Deborah Hartung is a Leadership and Culture Consultant, Coach, Author and Keynote Speaker based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Deborah has developed a world first, truly comprehensive and integrated methodology for measuring and assessing employees across 4 crucial categories of delivery, innovation & growth, relationships and corporate citizenship (culture). The DIRC Model is truly adaptable, agile and works with any HRIS or HR Tech/People Data Platform.

With almost 20 years’ corporate and consulting experience, Deborah works with Corporate clients and HR Leadership on numerous interventions, including HR transformation and turnaround strategies, digital transformation, HR change management, EX and improving communication and employee engagement.  Passionate about creating authentic Servant Leaders who embrace innovation and Agile Methodology, she also works with leadership teams on various leadership development initiatives aimed specifically at providing them with the skills and adaptability to lead teams in the new world of work.

Especially passionate about developing women in leadership, Deborah is a highly sought after writer and inspirational speaker who works with female leaders individually or in teams, helping them to embrace their unique power and step into greatness instead of playing small.

Deborah’s podcast The GirlBoss Guide: Lessons for Ladies who Lead is available on all platforms, including Apple, Spotify, Google and AnchorFM.

If you’d like to get in touch about speaking engagements, consulting work, training or leadership development coaching (for groups or individuals), please complete the ‘Contact Us‘ form or go ahead and schedule a free strategy call in Deborah’s Calendar

Deborah started her career in 1998, in private higher (tertiary) education and from there, made the move into Employee Relations consulting, eventually being appointed to an HR Manager role in the financial services and insurance sector in 2006. In 2008, Deborah launched Hartung Associates, full service boutique HR and ER management consultancy. Her passion for working with entrepreneurs, startups and young leaders led her to launch Pivot PeopleTech in August of 2017.

Deborah is widely considered to be a global HR thought leader and known for her work with both Disrupt HR and Hacking HR – both of which are global organisations focused on the future of HR as a discipline and career in the changing world of work. This includes a comprehensive  understanding of emerging trends in HR as well as the intersection between technology and humanity. Deborah is a major proponent of using technology to make our world smaller, kinder and more ‘human’. She writes for numerous publications and corporates throughout the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and South Africa and thanks to technology, she has coaching clients from around the world as well.

When she is not developing leaders, fixing corporate cultures and disrupting HR in general, Deborah is a popular speaker who enjoys engaging with other HR and business leaders to prepare them for the future of talent management in a digital age or to encourage them to align with their purpose and be brave enough to be authentic in all their interactions.

Deborah lives in Johannesburg, South Africa and is mom to daughter Reagan and son, Owen. Among her friends, she is known as the woman who always needs at least SPF 50 sunscreen and someone who can trip and fall whilst barefoot and stone cold sober.  A big fan of tequila, craft beer and MCC, Deborah loves entertaining friends and is secretly a rather big fan of baking. When she’s not consulting, coaching, writing or speaking, Deborah is committed to ensuring that her children have as many adventures and experiences as possible.

Not shy to share insights into her life and experiences, Deborah uses the ‘Blog’ page here on the site as her personal blog where she records personal thoughts, learnings and experiences.