
Darnell Adams
Founder, Guide
Introduction
Darnell Adams is a dynamic leadership coach, facilitator, and business strategist, who has over two decades of experience working with nonprofit, for-profit, and cooperative businesses. She has been personally recognized in “Bold Thinkers Who Are Shaping Our City” by Boston Magazine’s Power of Ideas and as a Social Innovator by the Social Innovation Forum accelerator program.
Developed and facilitated special projects, strategic plans and workshops including an array of topics including transformational leadership, understanding bias and power for nonprofit, for-profit, and cooperative businesses.
She has presented to large and small groups within industry, city and state governments, universities, and media outlets.
Darnell has a Master of Education from Harvard University and is an International Coaching Federation Credentialed Coach.
Appointed by Governor Healy to the Advisory Board for the Massachusetts Center of Employee Ownership.
Board Chair of Massachusetts Advisory Board on Employee Ownership and the Board chair of the Food Co-op Initiative, a national nonprofit organization.
Articles:
Featured in: Building a Pro-Black World: Moving Beyond DE&I Work and Creating Spaces for Black People to Thrive (Suarez, Cyndi, 2023, John Wiley & Sons)
What If We Owned It? (Spring 2022, NPQ Magazine)
For Food Co-ops, the Future is Now (June 2020, NonProfitQuarterly.org)
Areas of Expertise:
strategic planning
meeting and retreat design
facilitation
leadership coaching
Contact
701.353.8301
Testimonials
I reached out to Darnell when I felt I was floundering in my business; I wanted to move in a new direction and felt stuck. Darnell listened and heard the meaning beneath my words. Her questions helped me reframe my thoughts in a more positive light – moving from ‘what’s holding me back’ to ‘what energizes me’. Darnell’s empathy and expertise pack a powerful punch. I felt heard and supported, and I came out with clarity and renewed energy.
I reached out to Darnell when I felt I was floundering in my business; I wanted to move in a new direction and felt stuck. Darnell listened and heard the meaning beneath my words. Her questions helped me reframe my thoughts in a more positive light – moving from ‘what’s holding me back’ to ‘what energizes me’. Darnell’s empathy and expertise pack a powerful punch. I felt heard and supported, and I came out with clarity and renewed energy.
Beth Saunders
Beth Saunders and Associates
Kaye and Mel are the best evah!
Kaye and Mel are the best evah!
Darnell Test
Darnell, satisfied client
I can’t recommend working with Darnell Adams enough. Darnell was incredibly integral to the process of starting my own business. She is knowledgeable, patient, encouraging, and has such a calm presence that helped ground me if I got anxious or negative about where I was at in my process. Darnell helped me organize my ideas, look at the big picture and also zoom into the details. I’m about to celebrate the one year mark of working with my very first clients and I wouldn’t be here without Darnell’s guidance. Thank you!
I can’t recommend working with Darnell Adams enough. Darnell was incredibly integral to the process of starting my own business. She is knowledgeable, patient, encouraging, and has such a calm presence that helped ground me if I got anxious or negative about where I was at in my process. Darnell helped me organize my ideas, look at the big picture and also zoom into the details. I’m about to celebrate the one year mark of working with my very first clients and I wouldn’t be here without Darnell’s guidance. Thank you!
Lottie Gurvis
oh my nosh, LLC

