- Location: Berkeley, California
- Local Time:–:–:–
Debra Underwood
I support people to lead from who they are rather than from what they know or what they fear. This small shift has the power to change everything, from the confidence people feel, to the wisdom they can access, to how they impact others, and to the outcomes they deliver.
My clients are real people working to be their best. Like all of us, they are perfect and flawed. I don’t help them improve themselves. Rather, I support them in seeing themselves while becoming more of who they aspire to be. They work at companies large and tiny, non-profits and educational institutions.
I coach executives to lead from presence, even when stepping into situations that frighten them. Current clients include an academic-turned-executive who is self-describedly out of their depth and a Fortune 500 SVP who is juggling a mind-numbing array of stakeholders.
I coach teams to get one step to better – while not losing what is already working for them. Clients include an executive team that was born out of a merger and a team whose history was weighing them down.
I partner with organizations to design and deliver leadership programs that grow the collective capacity of their people. I recently co-led a process to build and launch a leadership program for a Fortune 100 technology company spanning thousands of directors globally. Program design took me to pottery studios and farms, among other surprising places.
My work has been shaped by many things: wise mentors, powerful coaching frameworks (incl. Growth Edge Coaching), a deep well of curiosity, and, maybe most importantly, my own journey of learning, stretching, and finding my way.
I didn’t start my career in this work. While working in finance, I coached MBA students as a volunteer alumni coach and was delighted by the meaning I found in those conversations. Eventually, that pull became too strong to ignore. Now, I can’t imagine doing anything else.
Senior Vice President“Working with Debra has been a critical part of my leadership journey. She enabled me to go beyond surface-level fixes by helping me confront patterns holding me back and replacing them with intentional strategies that created visible and lasting impact. Debra is the rare kind of coach who could truly unlock deeply ingrained behaviors and make me a better leader. I am grateful for our partnership.”
Commercial
Fortune 500 BioPharma Company
I am a coach, facilitator, and client lead—and just as importantly, a partner, colleague, and friend
I grew up in New Orleans and now live in California, though both places still feel like home to me. When not working, I love playing tennis and getting my hands in the garden. I’m an occasional yogi, constant reader, and someone who finds joy in movement, fresh air, and my family and friends.