Gwenno Dafydd, Leadership and Master Public Speaking Coach
A professional broadcaster and performer with over 40 years of experience, expertise in equal opportunities, and diversity, combined with the experience of working at the C level since 1998, makes Gwenno Dafydd M.Sc.Econ. (Women's Studies) a formidable bank of knowledge, skills, and expertise.
Gwenno works globally as a coach and public speaker. She is the author of a book full of incredibly successful women with inspirational stories of how they smashed through comedy's glass ceiling. 'Stand up & Sock it to them, Sister' shows us that the glass ceiling is the glass ceiling in whatever profession you are working in.
This pioneering book has been described by 'Funny Women' the UK's leading female comedy community. As 'the ultimate canon of female stand-up comics.
Gwenno is the author and performer of 'Passionate about Piaf', a tribute show to the great French singer Edith Piaf, which she performed to great acclaim in the West End a few months before lock-down.
Gwenno is a prolific lyricist and instigated and co-wrote the lyrics to the Welsh Patron Saint David's Day. This woman's energy and enthusiasm are contagious, and you will not fail to be inspired by her. For examples of her work and testimonials, check out her Linktree.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
Facebook. I think it's because I have used it for so long and am just used to it.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
I have recently completed my training as a Wellbeing Facilitator for television and film sets. I am very excited about this new line of work as it combines all the sorts of work I have done over the last forty years and brings them all together in a very creative industry, which I love. Before covid, I focused on my own career as a performer and had a lot of success with my self-written one-woman show 'Passionate about Piaf' about the French singer Edith Piaf.
I had had a sell-out show in the West End with a standing ovation and two encores, many shows were lined up, and the last one was at the end of February 2020. So, I hope to go back to performing as soon as possible. During covid, I worked hard to perfect a system to coach people in public speaking by zoom, and I was fortunate to have several clients worldwide.
Having been a professional broadcaster since 1980, I have relished doing global podcasts in the last two years, and as a result, I have been taken on board by a Public Speaking Agency. I have also recently been made an ambassador for the Global Women for Good organisation, which I am very proud of. I am also the Americymru's World Ambassador for Saint David's Day, recognising all the voluntary work I have done to develop celebrations of the patron saint of Wales, Saint David.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
I love the variety. Every day is different, and the fact that I am growing in my skills and experience day by day. My work encompasses life and leadership coaching and unleashing people's potential, enabling people to become prolific public speakers; I broadcast and share my knowledge and experience, sing, act, and make people happy - what's not to like!
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Believe in yourself. You are way more talented than you think you are, so don't take it personally when you get rejected for a role or apart. And my own best advice to myself and others is that when you fall off the horse, get back onto it before it gallops off into the dust.
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
I am inspired and motivated by different things in the various aspects of my life. I rarely take no for an answer if I feel that something needs to be achieved. I started running competitively at the age of eleven, and I was always driven and very focused.
I used to coach other kids at that time, and this discipline has always been a rock-solid part of my life. Dragging yourself out of bed to go for a run up a mountain in the rain and hail does set you up for life and encourages you to become robust. I also absolutely love helping people, and making others happy really does make me happy. Genuinely.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
There are many things that I'm proud of:
Firstly being a mother to a thirty-year-old daughter who is now training to be an Art Psychotherapist. I must have done a good job there! In my own life.
To be kind and to have good values developed by my parents that I still honour and am grateful for.
To have friends who go back all the way to secondary school, 50 years ago and more!
To be a social justice activist and mentor to a young man Fidele Wabenga in Kakuma Refugee Camp. Kenya (if anyone is interested in raising money for his fabulous 'Seasons of the Time Creative Projects', then get in touch with him - he is on LinkedIn).
To have instigated and co-written (Bilingual Words: Gwenno Dafydd. Music: Heulwen Thomas) an anthem for the patron Saint of Wales Saint David, also to have instigated three County Banners to be paraded on Saint David's Day as well as instigating new traditions for schools to create school banners and parade.
To be the author of 'Stand Up & Sock it o them Sister. Funny, Feisty Females is a pioneering book about female stand-up comics.
Of all the changes I am able to make to all my clients' lives.
To have taken my one-woman show to the West End.
