Personal Reflection from Danny

I’ve just lived out a huge dream of mine—standing on a platform and sharing my story.

I truly believe we all have a powerful, unique story to tell. Mine is one of resilience, of confronting my own fears, doubts, and anxieties, and of building something that empowers children to discover who they are at their core—so they, too, can overcome life’s challenges.

A few weeks ago, while in the USA, I found myself standing on that podium, in that moment I had envisioned for so long. And I want to encourage you, whoever is reading this, to always believe in possibilities—no matter how tough life feels or how far away your dream seems.

I’ll never forget the first time I met Simon Cowell off-camera, years ago. His first words to me were:

“So you’re Danny… you’re the choirmaster, right?”

Something in me froze. That label felt too small, too limiting. I knew I was more than that. Just like you, I am many things—but at my core, I am simply me. In that moment, I stuttered, self-doubt got the best of me, and I felt like I’d blown it.

But life is about bouncing back.

I took time to ground myself, to remember who I really am and how far I’ve come. And when we finally took the stage that weekend, something shifted. After our audition, Simon hugged me—and he wouldn’t let go. That moment taught me a powerful lesson: when we choose to stand in our confidence, in our true identity, everything changes.

So today, I say it boldly: I am a speaker.

We define who we are. We create meaning from our experiences. And we all have a story to share. As I move forward, I choose the path of curiosity and possibility. I hope this post encourages you to do the same.

Danny