us, we’ll schedule a longer complimentary coaching session so that you can experience what coaching is like before you commit to a longer program.