Inspirational Story: Dayna Caceres – The Power of Collaboration and Values
Dayna Caceres is what you might call a purpose-driven leader. Described by colleagues and friends as strategic, creative, and collaborative, she brings these qualities in abundance to her role as Vice-President of Programmes at PWN Dublin, where she plays a key part in shaping member experiences across mentoring and inclusive leadership initiatives.
A Values-Led Entrepreneur
In 2011, Dayna founded Distinctions Consulting, a leadership and organisational development firm that now supports thousands of individuals across some of Ireland’s largest and most complex organisations. Before that, she built and sold a multi-million-euro business in financial services, leading high-performing teams and creating meaningful workplace cultures.
At the heart of her work lies a clear and consistent set of principles:
- Work with people who want to make a difference
- Focus on what creates the most value, and make it sustainable
- Live your values – her's are Transparency, Accountability, and Compassion
Crossing Continents and Creating Community
Born in Chile and raised in Toronto, Dayna has called Dublin home since 2001.
“Honestly, I can’t think of a better place to live. Ireland has this beautiful balance, a strong economy, a deep sense of community, and a growing multiculturalism that reminds me of what I loved about Toronto.”
An Entrepreneurial Spirit
Dayna’s entrepreneurial journey is rooted in resilience.
“I’ve experienced life’s extremes. As a child in Chile, I lived with my grandparents who were relatively wealthy, where having maids was commonplace. Later, as a young teen, I found myself homeless after escaping an abusive home environment.
When I moved to Canada to live with my mother, we lived on the breadline. I left home at 14 for my own safety and became my own legal guardian at 16. My upbringing made me fiercely independent and self-directed from a very young age.”
“With a fragmented family system and little sense of security, I had a deep-seated desire to be part of something bigger. As I grew older, I made a conscious decision to thrive and to contribute positively to life. As a mother now, I’m so grateful I had the inner wisdom to make good choices. My daughter is a powerhouse, confident, capable, and forging her own path.”
From the start of her career, Dayna sought out opportunities to learn and grow. She valued experiences over possessions, and her drive to build community through collaboration became a constant thread.
“Interesting projects and great mentors were always more important to me than money.”
She got her first taste of entrepreneurial life in her late teens and fell in love with the autonomy, agility, and dynamism. In her early 20s, she joined Vivas Health (now Irish Life Health) and was later headhunted to set up a niche brokerage for the credit union sector.
“That was my launch pad. I got to experience every aspect of business and lead a team that delivered real impact. That experience gave me the foundation and confidence to start my own consultancy.”
Today, Distinctions is a team of 22 talented, values-driven individuals, supporting people to excel in their careers and positively shape the cultures of the organisations they work in.
Giving Back Through Volunteering
Volunteering for Purpose
“One of the great privileges of being my own boss is having the flexibility and freedom to give back. Volunteering gives me opportunities for learning, expanding my network, and working with people who genuinely want to make a difference.”
In addition to her role at PWN Dublin, Dayna also volunteers with EMCC Global, helping organisations achieve best practice in mentoring and coaching.
🤝 Leading Through Collaboration
Collaboration is central to Dayna’s work, both at Distinctions and within PWN Dublin.
“The mentoring programme is a brilliant example. Ten mentors give their time each year to support 60 mentees over six months. Hearing how it impacts people’s careers, and lives, is priceless.”
🎨 Innovating for Impact
Dayna brings a blend of creativity and structure to her volunteer work.
“I’ve introduced a project management approach across PWN Dublin that helps us work smarter, build confidence, and empower people to take risks and bring their best.”
🌱 Empowering Others to Grow
Dayna believes professional growth begins with personal growth, a belief she brings into every project and every team.
“Whether I’m designing a programme or supporting a colleague, I always look for ways to lift others up.”
Reflections from the Mentoring Team
“Working alongside Dayna on the 2025 PWN Dublin Mentoring Programme was both energising and inspiring. Her mentorship, vision, and collaborative spirit were instrumental in preparing me to take the lead as Head of Mentoring.”
— Maria Travers, incoming Mentoring Lead
“Dayna is fantastic to work with, she leads with deep knowledge, kindness, and infectious enthusiasm. PWN Dublin is lucky to have her as VP of Programmes.”
— Alison Ross, incoming Social Media Manager
These testimonials reflect what Dayna, and PWN Dublin, are all about. As we look ahead to 2026, our mission is to create more opportunities for volunteers to grow, contribute, and enjoy the journey.
Finding Balance
With all she manages, how does Dayna find time for herself?
“Running a business can be intense but leading ethically helps me keep perspective. I swear by time-blocking to protect both my thinking time and personal time.”
Her secret to work-life harmony?
🌍 A long-haul trip each year
🌿 Exploring Ireland’s wild beauty
💤 Getting plenty of sleep
🧘♀️ Annual yoga retreats
🍽️ Relaxed weekends filled with good food and good company
Looking Ahead
As PWN Dublin continues to grow, Dayna’s focus remains on building programmes and experiences that empower others.
“When people are empowered, supported, and aligned with their values, they do amazing things, for themselves and for their communities. That’s what drives me, always.”
Author: Dayna Caceres, Vice-President of Programmes, PWN Dublin
Copy editor: Maria Souza, Co-President, PWN Dublin
Publish date: July 2025