Professional Experience
Debby is a seasoned executive coach, author and attorney who partners with senior leaders in large companies, entrepreneurial ventures, and professional services firms to develop their leadership skills and improve bottom-line results.
Debby’s results-oriented coaching focuses on helping leaders to:
- ascertain their strengths and leverage them for more senior roles
- develop and hone key leadership competencies
- recognize and overcome roadblocks to success
- enhance their communication skills and professional presence
- better manage scarce resources
Prior to becoming a coach in 2002, Debby spent over 16 years as a practicing lawyer, focusing on corporate, intellectual property, and technology law. She has worked with executives within companies of all sizes, from small start-ups to large, multi-national organizations. In addition to her legal experience, Debby has also worked with a top professional services firm in strategic management consulting.
Debby is the author of The Art of Self-Promotion: Tell Your Story, Transform Your Career, which has been hailed as “immensely practical” and “the perfect how-to guide” for professionals. As coach, her ability to understand even the most complex industries along with her warm, witty, and empathetic personality allows her to quickly build rapport with her clients. Leveraging her prior work experience, her entrepreneurial creativity, and her ability to navigate diverse business environments, Debby has successfully coached a broad array of leaders facing a range of challenges and opportunities.
Recent Coaching Assignments
- CFO of global travel and hospitality company to create a stronger leadership voice and presence and to work more effectively through others
- Senior Director of Fortune 50 global technology firm to manage geographically dispersed team during a time of organizational change
- CEO/Founder of financial services company to prepare future company leaders and tell his organization’s story more effectively in the marketplace
- Office Managing Partner in national law firm to be more entrepreneurial in his practice development and to better balance his practice with the demands of firm management
- Managing Director in technology sector of global financial services company to enhance his ability to recount his strengths and accomplishments as he prepares for increased leadership responsibility
- Multiple leaders at national wealth management company to improve internal and external communication skills, develop team members and manage an ever-growing client base
- SVP of international real estate investment company to leverage key strengths, improve delegation skills and team building
- Senior HR leader in a national digital marketing and software company to build competency as leader of leaders, enhance communication with stakeholders and improve executive presence
- Multiple women leaders at global management consulting firm to develop their career strategies, tell their stories more powerfully and create effective internal networks
- VP and Associate General Counsel at regional energy company to improve leadership confidence and competence, communication with C-level executives, professional presence, management and listening skills
- Executive Director with global pharmaceutical company to build succession strategy and improve transparency in team leadership
- General Counsel of financial services company to sharpen leadership presence, improve collaboration with key stakeholders and maximize scarce human resources
- Partner in global law firm in transition from senior associate to partner, building her internal network and presence as a firm leader
Education and Professional Affiliations
- Juris Doctorate with High Honors, Duke University School of Law
- A.B. in Public Policy, Magna Cum Laude, Duke University
- Professional Certified Coach, International Coach Federation
- Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, The Coaches Training Institute
- Graduate, Organization and Relationship Systems Coach Training, The Center for Right Relationship
- Past President of the International Coach Federation Georgia Charter Chapter
- Member of the International Coach Federation
- Member of and Speaker for the State Bar of Georgia and Georgia Association for Women Lawyer
- Certified to Administer the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Center for Creative Leadership’s Benchmarks suite of 360 tools and The Highlands Ability