Deon Riley, DBA
On Sabbatical, Former Chief Human Resources Officer | Board Member | Business and Culture Strategist
Dr Deon Riley is an accomplished C-suite leader with deep expertise in aligning human capital strategies to drive business performance, accelerate growth, and cultivate adaptive, high-performing cultures. Throughout her career, Deon has served as a catalyst for transformational change, shaping organizations that thrive amid disruption.
With leadership experience across the consumer products, technology, and retail sectors, Deon has held progressive roles spanning sales, learning and organizational development, inclusion and diversity, corporate social responsibility, and human resources. She brings a distinctive, equity-centered approach to building engaged, resilient workforces that deliver sustainable results for employees, businesses, and communities.
As a former company officer and CHRO, Deon has successfully led large, complex teams and worked closely with boards and investors on strategy, governance, risk mitigation, digital transformation, and culture architecture. She is particularly skilled at navigating organizational complexity, bridging enterprise goals with employee experience, and leading through periods of rapid change and growth.
Deon is known for her principled leadership and courageous advocacy for equitable practices — ensuring fair compensation, inclusive benefits, and growth opportunities for all. Her work consistently fosters environments where people can thrive, and businesses can perform at their best.
She holds a B.A. in Political Science and Spanish Literature from Wellesley College, an MBA from Clark Atlanta University, and a Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University. Deon is also a certified executive coach through Columbia University.