Jul 8
I always love talking with ADHD women who are making waves in positions traditionally held by men, so when my guest this episode, Danyell DiLena, mentioned she was kicking ass in not one but two male-dominated fields, I knew I had to have her on to share her story.
Danyell’s journey hasn’t been easy–she’s had to deal with sexism both in her career as a medic and on the literal field as a baseball coach–but her determination, creativity, and resiliency have made her an unstoppable force when she sets her mind to something. For the past 5 years she has served as the first female Coach Coordinator for district33/San Diego where she’s in charge of thousands of baseball teams. Even since recording this conversation, she has been offered a new position managing an all-girls U-16 baseball team to take to the Nationals Tournament; seriously, she’s unstoppable.
Danyell is passionate about empowering women and girls to feel like they can succeed in any area they choose, gender barriers be damned, and I know her words will empower you too.
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"Being a woman in a male-dominated field is a lot of pressure because if you mess up it’s because you’re a woman. Obviously it’s not, but that’s the consensus from those in charge."
- Danyell DiLena
"I’ve always been weird and I’m okay with being weird now, I like it. I’m different, I’m special, and that’s me, I wouldn’t change it."
- Danyell DiLena
"Baseball is the easy stuff, it’s the mental work that goes with it, how to teach these kids to be better people."
- Danyell DiLena
- Danyell shares her experiences with ADHD, including being the "poster child" for the disorder and struggling with hyperactivity even as an adult.
- Danyell shares her personal story of struggling with ADHD, including her experiences with school, relationships, and parenting.
- Danyell shares her experience of being diagnosed with ADHD and autism, despite having good grades and no family history of the conditions.
[28:20 - 40:13] Career Choices and Experiences
- Danyell discusses her job as a medic at a safari park, where she treats injuries to both animals and employees, including a crane attack and a lion that is well past its prime.
- Danyell faced discrimination and doubt from a male coach who questioned her belonging on the baseball field, but she persevered and was eventually asked to join district staff.
- Danyell emphasizes the importance of teaching young baseball players teamwork, responsibility, and how to work with others, as well as the impact of coaches' behavior on the game's environment.
- Danyell shares her experience as a female coach in a male-dominated field, highlighting the rarity of female coaches and the impact it had on her.
- Danyell shares a funny story about her son's excessive step count on a Fitbit, highlighting her own ADHD traits and her ability to find humor in them.
- Danyell credits her ADHD with helping her problem-solve and be creative in her coaching, allowing her to adapt to various situations and be flexible.
