Our Story
Our world is on fire.
We’re facing urgent challenges and injustices that demand our attention. Times like these inspire people to step up and lead bold changes in their environments. As demands continues to mount on all sides, including from within, many current and future leaders are struggling for answers: “Can I avoid causing more harm? How do I truly create long-term change? Where’s the win-win?”
These are fantastic questions. In today’s highly-connected world, people have more capacity to love, to feel, and to fight.
That’s why our founder, Dr. Fisher, forged a different path—one of compassion, acceptance, and growth. Through the creation of Developing Capacity Coaching, she united like-minded individuals to co-create lasting solutions. Our blend of coaching, healing, and data-informed decision-making transforms individuals into honest, adaptive leaders.
From division to solidarity. From uncertainty to empowerment. That’s the Developing Capacity Coaching way forward.
Our Mission
We expand the capacity of leaders to do good, fostering a more compassionate, equitable, and just society.
Our Vision
All people, regardless of background, thriving freely throughout this planet.
Our Core Values
-
Everyone should be able to access and benefit from the resources in their environment. We coach people to disrupt the status quo to help our fellow humans thrive.
-
Inner healing is key. Our 4-prong approach encourages personal, professional, and relational freedom because healed, liberated people create a more socially just world.
-
All people should get the dignity, respect, and fairness they deserve. Let’s work to eliminate discrimination, bias, and disparity everywhere.
-
We shift people from fear and doubt towards love and trust. We love ourselves and each other enough to speak truth, heal from our shadows, and honor our collective humanity.
We’re a multisector, multigenerational, intersectional global movement.
Armed with newfound confidence and clarity, individuals are equipped with specific blueprints and practical skills tailored to lead measurable change their unique contexts.
Our Theory of Change thus envisions a ripple effect, where empowered individuals ignite collective action and drive systemic change towards a more just and equitable future.
Check out our Services
Over the course of their careers, DCC team members have helped individuals, teams, and small and large organizations build capacity for long-term success. From motivational speaking, individual coaching, strategic advising, training sessions, to organizational coaching, we consider it an honor to partner with people on their journeys. We are happy to explore ways that we may be of service to you or your organization.
Trusted by CEOs, Executive Directors, College Deans, Government Leaders, Mayors, Directors, Superintendents, Principals, Boards, Foundation Program Officers, Employee Resource Groups, Non-Profit Execs, HR leaders, and more.
Our Current & Past Partners
-
Association of Colleges and University Housing Officers - International
Beloved Community
The Harlem Children’s Zone
New Leaders
The Adaptive Leadership Network
Waterford
IMAN Central: Chicago: Green Re-Entry
Community Coalition
Deans for Impact
J-PAL North America, Poverty Action Lab
Benevolence Farm
Institute for Educational Advancement
Starting Bloc
LatinxEd
Women’s Leadership Summit
I am Well
Alliance for a Better Community
Ampersand
uAspire
-
Washington Employment Securities Department
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Mayors Innovation Project
Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority
The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans
State of Nevada Department of Education
-
Great Lakes Academy
Western Michigan University
American University AUx Experience Program
UNC Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Public Health
Chicago Public Schools: Peirce Elementary School
University of Connecticut: Women of Color Resource Group
Stevens Cooperative School
Harvard Law School
Kankakee School District
Progressive Leadership Academy
Woodrow Wilson High School, Washington DC
Winsor School
American University School of Education
Western Kern Children’s Cabinet
Lost Hills Union School District
The Harlem Children’s Zone: Promise Academy Charter High Schools
Uncommon Schools: Boston
Uncommon Schools: Troy
St. Louis Public Schools
Winston Salem/Forsyth County Public Schools
Harvard Graduate School of Education: Doctor of Education Leadership Program
Harvard Graduate School of Education: School Leadership Program
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Prospect Hill Charter School
Neighborhood House Charter School
Washington University at St. Louis: Department of Residence Life
North Carolina State University
Boston Public Schools
The New York City Department of Education
-
Microsoft Woman of Cloud Marketing ERG Leadership Team
GSD&M
7till8
We Are Robyn, Inc.
