Debra was five years old when her father sat her behind the wheel of the family tractor, pointed at a tree across the field, and told her to drive straight at it, never taking her eye off the mark. It was her first lesson in vision and strategy: know where you're going, how to get there, and stay focused. Today, she is a globally respected thought leader and the founder, president, and CEO of Governance Solutions Inc (GSI). Under Debra's leadership, GSI developed a comprehensive, principles-based governance system that has been adopted by organizations, governments, and not-for-profit organizations around the world. GSI was the foundation for The Directors College, The Professional Director Education, and Certification Program(R), and other governance education and university-accredited certification programs. Before founding Governance Solutions, Debra twice served as a CEO and served on the boards of several organizations, including as Board Chair and Governance Committee Chair. As a result, she is uniquely qualified as a governance advisor, with the ability to see issues from both sides of the boardroom table. Debra has co-authored four books and written dozens of articles and publications on corporate governance. She also writes a column for The Financial Gazette and regularly contributes to Ethical Boardroom, a globally recognized corporate governance periodical. Equally prolific outside work, Debra is an enthusiastic painter, poet, and musician. A professional director and member of The Institute of Corporate Directors, Debra holds a doctorate in leadership and a master of divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where she graduated magna cum laude.
