Pol Donald Nkana Nkana

I am Pol Donald, a dynamic personality, international speaker, and entrepreneur with a background in pharmacy and semi-professional basketball. I was born in Russia (I know I do not look like a typical Russian!), where I spent 8 years playing semi-professional basketball before setting my sights on a new challenge—becoming a pharmacist in the UK. While I enjoyed the challenge of pursuing a pharmacy degree, I felt like I could do more! In 2018, my healthcare journey sparked a deep commitment to personal development and effective communication, and that’s when it all began. I set a goal for myself to overcome stuttering and integrate into society to start building my life in the UK. Was I confident? No! I was a shy man, and I struggled immensely. Even though high-level basketball helped me find myself and build strong character, one significant hurdle remained—my ability to speak. I battled severe stuttering for years, and it held me back in countless ways (personal relationships, friendships, promotions, and business opportunities—it cost me a lot!).

Determined to change my situation, I decided to focus on improving my communication skills first because I learned that success in life is often determined by the strength of our relationships with others and our ability to communicate thoughts and ideas to others. Therefore, I identified the common theme, which was communication, and went to work! I remember in 2020, I joined my first public speaking session at Toastmasters International and gave a 2-minute impromptu speech! Guess what? I stuttered for a minute and a half (it was that bad!), managing to utter only two words by the end, but that experience lit a fire within me to transform as a speaker.

Why am I doing this? Over the next 8 years, I threw myself into refining my speaking abilities, seizing every training opportunity and stage time I could find. From someone who struggled with a 2-minute speech to leading a speaking club with 30 members, my journey was marked by growth. Now, I have evolved into a keynote speaker, addressing topics like self-acceptance, discipline, sports, healthcare, storytelling, hero’s journeys, and business. I even went on to win International Speech Contests at the country level in the USA in 2022 (placed 3rd) and the UK & Ireland in 2024.

Now, through the Speakers Circle platform, I am creating a community of speakers that use their stories to make a difference in their communities. Drawing from my diverse experiences, I share valuable insights on building confidence, forging meaningful connections, navigating the networking landscape effectively, and much more!