About Real Perspective Coaching & Debra Desmond

Debra Desmond brings her years of experience in Executive Development, Executive Coaching, Executive Search and Human Resource management in for-profit, not-for-profit organizations and consulting engagements. She is a certified Executive Coach, HR/OD Consultant, Trainer/Facilitator and Public Speaker. Debra offers insight and perspective into the behavioral and developmental shifts required in the interpersonal, relational aspects of our professional and personal lives. Using a proven coaching methodology, Debra’s work helps Chicago area clients deepen their self awareness and identify clear developmental goals that enhance their effectiveness in their roles. Executives who have worked with Debra solved problems by strengthening their emotional intelligence competencies, built and repaired relationships, established priorities, dealt with burnout, made career transitions, and pushed projects to breakthrough levels.

Debra started her successful for-profit career in sales and corporate real estate at Mobil Oil Corporation. Taking action on her intense interest in forming productive relationships with people, she thrived in the field of retained executive search in the oil/gas industry and later in healthcare. At national high-profile boutique search firms, Debra consulted with senior level executive clients to articulate the critical issues at stake and the leadership competencies associated to the best hire. Her search practice focused at the level of CEO, COO, CIO, CMO, and Executive Director positions. Driven by an interest in the issues of public health, Debra took on an important HR management role during a period of massive organizational change at the non-profit, LifeSource, Chicagoland’s Blood Center. She managed the talent acquisition team, and led the strategic functions of performance management, talent management, change management, orientation and onboarding.

Debra graduated from North Central College with degrees in Business and Industrial Organizational Psychology and subsequently completed graduate work from Loyola University Chicago earning a Masters in Human Resources.

She is a certified Master Executive Coach from the Behavioral Coaching Institute and member of the International Coaching Council and International Coaching Federation. As part of her coaching practice she is a certified to administer various assessment instruments including DISC and Meyers Briggs. Debra also holds a certification in Project Leadership from Cornell University. She has been a member of the Human Resource Management Association of Chicago (HRMAC), Human Capital Institute (HCI) and Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) where she is a certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources. Debra is committed to serving the arts community of Chicago and is an active board member at Imagination Theater.