Another thing I was immensely proud of was getting my Welsh International vest for the 400 meters - I missed out on getting it as a 17-year-old and never gave up wanting to wear that vest - which I did 37 years later. I never give up - if there's something I want to achieve - it will happen.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
Globally, the only way to network is by Zoom, either individually or in groups. However, I love to meet up with people anywhere. We, Welsh, are very curious people, and I will talk to anyone anywhere, anytime! I just love finding out about people and how I can help them.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
I have had many challenges in my life and know how to overcome them, so this has stood me in good stead as it gives me great empathy. I am kind, but also, at the same time, take no prisoners as I am aware that we have a choice in life to either sink or swim, so determination and strength of character are what I say is key to success.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
Nothing was going to be easy, but every single challenging experience would build my character.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
Joanna Quinn is a three times Oscar-nominated animator and a very good friend. I admire the way that success has not changed her remotely, and she is the best boss any worker could have. She has kept her team for many years, and everyone loves her. She has become very successful in a male-dominated environment, and she s recognised by so many as a Great Role Model. She does a lot of mentoring young women in her work and loves her work. She is very political about women's issues and funny at the same time.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
I love to run but can't run very far nowadays as I have three metal pins in my leg. I sing with a choir and have done most of my life. Choirs are key for positive mental health - singing is important and good for your breathing, and the social element is also key. I am very active politically, and social justice is very important to me. I love going to the cinema and socialising. I love to dance, have two left feet, but love a little jiggle!
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
Yes indeed. As a self-employed person, my livelihood has been wrecked. All my performing and broadcasting work disappeared, and very few people invested in coaching, so I have had to live off my savings during this hard time.
I decided to use the time as a period of investing in myself. Investing in skills and experience wisely and, as a result, became involved with some incredible global organisations that I would never ever have encountered had life been more 'normal', such as Elaine Sugar's MAPS organisation and working with Fidele Wabenga and all the global podcasts that I have had an opportunity to take part in.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
I have had two mentors. Unfortunately, both of them are no longer with us. My first mentor was a wonderful woman called Eluned Phillips. She was a writer and had won the highest accolade in Wales (a bardic crown) twice - the only woman ever to have done so. She was a friend of the French singer Edith Piaf and would visit her in Paris for many years. I was very lucky to have Eluned as my mentor for over 25 years. Unfortunately, she died at the grand old age of 94. She was still writing and being very creative at this age.
I was then lucky enough to have a female stand-up comic, Lynn Ruth Miller, who was the oldest female stand-up comic in the world as a comedy mentor for about five years, but she too sadly died at the age of 85 a few months ago. So, I am now in a position where I mentor several young people, including a young woman in Toronto and Fidele Wabenga in Kakuma Refugee Camp, and they know I am there for them to turn to if they need advice or to pick my brains.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
Make sure you have a way of earning money other than from your creativity. I have always had two parallel careers - one in creativity (performance, broadcasting, writing) and the other in knowledge sharing (teaching, coaching, and training). This is the only way I have been able to survive in the creative industries for so long. Unfortunately, there is a huge amount of unemployment among actors at any given time, so make sure you have a good solid way of earning a living in another direction at the same time.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
They expect success to come quickly and easily, and it has never been like that in my case. They are not ready for the constant rejection, which I must admit is relentless.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
When you fall off the horse - get back on him before he gallops off into the dust.
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
I have been shopping in charity shops for many years and feel passionate about recycling. So, I'm not a dedicated follower of any brands, to be honest. But, I also like TK Maxx, which is in some ways another company that re-cycles. I like them because they have very good quality goods at reduced prices.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
Success is a very personal issue. For some, it's a house full of children and grandchildren. For others, it's a flash car and the latest Gucci watch. I am not a materialistic person. So for me, it means to have been able to use the talents you were given at birth and use them to your full potential.
To be creative, work towards the success you want to achieve without hurting other people in the process. To have great relationships with those who matter to you, remember to be kind to those who need it. And to do some nice things like climbing mount Snowden or going to the Taj Mahal knowing that you have enough money in the bank to cover the VISA bill.
I would say that you need to work hard, play hard, be determined, be very patient, and never, ever give up on those things you want to achieve.