Jody Bell

Jody Bell is the founder of Being Your Potential, a coaching and leadership development practice for aspiring and early-career social work leaders across Australia and beyond.

With 35 years of experience in social work, executive leadership, and organisational wellbeing, Jody brings rare depth to the question she has spent her career exploring: what contexts and everyday practices help aspiring and early-career social work leaders maintain alignment with social work values and ethics as they transition into leadership?

As a 2025 Churchill Fellow, Jody is currently researching this question globally, speaking with leaders and practitioners across the world about what sustainable, values-based leadership looks like from the inside out.

Her coaching is grounded in Neuroleadership principles, social justice values, and a deep belief that the leader you need to become is already who you are. You just need to meet her.

Jody holds a Bachelor of Social Work, Graduate Diploma in Women's Studies, MBA, and coaching certification with the International Coaching Federation. She is a sessional academic in social work education and a sought-after voice on leadership, wellbeing, and professional sustainability for social workers.

If you are a social worker stepping into leadership and wondering whether you have what it takes, this is your sign that you do.

Being Your Potential. Leading from the Inside Out.

Recent testimonials:

“This coaching program would be the most positive development opportunity that I can recall in my career. The approach was something I have never experienced and I feel that I have grown so much, particularly as a leader, throughout this time. This coaching experience not only allowed me to develop my skills but also helped me deal with a very difficult 4 week period that occurred for me on a professional level during the coaching program. Jody not only provided me with personal and professional guidance, but led me to taking ownership of this situation and seek solutions and an outcome for myself. This development, along with the more holistic development that I have achieved through this process, has given me skills that I will apply daily in my personal and work life which I see as being invaluable skills that I did not previously possess" (Shannon, Manager, Australian Public Service)

“Thanks again for a fabulous coaching series. In reflection I am astounded at the development of self awareness that I gained. You are an amazing coach, your ability to listen, prompt my thought process and push me deeper into the "zone" of creativity and new ideas has seen me achieve my goals and become focused to set new and exciting ongoing goals. The tools that you presented throughout the coaching will be something that I will continue to use throughout all areas of my life" (Jake, Team Leader, Australian Public Service)