Trusted By
Past Clients.
Experience & Leadership
Over the past 30 years, I have served in leadership roles across higher education and
6–12 education, including:
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Chief Equity Programs Officer, Alliance College-Ready Public Schools
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Vice President, Student Services, Diversity & Inclusion, West Valley College
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Dean of Equity, , West Valley College
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Associate Vice President, Transitional & Retention Services, San José State University
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Director, Educational Opportunity Program, San José State University
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Director, Student Conduct & Ethical Development, San José State University
I hold a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Organizational Leadership and have spent my career helping leaders, teams, and organizations
navigate complexity, strengthen culture, and move important work forward.
YOU ARE ENOUGH,
EVERY MORNING,
EVERY SUNRISE
Welcome To
About Do Better
Welcome to Do Better Executive Coaching
At Do Better, my work is centered on women of color who are leading inside systems that weren’t designed with us in mind.
Many of the leaders I work with are stepping into bigger roles, carrying more responsibility, or navigating moments where the stakes feel high and the path forward isn’t always clear.
This work is about creating space to think, reflect, and move forward with clarity and intention.
Why I Created Do Better
I named this practice Do Better because that phrase has always stayed with me.
To me, it’s not about perfection. It’s about being willing to learn, grow, and continue becoming the kind of leader you want to be.
Leadership is complex. It asks a lot of us. And too often, women of color are expected to navigate that complexity without the support or space to process what they’re carrying.
Do Better was created to be a place where leaders can slow down, think deeply about the work in front of them, and reconnect with their own voice and leadership instincts.
My Leadership Journey
As a Black woman in leadership, I’ve experienced firsthand the realities of systemic racism and sexism in the workplace.
Over the course of my career, I’ve served in roles as a director, dean, vice president, and now chief equity programs officer, working across both higher education and 6–12 systems.
Each role brought its own lessons about leadership, power, and the responsibility that comes with shaping institutions that affect people’s lives.
Those experiences taught me how complex systems work, but they also taught me something just as important, how much leadership can weigh on the people carrying it.
The Griffith Method
Over the course of my career, I came to understand that leadership challenges are rarely just about individual leaders. They're shaped by the conditions surrounding them, the culture, relationships, systems, competing priorities, and barriers that influence how people experience their work.
That understanding became the foundation of what I now call the Griffith Method.
Everything I do is grounded in this approach. Before deciding what to do, we first work to understand what's really happening. Together, we identify the conditions shaping people's experiences, build on existing strengths, remove barriers, and create the clarity needed to move the work forward.
Whether I'm coaching a woman of color leader, facilitating a leadership team, or partnering with an institution, the work always begins in the same place: understanding the conditions before designing the solution.
What it's like to work together
Whether through coaching, consulting, or facilitation, my role is to help leaders make sense of complexity, see what may not be visible from where they sit, and move forward with greater clarity and intention.
Together we often focus on:
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Navigating leadership challenges
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Making sense of complex situations
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Building strategy and alignment
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Strengthening decision-making
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Leading with greater confidence and clarity
No fluff. No generic leadership advice. Just thoughtful partnership grounded in real-world leadership experience.
What Clients Have Shared
Dr. Griffith is an exceptional coach. She helped me uncover my leadership skills and craft a clear vision statement. Her mentorship empowered me to create effective processes and focus on my overall value to an organization, not just a list of skills. I'm deeply appreciative of the insights and growth achieved through this experience.
Temmecha T. Oregon
Dr. Debra Griffith is a visionary leader with a profound understanding of leadership, integrity, and social justice. At West Valley College, she revolutionized the student and employee experience, embedding equity deeply. Her empathetic guidance has made a lasting impact. I highly recommend her for personal and professional growth. She remains an unwavering champion.
Stephanie K - Former President, West Valley College
Dr. Debra Griffith exemplifies authentic leadership. Her DEI strategy is marked by authenticity, humility, and collaboration. Debra fosters trust, guides visioning, and ensures growth. As an executive coach, she empowers others to achieve lasting change. I endorse her wholeheartedly
Rev. Dr. Jamie, Washington
