Deborah Ashton is an organizational psychologist with over 30 years of executive human resources experience across major sectors: private for‑profit sector-Fortune 500 companies, such as Medtronic,

Harley-Davidson, and Darden Restaurants; nonprofit sector—Novant Health; and in the public sector–the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Oakland.

As President of Planet Perspective, Deborah helps leaders use data-driven insight to connect people and organizational issues to strategy, performance, and measurable outcomes. She advises boards and management regarding inclusion, innovation, growth, social impact, succession, board refreshment, and culture alignment. Deborah’s guidance helps to strengthen communication, trust, branding, governance effectiveness, and performance. Her expertise includes:

• Human Capital Management
• Inclusion
• Cultural Transformation
• Targeted Marketing
• Risk and Crisis Management
• Executive Coaching
  
  

Deborah’s expertise in connecting people strategy, execution, and measurable business results is demonstrated by her collaboration with operations. At Darden Restaurants, her team received the

Brilliance Award for Outstanding Support of Our Restaurants for its contribution to the 9% year-over-year growth. And at Medtronic, the annual pay equity process she spearheaded and established in the mid-1990s continues to result in 100% pay equity domestically and 99% globally. To reduce attrition, at Novant Health and Medtronic, she provided guidance on establishing cultural alignment and a common infrastructure during M&A.

Deborah’s work on pay equity and corporate culture has appeared in the Harvard Business Review and other outlets. Her honors include Savoy Magazine’s Top Influential Women in Corporate America, Inclusion Magazine’s Hall of Fame, the American Hospital. Association’s 2023 Health Equity Pioneer Award, and Clarke University’s 2025 Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters and its 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement. Deborah is a member of the NYSE Board Candidate Network, Women Corporate Directors, and the Private Directors Association, and is a Women Business Collaborative’s Champion.

Deborah serves on the Clarke University Board of Trustees and its Audit and Finance and Facilities Committee. Her advisory and board experience includes MTD Financial, Mill Road Capital Progressive

Governance Fund, the American Diversity Report, Harvard Business School Club of Chicago, The George Washington University Women in Leadership Advisory Council, Diversity MBA Magazine, YWCA Winston-Salem, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and Piedmont Opera.

A licensed psychologist in Illinois and Massachusetts, Deborah is a member of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. A Ford Foundation Fellow, Deborah completed her postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School and earned her Ph.D. and Ed.D. from Harvard University and her B.A. cum laude in psychology from Clarke College.