Frédérique Niel
Certified Business Coach · Trainer · Event Facilitator · Creator of DESIDEES
- Born in France to entrepreneurial parents.
- Vancouver-based since 1993.
- Certified with the International Coaching Federation.
- Fluent in French and English.
Before DESIDEES, I spent 17 years running a successful web design company. Then I transitioned into business coaching, working with more than 650 entrepreneurs, professionals, and leaders.
Over time, I became not just a coach — but a facilitator of conversations, growth, and transformation.
And that's where everything clicked.
The Real Problem I Saw
I facilitated networking events. I attended them. I coached clients through them.
And honestly? Most of them were painful.
Awkward small talk
Surface-level conversations
People gravitating toward the same familiar faces
No clear structure
No meaningful takeaway
The loudest voices dominating the room
As an introvert in a networking world, I understood the importance of connection — but I also knew the format was broken.
The issue wasn't the people. It was the design of the experience.
From Networking Fix to Training Tool
I built DESIDEES to solve one problem: How do you create structured, meaningful conversations that energize people instead of draining them?
The answer was simple but powerful: Use smart activity mechanics to create depth, direction, and equal participation.
What surprised me was what happened next.
Entrepreneurs, coaches, and CEOs started saying:
Can we create our own questions?
Could this work for team building?
What about onboarding?
Leadership development?
Strategic planning sessions?
They weren't just networking with it. They were training with it.
So I expanded it.
Today, DESIDEES allows trainers and facilitators to build fully customizable question sets tailored to their workshops, teams, and learning objectives.
Because structure creates safety.
And safety creates participation.
And participation creates transformation.
What Makes DESIDEES Different
Intentional facilitation design
Coaching-based questioning
Activity mechanics that lower social barriers
Customizable content for real-world training
It's not an activity for fun. It's a framework for engagement.
And it was built from real rooms, real workshops, and real experience.
What's in the Name
DESIDEES is a French play on words. Pronounced "Day-zee-DAY," it sounds like "Des idées" — meaning "Some ideas."
But spelled with "Dés," it also means "Dice."
Dice + Ideas
Because when you combine structure (dice) with creativity (ideas), you create momentum. And momentum changes conversations.
The Mission
DESIDEES transforms professional connection and learning through smart, structured interaction.
From networking events to leadership training, onboarding, strategic retreats, and workshops — it helps facilitators create dynamic experiences that spark meaningful dialogue and accelerate growth.
Because great conversations don't happen by accident. They're designed.