General Assembly
AchieveMission
Minds at Work
-
The Moriah Group
Aspen Institute Young Leaders Fellowship Program
Nellie Mae Foundation
School Systems Leaders Fellowship
Moonshot edVentures
LatinxEd Fellowship
Grid110
-
I am Well
Ampersand
Kitchen Table App
Quilt
Ankura Consulting
Bounteous
Real World Change — Partner Stories
Let’s Partner
Meet Our Founder
Dr. Annice E. Fisher
Annice has over 20 years of experience developing and leading equity and justice work across diverse sectors. From working with mayors to boards to superintendents to deans to state agencies, Dr. Fisher understands what it takes to build coalitions for change in complex systems. In 2017, Annice founded Developing Capacity Coaching and later, their sister non-profit GiveSankofa, Inc. Collectively, the organizations focus on co-creating a world where everyone has the full and equal opportunity to benefit from the resources within their organization, community, city, and world .
Most recently, Annice is known for her Conscious Leadership for Equity™ work which is currently being integrated across a variety of sectors including judicial justice reform, government, k-12 and higher education, philanthropy, corporate, non-profits, and Hollywood. Dr. Fisher also serves as the inaugural Antiracism Pedagogy Scholar at American University, School of Education.
-
After many successful years as an intrapreneur developing and leading innovative social impact programs in education and within local communities, Dr. Annice E. Fisher took an entrepreneurial leap of faith to create a multisector, multigenerational, intersectional movement for freedom.
She has coached executive teams, designed organizational cultural competencies, trained state agency leaders, co-chaired the Harvard Adaptive Leadership Network conference, served as vice-chair for the City-Council appointed Durham Human Relations Commission, been elected National Co-Chair for African American Knowledge Community, and spoke and facilitated numerous national presentations. She is the inaugural Antiracism Pedagogy Scholar at American University School of Education where designed an Exercising Conscious Leadership course and coordinates faculty learning in Antiracism pedagogy and practice.
Annice often serves as a writer and speaker on topics related to race, gender, leadership, social justice, entrepreneurship, and mindset.
In her efforts to democratize coaching, Annice launched The BEE FREE Institute, an online coaches certification hub for The BFW Coaches Academy & Conscious People for Equity™ Course. Annice has a B.A. in Rhetoric & Speech Communication from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, M. Ed in Higher Education Administration from Iowa State University, and Ed. L.D. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She holds certifications and trainings in Immunity-to-Change Coaching, HAVEN Interpersonal Violence, Safe Zone Ally, and the Social Justice Training Institute.
-
Outstanding Young Professional (under 40) Alumni Award, Iowa State University Alumni Association
Abundance Magazine, Black Women Creating Social Impact, The Highland Project
Antiracism Pedagogy Scholar Moves the School Forward Feature, Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Outstanding Young Professional Award, Iowa State University, College of Human Sciences
Director’s Award: Best Practice in Addressing a Current Student Retention Issue: Transfer United, National Consortium Student Retention & Data Exchange
Outstanding New Professional Impact Award, University of Arizona
-
Beyond Statements Toward Action: Maintaining the Antiracist Promise During the Anti-DEI Movement
How Black Women Can Navigate Leading Social Change
Antiracism Pedagogy Scholar Moves American University Towards Equity
Can teachers instruct on Roe v. Wade amid curriculum censorship laws?
Highlighting Black Women Changemakers
ISU Alumni Stories: Dr. Annice E. Fisher | Game Changer
DEI Leaders working to make Hollywood more inclusive
VoyageLA: Meet Dr. Annice Fisher of The Bee Free Woman & Developing Capacity Coaching in Koreatown
Meet the EdLD 2017 Class Marshal
Outstanding Young Professional, College of Human Services Iowa State University
Meet Our Coaches
-
Coach Affiliate
Valerie L. Holmes has 20+ years of higher education experience. Her personal areas of specialization include, but are not limited to, training and staff development, life strategy, personal and group leadership development, strategic planning, systems/infrastructure development, and multicultural/intercultural awareness – to name a few.
-
Coach Affiliate
Jose "J.J." Muñoz is a former educator, school administrator, and now chief academic officer. He’s worked in various education sectors in Arizona, Florida, and Massachusetts. He specializes in organizational strategy, culture, and coaching.
-
Coach Affiliate
Rhyan’s experience spans financial analysis, relationship management, business development, human capital management, and workforce analytics. He has worked in several industries including: commercial banking, hedge funds, technology start-ups, and industrial supplies. Rhyan is passionate about disrupting social inequities that impact Black males and the restoration of father-child relationships that have been impacted by systemic racial injustices.
-
Coach Affiliate
Tracie Jones is the assistant dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion at the MIT School for Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (SHASS). She serves as a strategic partner to the dean and leaders in the school’s departments, labs and centers (DLCs) to develop and collaboratively implement programs and activities that advance the school’s commitment to a diverse, respectful, and caring community for staff, students, and faculty.
