I’m Connor McDonough
I work from County Donegal, on the northwest coast of Ireland. It’s a long way from anywhere, which turns out to be a good place to do this kind of work.
My coach asked me to walk into the water.
Fully dressed.
The longer version starts on a beach in Ireland, about fifteen years ago. My coach asked me to walk into the water. Fully dressed.
My first thought: What will people think? What will people say?
My second thought: I could just do it and make my coach happy.
And then the penny dropped.
Both of those responses were the cage. One was about approval, the other about pleasing. Neither was about me. That was the moment I understood, in my body and not just my head, that most of us are living inside rules we didn’t write. And we can’t see them because we’ve mistaken them for who we are. I’ve spent the years since helping other people uncover theirs.
No dress rehearsal. This is your life. every day.
The Boring Bits
I was born in Canada and moved to Ireland 23 years ago. I’ve been working in leadership coaching and development for over 25 years, across public sector, financial services, energy, technology, and higher education. Ireland, Canada, the UK, continental Europe.
I trained as a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) through the Co-Active Training Institute. That’s the foundation. Then the Leadership Circle Profile. Then adult development theory. Then Internal Family Systems. Each one went deeper than the last. Each one answered a question the previous one left open.
I hold a Master’s in Business Studies in HRM from University College Dublin, an Advanced Diploma in Personal and Executive Coaching from Kingstown College, and I’m a Professional Certified Coach through the ICF. I’m certified in the LCP, EQ-i 2.0, ECR 360, and MBTI. BPS accredited test user. I’m co-founder of Choose Leadership.
I do this work because I’ve lived it. The patterns I help leaders recognise are patterns I’ve had to face in myself. That’s what makes it real.
I live here in Donegal with my partner and teenage son. When I’m not coaching, I’m walking its hills and beaches, or playing in my local ukulele coven. They haven’t asked me to leave, yet.
