Hi, nice to meet you.

I'm Danielle - think of me as a strategic partner helping you find greater ease as you rise.

My journey from stressed-out executive to empowered leader went like this...

Danielle Smeltzer (she/her), Founder and Chief Capacity Officer

Before launching Awarely Embodied Leadership, I spent 15+ years as a strategic partner to CEOs and founders in media, tourism, hospitality, retail, tech, social impact, and coop organizations locally and globally.

I saw firsthand how stress and burnout can negatively impact leaders, teams, and organizational progress. I even experienced it myself as rampant chronic pain and illness before discovering embodied leadership.

This is why I founded Awarely - to show others there's a better way to lead and live. I'm living proof!

Together, let's revolutionize how we approach stress in the workplace and free ourselves from the worn-out conventions of leadership where burnout is a badge of honour.

- Danielle

Why embodied leadership?

Embodied leadership is the new era of leadership the world desperately needs.

An embodied leader is:

- Attuned to their emotions, behaviour patterns and stress responses to build capacity for executing more impactful work

- Able to shift their relationship with stress and burnout by building a connection between the body and brain through their nervous system

- Led by self-awareness to make intentional decisions, inspire others and lead from a grounded state

Learn more about embodied leadership

With 12+ years of executive leadership experience and over 500 hours of training in mindfulness, neuroscience, coaching and trauma-informed practices, I'm here to help you transform the way you lead (and live).

Find me on LinkedIn

Curious what 500+ hours of training looks like?

- Somatic Experiencing for the Workplace, Somatic Experiencing International (2023)
- Somatic Experiencing Professional Training, Somatic Experiencing International (current)
- 200HR Trauma-informed Yoga Teacher, International Yoga Alliance (2021)
- Dare to Lead Trained, Brene Brown (2020)
- Coaching for Health (2019)
ICF accredited program with Pain BC

- Indigenous Relations, Indigenous Relations Academy (2023)

- Bringing DEI Into the Workplace, Engaged HR (2023)
- Radiant Roots,
11-month transformative health coaching program (2023)
- Recalibrate, 6-week nervous system education and embodiment program (2023 & 2023)
- Lean Leadership,
LinkedIn Learning (2022)

More about me...

I'm an avid explorer of our great West Coast, experimental gardener, fisher woman, raiser of giant rescue dogs and self-professed foodie with an affinity for sea salts and garnishes.

I'm a lifelong learner who's obsessed with all things neuroscience. Forever taking a course, reading a new book or listening to a podcast (often all at once!).

Book an intro call

Memberships & community engagement

I'm out and about with these amazing local and global organizations:

- Toast women in tech collective (member)
- Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce (member)
- VIATEC (member)
- Women in Leadership Foundation (mentor)
- The Forum (mentee)
- Somatic Experiencing International (professional member)
- Boss Ladies Book Club YYJ (chapter coordinator)

Curious about why I left behind a 15-year career?

In this episode of Stories from the Nervous System, I get real about how Awarely came to be and why.

Listen now

Ready to transform your relationship with stress and burnout?

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