-
Coach Affiliate
Eddie is dedicated to the engagement of cross-racial and diverse populations in the academic community. He has over fifteen years of experience in student experiential learning, support, and crisis management. His passion is in facilitating and leading discussions around difference and identity and executive coaching. He has traveled across the country speaking on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, as well as recruitment and retention for cultural affinity organizations.
-
Coach Affiliate
Amanda is an award-winning educator. She specializes in district and organizational strategy, talent pipelines and coaching, external engagement, and trauma-informed practices. Amanda often provides support to districts, CMOs, non-profits, and government entities who serve or impact children and families.
-
Coach Affiliate
D (she/they) is a grassroots community organizer turned school-based educator committed to an abolitionist pedagogy that uses education as a tool to liberate, not incarcerate. Their work has spanned from higher ed, charter, district, and incarcerated settings.
-
Coach Affiliate
Cho worked for eight years as an educator in Philadelphia’s inner city where she served as a Chemistry and Biology teacher, Science Department Chair, and in her final year, Dean of Students. In her time as a teacher, she created spaces for her students to practice inquiry-based learning and challenged her students to drive their own education. In her role as Dean of Students, Cho pushed for relational education, de-escalation practices, and restorative justice.
-
Coach Affiliate
Rose is a leader in the nonprofit education sector with over eight years of higher education, talent development, program quality and delivery, career coaching, and leadership development. Rose is also the author of A Generational Cry: Based on A True Story of the Haitian Revolution and founder and principal of A Rising Up Coaching. Rose loves people and processes. She is a lifelong learner who earned certifications in performance coaching, Becoming a leader: by making sound decisions, Allyship and more.
-
Coach Affiliate
Elaine Townsend Utin - a proud Peruvian-American - is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of LatinxEd. In this non-profit capacity, Elaine leads state-wide efforts to invest in Latinx leadership to expand educational equity and opportunity in North Carolina. Elaine specializes in conscious leadership development, coaching, and positive racial-ethnic identity formation.
-
Coach Affiliate
Tomiko is an award-winning educator with over a decade of experience serving K-12 youth. She utilizes asset based pedagogical approaches for a multitude of diverse communities. Her expertise includes literacy improvement, conscious discipline, capacity building for virtual learning, equity and trauma-Informed practices for staff and students.
-
Coach Affiliate
Pame (she/her/ella) believes that it is up to us to create the world we want. It all starts with you owning your brilliance. (That's right, you!) She works at the intersection of leadership development, brand strategy, and innovation. She's a strategist, a leadership coach, a speaker, and a facilitator. Her grounded advice has been featured on Forbes and on stages nationwide. Her mission to to help entrepreneurs, activists, healers, and creatives who want to design a better world.
-
Coach Affiliate
O.B. Amaechi is a social architect with over 15 years of experience in school leadership, teaching, mentoring students, and coaching adults. He is the author of The Intentional 5: VERGE - Confessions of a Disciplined Thought, a self-help book and companion e-course built on 5 guiding principles (Vulnerability, Experiences, Relationships, Gratitude, and Evaluation) with a focus on introspection and the intentionality of our choices.
-
Coach Affiliate
Beverly is a seasoned professional with expertise building and creating systems that improve productivity, increase revenue and accelerate growth. She is passionate about helping people learn and grow and has been successful in serving as a coach to mid and senior level management specifically in strategic planning, building new organizational structures and going through major organizational change. As a trained mediator Beverly has experience facilitating communication between opposing parties and coming to a resolution.
-
Coach Affiliate
Terry has over 15 years of coaching, mentoring, and teaching experience targeted at developing a diverse group of individuals in age, culture, and background. Working both in the non-profit and corporate sectors in education, workforce development and human resources has allowed him to help bridge the gap between where people are, and where they want to be - directing them towards life purpose and success. Terry holds a B.A. in Telecommunications with a concentration in Digital Media Arts & Technology from Michigan State University.
-
Coach Affiliate
Jenni is a passionate advocate for educational equity and a strong believer in lifelong learning with over twenty-five years of experience in the field of education. She currently serves as senior vice president of curriculum and instruction at Waterford.org. During over 15 years in the classroom, Jenni was selected by the U.S. State Department as a Fulbright Exchange Teacher for Uruguay and was awarded Teacher of the Year honors at the school, county, and district levels.
