Our Story

Our world is on fire.

Numerous injustices are erupting from all corners of society, reaching thousands of humans who dare to see the inferno as a call to action. 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.

Change starts within, so we walk with you, tailoring our approach to bring forth your fullest potential.

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

  • 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

  • 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

Our impact by the numbers

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.

Meet Our Coaches

  • Dr. Ciji Ann Heiser

    Sr. Impact & Evaluation Officer

    Ciji leads assessment, evaluation, and strategic planning efforts with a culturally responsive and equity-centered lens. Her work involves partnering with stakeholders to cultivate and report credible and actionable evidence.

    She received her B.A. in International Relations from Bucknell University, M.Ed. from Kent State University, M.S. and Ph.D. in Educational Research Methodology from the UNC-Greensboro. She teaches antiracist research methods at American University and is a national leader and speak on leveraging data to advance equity in higher education.

  • Karis Middleton

    Virtual Project/Partner Support (VPP)

    Karis’ experience in project management began in the food manufacturing industry utilizing her engineering and process improvement skills to manage a team, executives, and employees. She obtained a B.S. in Biosystems Engineering from Michigan State University, a Project Management Professional certification and Scrum Master certificate. With these tools she is able to envision systems and solve complex problems.

    She is the founder of Karisma Wellness - specializing in self-image coaching and skin care. Karis looks forward to being a part of a team that makes equitable spaces more accessible.

  • Katerina Frye

    Executive Coordinator

    Katerina is an experienced writer with publications in science writing, sports, news, and entertainment. She has also oversaw client-facing organizational processes and designed digital communications for clients and internal team members. Katerina is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and is currently pursuing an MS in Professional Writing from New York University. Although Katerina is new to DEI work, she enjoys learning how to break down barriers to advance equity.

  • Anthony Curtis Jr.

    Coach Affiliate

    Anthony is the current Sr. Volunteer Programs Manager and Organizational Culture for Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). He facilitates various efforts to encourage corporate and community volunteers to empower students’ entrepreneurial mindsets. He also leads initiatives to strengthen the organization’s culture, diversity, and inclusion mission.

    Anthony is a former high school English teacher. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a B.A. in English and Secondary Education.

  • Kathy Tan

    Coach Affiliate

    Kathy is an equity & trauma-informed leadership coach & Founder of Amalu Coaching, LLC - working with individuals & groups of all ages nationally on personal & professional development. Her experience spans across education, non-profit, youth development, & social justice organizations. She has co-designed & led efforts to audit org culture with an anti-racist lens.

    Kathy holds her M.A. in Social Entrepreneurship & Change from Pepperdine University & her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan.

  • Lumarie Suders

    Coach Affiliate

    Lumarie (Lu) is a retired navy veteran who brings her 21 years of decorated military service and passion for leadership development into equity work. She most recently served as a Senior Enlisted Advisor. Her scope of responsibility consisted of advising senior personnel on best practices, facilitating leadership training for all military paygrades, and providing guidance on how to deal with challenging personnel and professional situations.

    Lu holds a B.A. in Management, with a concentration in Leadership from the American Military University.

  • Dr. Jordy Sparks

    Coach Affiliate

    Jordy is a systems-level educational leader focused on transformation through interrogating practices, precedents, and policies, in order to cultivate more inclusive and affirming learning environments. Currently, as Director of DEI in the Oceanside Unified School District. He drives systems-level change and leads district DEI efforts, social emotional learning and culturally proficient teaching and learning.

    Jordy holds a B.A. from The Ohio State University and a Ed.L.D. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

  • Dr. Clarybel Peguero

    Coach Affiliate

    Clarybel has over 20 years in higher ed administration and has provided consulting services for a variety of institutions, corporations and associations. She is an expert in strategy, leadership development, organizational culture, implementation of diversity and inclusion initiatives.

    Clarybel earned a B.A. in Sociology from Syracuse University, M.A. in Higher Ed Admin from University of South Carolina and a Ed.D in Org Leadership and Communications from Northeastern University. She is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and The Links.

  • 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.