Interview: Deborah Davis — Helping Leaders Rise by Lifting Others

With a natural inclination to take action and help others succeed, Deborah Davis has spent her career empowering people to grow and lead with purpose. During her years in the Oil & Gas industry, she discovered that coaching wasn’t about telling others what to do, but about walking alongside them — creating space for reflection, clarity, and confident action. That realization inspired her to pursue a Master’s degree and earn her ICF Coaching Certification, deepening her commitment to a philosophy grounded in service, growth, and collective progress.

A philosophy centered on shared success

For Deborah, coaching is not about personal achievement — it’s about collective elevation. “When leaders grow, their teams and organizations thrive,” she explains. “We rise by lifting others.” This belief lies at the heart of her work at Solomon Strategic Advisors, where she helps leaders unlock their potential, strengthen collaboration, and create more connected, resilient, and inspired workplaces.

Her approach blends structure and empathy. Deborah partners with leaders and their teams to help them build cohesion, improve performance, and achieve shared goals — all within an environment of respect, care, and accountability. She believes that when individuals are empowered to grow and work together effectively, both people and organizations flourish.

A journey shaped by connection and action

Deborah’s journey toward coaching has always been guided by her passion for action and support. Before becoming a professional coach, she coached youth sports, served as a Subject Matter Expert for Oracle users, and collaborated with business units to drive decisions that produced positive financial outcomes. Each of these experiences reinforced her understanding of leadership and human potential — and shaped her belief that the most meaningful results come from partnership and purpose.

Today, through Solomon Strategic Advisors, Deborah continues to help leaders and teams find clarity, build trust, and perform at their highest level. Her work is designed not only to achieve goals but to strengthen culture and community within organizations.

Building self-awareness as the foundation of growth

The programs Deborah facilitates are built on one essential element: self-awareness. By helping leaders better understand themselves and those around them, her programs create the foundation for stronger relationships and more effective collaboration.

Workshops and sessions are structured to bring people together in an engaging, interactive environment that blends learning, reflection, and shared experience. Through this process, teams connect more deeply, communicate more effectively, and align more closely with organizational strategy. The result is improved performance and a greater sense of belonging — for individuals, teams, and the organization as a whole.

A lifelong commitment to learning

Deborah views continuous learning as a professional responsibility and a cornerstone of effective coaching. Her approach reflects the ICF Core Competencies of Embodies a Coaching Mindset and Demonstrates Ethical Practice, recognizing that coaches must evolve alongside their clients.

“Ongoing learning allows us to stay agile, curious, and grounded in best practices,” she says. “It deepens our self-awareness, strengthens our presence, and expands our ability to partner effectively with clients.” For Deborah, development happens not only through formal education but also through reflection, mentor coaching, supervision, and the insights gained from every client interaction.

Continuous learning, she adds, models the same growth and adaptability she encourages in those she coaches — reinforcing her core belief that we rise by lifting others.

Coaching and facilitation that transform teams

As an ICF-certified coach and Xchange Approach facilitator, Deborah brings a unique combination of structure and collaboration to her work. Coaching provides a space for reflection, growth, and action, while the Xchange Approach fosters dialogue, trust, and collective learning.

By combining these two disciplines, she helps individuals and teams develop self-awareness, improve communication, and align actions with strategic goals. The outcome is both personal and organizational transformation — a stronger culture, higher performance, and a sense of shared success.

Ultimately, engaging with a coach and facilitator is an investment in people. Deborah’s mission is to help leaders and teams rise together, work more effectively, and create lasting, positive impact in their organizations and beyond.

To learn more about Deborah Davis and her work at Solomon Strategic Advisors, visit her LinkedIn profile.

Special thanks to Deborah for sharing her journey and insights with us.