Interview with Annette Cashell - Scholarship winner of the DCU Let's Lead Programme - Autumn 2025 programme!
Annette is a Holistic Movement Coach with over 20 years teaching experience. Ex-corporate and previous "active couch potato", Annette avoided a neck fusion operation through natural movement and now combines her expertise in Pilates and movement to help women to build better bone health with corrective exercises and the environmental changes to support those exercises. Annette is constantly amazed at the body's ability to heal itself, once given the space and guidance to do so. "Exercise is optional; movement is essential". Annette has spoken on radio, podcasts, and corporate wellness webinars. She has also written articles for Thrive Global, featured in Katy Bowman's book 'Grow Wild' and the Irish Examiner, and co-authored the Amazon UK best-selling book 'Handbags - Turning Hope into Happiness'.
The PWN Dublin team was delighted to interview Annette about her experiences as a participant of DCU's Let's Lead Programme!
Q: What inspired you to apply for the PWN Dublin Scholarship?
I’m probably not the best role model here, because when the application email first landed in my inbox… I deliberately deleted it! I was already enrolled in two other coaching programmes and honestly felt I couldn’t take anything else on. But that little “what if I regret this?” voice wouldn’t leave me alone. A few days later, I fished the email back out, applied — and I’m so glad I did! It was just too good an opportunity to pass by.
Q: When did you join PWN Dublin? What made you decide to join?
I joined in the Summer of 2025 after it was recommended to me by my wonderful business coach, Anne Marie Graham (former events manager for PWN Dublin) — and I’ve never looked back! I’ve experienced plenty of networking groups over the years, but this one really stands out. It has that rare mix of genuine community and professionalism, which isn’t easy to get right.
Q: Could you tell us a little about yourself and your business?
I call myself a Holistic Movement Coach — a fusion of STOTT Pilates, Fascial Fitness and Nutritious Movement — and Bone Health Specialist (Buff Bones Instructor and BoneFit trained). Before this chapter, I had a whole other 10-year career as an International Marketing Manager, with a BA in International Marketing and Languages. I left the coporate world after developing chronic back pain and discovering Pilates. Years later, I avoided a neck fusion operation through natural movement and fascial release, and that experience completely changed the direction of my Pilates work. Now, I use both my professional training and life experience to help women build better bone health. I’ve lived outside Ireland in Germany and in the USA for more than 12 years, and I’m endlessly fascinated by how culture shapes how we move (and don’t move!) These days I live in Dublin with my husband and two cats and am mother to two adult daughters. In my spare time, I'm a big fan of monkey bars, house swaps, hiking, learning new stuff and Bruce Springsteen lyrics.
Q: What were your key learnings from the DCU Let's Lead Programme?
One of the biggest things for me was getting really clear on my values — especially around long-term, sustainable goals for both myself and my clients. I’ve always been irritated by band-aid solutions and faddy trends, and the programme helped me realise why: they go completely against what I stand for! That clarity has helped me understand myself better, sharpen my messaging and offerings, and ultimately do a better job for my clients.
Q: What advice would you give other applicants for the PWN Dublin Scholarship?
Go for it — absolutely apply. If you’re lucky enough to get it, make the time to attend the live sessions as much as you can, especially the breakout rooms — they’re incredibly valuable. Do the homework and actually sit with the exercises. I was already familiar with some of the content through my own interest in personal development, but there’s a world of difference between passively reading about something and actively reflecting on it, talking it through with inspiring peers, and really integrating it into your life.
Q: Has the PWN Scholarship influenced other areas of your life?
Definitely. When I first started out as an entrepreneur, it took me years to even say that word out loud — I felt like a total fraud. In the same way, before this programme, I wouldn’t have called myself a leader. Now I can, and that shift in confidence has been huge. It’s already encouraged me to take on projects I wouldn’t have considered before, and it’s helped me set clearer boundaries in my personal life too. And guess what? Nobody died — and life actually got a lot easier. Who knew?!
To find out more about the DCU Let's Lead Programme, click here.