Director

Currently YSA Director and Partner, Debbie has extensive experience in leadership development and consulting over the past twenty years. Her consulting work has included intensive transformational coaching of executives and senior people, action learning interventions for personal and organisational leadership development, team alignment and development with teams.

Debbie enjoys a reputation for bringing the practical experience of being a business leader to the leadership development consulting role. She has addressed special interest groups and conferences on Stress and Coping Strategies for Business Leaders.

Debbie previously headed up the Leadership Development Practice at Gemini Consulting in South Africa. She also worked on projects concerning change management and business transformation. Between 1996 and 2002, she was the Managing Director of Human Dynamics Health (Pty) Limited, focusing on corporate health and well-being. She was the co-founder of the business, which grew from a Greenfield operation to the leading national provider of corporate wellness services. Prior to this, she was a lecturer in Industrial Psychology at Wits University.

For the past 22 years, Brad has mentored, guided and coached many senior executives in the private and public sector (both independently and as part of broader consulting assignments). He is often called upon to facilitate executive performance compacting, conflict resolution, relationship contracting, as well as executive team alignment processes.

I use an eclectic approach to coaching that draws from a number of approaches including Gestalt, Process-orientated Psychology, NLP etc. However, the focus is less on the theory and more on the practice of effective leadership, introducing relevant theories, frameworks and tools when required. I am interested in personal and professional development of people who are interested in making a difference/positive impact on people and businesses. I work in a way that is both challenging and supportive; that aims to stretch the individual in a way that develops the person and leads to behavioural changes that enhance their impact on the organisation. I am interested in working with individuals who want to challenge themselves to facilitate their own growth and impact.

One of the key areas that Debbie focuses on is supporting leaders through career transitions, from taking on one’s first leadership role (transitioning from being a specialist) to occupying an Executive role (which focuses on adapting to leading a team of leaders and also understanding and working with the tradeoffs of BU vs Enterprise, which requires a more systemic approach).

BA (Hons) and MA (with distinction) in Industrial Psychology from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; between 1983 & 1991 lectured in Industrial Psychology at undergraduate and post-graduate levels at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Diploma in Neurocoaching,Strategic Leadership Institute 2024

ICF Approved ACSTH Diploma in Systemic coaching (2022/2023)

Gestalt Organisation and Systems Development International Programme run by the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland (2011/2012)

Change through positive micro-interventions, facilitated by the Gestalt International Study Centre, Oxford/Belfast (2009/2010)

Process Oriented Psychology and its application to leadership development, organisational change and coaching, facilitated by Dr. Stephen Schuitevoerder of the Process Institute, Portland, Oregon (2007/2008)

Recess College for senior executives and professionals on individual and organisational leadership development, personal and professional renewal: Facilitated by Elisabeth Henderson of the Recess College UK (2005)