Meet Emma Donald, DYW School Coordinator for Charleston Academy & Inverness High School

Introducing Emma Donald
Emma Donald has been working since the age of 12 and hasn’t stopped since! Now 33 years old, she is the DYW School Coordinator for Inverness High School and her former high school, Charleston Academy. Emma’s career journey has been shaped by her passion for learning and hard work. She is married to Matt, whom she met while working in hospitality—Emma as a waitress and Matt as a chef. Together, they have a 4-year-old son, Robbie. Emma draws inspiration from her family and is motivated by their support.

What Emma Loves About Being a DYW School Coordinator
For Emma, being a DYW School Coordinator offers a unique opportunity to explore different career paths while helping young people discover their own. Every day, she learns something new about different industries and the passion others have for their work. Emma gets great satisfaction from sharing this knowledge and enthusiasm with students as they prepare for life after school. Watching young people become inspired by the possibilities ahead of them is one of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of her role.

Excitement for the New Academic Year
Having been with DYW for a year, Emma is looking forward to tackling the new academic year with confidence. No longer the “newbie,” she’s excited to dive deeper into her role. Emma is particularly excited about meeting new employers and learning about their businesses, cultures, and careers so she can pass that information on to the young people she works with.

Emma’s Journey: #NoWrongPath
Emma’s career has been full of twists and turns. While still in school, she worked a variety of jobs, including at a chip shop, Chinese takeaway, car parts centre, and even a karaoke bar, where she developed skills like timekeeping, respect, and customer service. After leaving school, Emma pursued nursing at the University of Stirling, following in the footsteps of her parents, who are both nurses. However, she quickly realised it wasn’t for her. Shifting gears, she built a career in hospitality, eventually working her way up to management. Along the way, she developed resilience, ambition, and a knack for mentoring young employees—skills that now serve her well as a DYW School Coordinator.

Advice for Her Younger Self
Emma’s advice to her younger self is to “respect yourself and never let anyone talk to you as if you aren’t human.” She emphasizes the importance of forming strong relationships in the workplace, as you spend a great deal of time with colleagues. Treating others with respect and kindness is crucial to building a positive and productive work environment.

Emma’s journey is a reminder that there’s no single path to success. Through her role at DYW, she is passionate about helping young people discover their own unique paths and encouraging them to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact Emma today…

…if you’d like to explore DYW opportunities connected with Charleston Academy & Inverness High School then please get in touch with Emma at emma.donald@dywich.co.uk

Or visit our DYW Inverness & Central Highland - What's on - get involved (padlet.com) platform to get a full picture of our programme of activity across our 14 secondary schools and get in touch today to find out more!