DEVRA Leadership
DEVRA Leadership takes its name from an ancient lineage that connects language, spirit, and purpose.
The word DEVRA is inspired by Deborah - derived from the Hebrew word “bee.”
In scripture, Deborah was a wise and courageous leader who inspired action and unity. The bee, her symbolic counterpart, represents purpose, community, and the interdependence that sustains life.
Our framework—Discernment, Energy, Vision, Resilience, and Alignment—translates these timeless values into modern leadership practice, helping individuals and organizations cultivate clarity, wellbeing, and impact.
We believe leadership itself can be a healing act: when leaders cultivate clarity, compassion, and courage, they strengthen the wellbeing of their teams, organizations, and communities.
To lead with DEVRA is to carry forward the bee’s sacred work: bringing life, connection, and restoration to the world around us.
Deborah D. Thompson, MA, NBC-HWC, PCC
Principal Coach & Consultant
Deborah Thompson is an executive coach, facilitator, and governance consultant who helps leaders and teams thrive with clarity, confidence, and resilience. Through her firm, DEVRA Leadership, she partners with leaders, mission-driven organizations and changemakers to cultivate leadership that is both strategic and deeply human.
Drawing on more than three decades of experience in leadership, organizational management, and board governance—including 14 years as a senior executive with Make-A-Wish America—Deborah brings a calm, insightful presence to complex challenges. She is known for creating reflective, brave spaces where leaders can slow down, think deeply, and transform how they lead.
Her work is grounded in the principle of Tikkun Olam—the call to repair and restore the world—and inspired by the lineage of her name, symbolizing community, purpose, and the strength found in collective action. Through this lens, she helps leaders reconnect to what truly matters, align values with action, and lead in ways that strengthen both people and purpose.
Deborah is a certified professional coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF), a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC), and a BoardSource Certified Governance Consultant. She is an experienced consultant and facilitator for leadership teams, boards, and nonprofit organizations. She also currently serves as an instructor and consultant with the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation, where she helps nonprofit leaders build strategic, resilient organizations that serve their communities with integrity and impact.
When she’s not coaching or facilitating, you’ll find Deborah in the high desert of New Mexico—soaking up sunlight, gathering with community, and finding inspiration in the natural rhythm of the bees she so deeply admires.
