Donna English
Donna English is a dynamic educator, author, and faith-driven leader whose career spans more than 30 years in accounting, nonprofit leadership, and education. She built her professional foundation in accounting, earning her master’s degree and intentionally focusing her career on nonprofit finance because she wanted to use her expertise for mission-driven service rather than traditional tax or auditing work. This path allowed her to expand into fundraising, grant writing, budgeting, and executive leadership, helping organizations strengthen both their financial stability and community impact. Her decade-long leadership at HOPE South Florida, Inc., where she served in senior roles including Chief Administrative Officer and Vice President of Finance and Administration, reflects her commitment to service, stewardship, and sustainable growth.
Today, Donna serves as an Adjunct Professor at Miami Dade College, where she teaches Intro to Business and has found some of her most meaningful experiences teaching at the Everglades correctional facility campus. Her work in education is rooted in her passion for helping others build practical life skills and confidence for long-term success. Beyond the classroom, she is known as the “Faith Catalyst,” using her voice to empower women, families, and students through faith-based learning, financial literacy, and personal development. Her professional journey reflects a unique blend of academic excellence, financial expertise, and purpose-driven leadership.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Donna reignited her creative side and transformed her long-standing passion for teaching into a new mission through writing and educational product development. Drawing inspiration from teaching Sunday school and helping children understand the Holy Spirit, she wrote her first young adult novel, The 9 G’s, centered around the nine gifts of the Spirit through character-driven storytelling. Since then, she has published additional books and created The Road to Abundance, a financial literacy board game designed to teach children from elementary students through college-age learners concepts such as assets, liabilities, net worth, and smart money management through real-life scenarios. Inspired by her own experience of struggling with credit card debt after college due to a lack of financial education at home, Donna created the game to help young people build confidence and wisdom around money early in life. Through her continued work with schools, families, and wealth-building communities, she is helping shape the next generation of financially empowered and purpose-driven leaders.
• Fairleigh Dickinson University - BAcc
• Florida Institute of Technology - MBA
• Book Rich
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
• Sunday school teacher at church
• Former board member of Fruitful Field community gardens
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the unwavering support and encouragement of my family. My parents, especially my mother, always gave me the freedom to pursue my goals without limitation, consistently reinforcing that I could become anything I set my mind to. She often said she never had to tell me what to do, but instead kept the door open for me to choose my own path. My youngest sister has also been an incredible source of motivation, always acting as my biggest cheerleader and continually encouraging me to keep going, even when I paused important projects like writing my book. Ultimately, it is the close circle of family and loved ones who have consistently believed in me and reminded me of my potential that has been central to my success.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would advise young women entering my industry to pay close attention to what comes naturally to them and what they genuinely enjoy, because those strengths often point toward the most fulfilling career paths. Don’t discount the things that feel easy or instinctive they are often your greatest assets and can translate into meaningful professional opportunities. When I was younger, I was encouraged to pursue a more traditional academic path, including accounting because I was good at math, but I also had a strong creative side that I didn’t fully recognize at the time. I’ve since learned the importance of understanding who you are, what you excel at, and what you truly love, and then having the confidence to pursue that direction. When you align your career with your authentic strengths and interests, everything else has a way of falling into place.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field is recognizing what you don’t yet know. Often, you don’t realize the gaps in your knowledge until you’re already in the middle of a project, whether it’s writing a book, developing a board game, or bringing an idea to life. That requires you to be proactive about seeking out others who have done similar work, learning how they approached it, and figuring out how to refine and strengthen your own product or process. At the same time, the opportunities are incredibly exciting. I often remind myself that I’m not thinking about slowing down or retiring I feel like I’m just getting started. There is so much value in continuing to live, learn, and evolve at every stage of life. In particular, advancements like artificial intelligence have transformed the landscape across many fields, including mine, opening new doors for creativity, efficiency, and growth. It’s an exciting time to keep building, exploring, and adapting.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are honesty and transparency. I believe in being straightforward, authentic, and grounded in integrity in everything I do. I also place a strong emphasis on recognizing and following one’s God-given gifts and the inspiration that comes from above. I think it is essential to understand and embrace those gifts once you recognize them, as they guide your purpose and direction. In doing so, you naturally attract others who share similar values, which creates meaningful connections and becomes a powerful source of support and momentum on your journey.