-
Coach Affiliate
Regine (she/her) is an experienced change agent passionate about matters ranging from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) to crisis response and prevention. Her powerhouse work ethic and vision promise both quality service and effective outcomes across disciplines. She volunteers her time for several organizations including JHU’s Black Faculty & Staff Association, Children and Families Global Development Fund Inc. and the Children of Haiti Enhancement Foundation, and many more.
-
Coach Affiliate
Shenette Gray is a native of Chicago Illinois. She spent several years in city government helping to resolve quality of life issues and ensured that the citizen’s voice was heard. After leaving city government, she returned to education. She has held leadership positions within several charter and public schools, responsible for managing the daily operations of the school and ensured that all students received an outstanding education.
-
Inbal Sansani is an executive coach for professional women. A former lawyer and humanitarian aid worker, Inbal has extensive experience resolving conflict, managing negotiations, and holding space for difficult emotions. Inbal graduated summa cum laude from Duke University with a B.A. in ‘War, Gender & Religion in the Middle East’; earned a Master of Philosophy in Ethnic and Racial Studies from Trinity College, Dublin; and graduated cum laude with a Juris Doctor from American University
-
Tara Levy is an artist, author and educator from the western suburbs or Chicago. She recently launched her nonprofit, Liberated Arts Movement, as a way to cultivate community through mindfulness based art and cultural programming. Tara intends for her artistry to be a source of light and love.
-
Sherri is an equity-focused, innovative educational leader with extensive experience working in K-12 and adult education with a special dedication to justice-impacted learners. Her expertise includes inviting others to co-create learning spaces centered on inquiry, inclusivity, and advancing opportunities for individual and community growth.
-
Andrian (pronounced Adrian) is a Managing Director, People Business Partner with City Year, Inc. Prior to joining City Year, Andrian worked supporting students' experiential learning through homestay abroad programs and as a P.E. teacher. He leans into his knowledge of Restorative Justice practices, Cognitive Coaching and Adaptive Schools training when centering people. Andrian believes his upbringing Philippines and lived experiences in the U.S., Ghana and Thailand have given him tremendous perspective. He believes in family first, always – he is a proud husband and father of two.
-
Wendy is the visionary, Founder, and Executive Leadership Coach for Coaching Women of Color. With over two decades of experience in the nonprofit educational sector, her expertise in leadership includes tackling imposter syndrome, effective team management, cultivating executive presence, adeptly navigating difficult conversations, and addressing microaggressions in the workplace. She's a certified DiSC facilitator, a graduate of the Accomplishment Coaches Training Program, and a proud alumna of Columbia University Business School's Program for Developing Leaders for Non-Profit Professionals
-
Dr. Amanda Klonsky has worked as an educator in jails and prisons for more than 15 years and speaks widely on issues of education and incarceration. Her forthcoming book, "Pandemic of Punishment," will be published by Beacon Press. Amanda offers her expertise in education policy and school improvement as a consultant for school districts, DOCs, NGOs, and schools in confined settings. More recently, Amanda has been engaged in the efforts to respond to the crisis of COVID-19 in jails and prisons.
-
Conor has nearly ten years of teaching, recruiting, fundraising, communications, and leadership experience in the K-12 education sector, and three years of experience as a civil litigator, Conor (he/him/his) has developed broad relationship-building, project management, analysis, and learning and facilitation skills. Across those roles, he has participated in and led affinity groups and worked to integrate equity into his daily work. Conor currently serves in a fundraising capacity for the non-profit Education Pioneers.
-
Khyrah is a social justice advocate with a mission to advance racial and economic equity through analytics. Her areas of expertise include human-centered data collection, analytics, and reporting. She founded KGS Consulting to uplift the impact of non-profits and social enterprises. Khyrah holds an M.A. in Social Service Administration, focusing on Policy Planning, Analysis, and Advocacy.
-
Chasity Wells-Armstrong served as the first Black mayor of the city of Kankakee, IL. With over 20 years of experience affecting organizational and community change through advocacy and public policy, she worked to advance equity in the community and civic engagement on the city’s boards, committees, and commissions. She is a seasoned facilitator, moderator, and advocate, championing issues such as violence prevention, mental/behavioral health treatment, education, and climate resilience.
-
Nedaa has professionally taught for 12 years as a high school classroom teacher in Chicago Public Schools and Boston charter schools. She is the founder and former executive director at Prairie Academy, serves as an advisor on The Justice Coalition, and is a founding board member on The Sanctuary Garden - a nonprofit, divorce resource center for women in Illinois. She is expected to graduate from Harvard Graduate School of Education with her master’s in education and nonprofit leadership in May 2024.