Debra Balamos
Executive Leadership Coach | Speaker | Educator
Debra helps individuals and organizations define goals and formulate unique strategies for achieving them. She works on strengthening communication, creative and relationship-building skills to ignite positive change, growth, and confidence.
Debra’s career includes 25 years in leadership roles at multiple media companies, including Showtime, Sundance, and MTV, where she led marketing, branding, and distribution teams. Her background also includes ten years coaching executives overseeing film festivals, film-related institutions, art centers, tech startups, and digital content.
Debra currently coaches with BetterUp Leadership Coaching, where she leads sessions with members from organizations such as Google, HBO / Warner Media, American Express, Tiffany Workshop Design, and NASA globally.
Debra also teaches courses covering strategic planning and best professional practices for Illustration and Design students at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles.
Before becoming a certified coach and educator, Debra served in multiple executive roles creating high-level partnerships with startup ventures, non-profits, and international corporations like GOAT, Ovation TV – Supporting the Next Generation of Artists, Film Independent, The Spirit Awards, and The Entertainment Industry Foundation.
She produced / co-produced numerous successful marketing campaigns, launching the distribution of television networks, TV series, Podcasts, and award-winning branding campaigns serving Latino, Black, Asian, LGBT, and Women’s Audiences.
Additionally, Debra designed high-profile education outreach and advocacy programs supporting the arts and STEM, including visual & performing arts, music, film, and architecture. Debra has won multiple industry awards for designing diverse marketing promotions and On Demand classroom programs providing free resources to teachers in America, launching with 2000 educators at the New York City Public Library.
Debra is an innovative leader driven by creativity, initiative, and dedication to excellence. She is a graduate of The Center for Creative Leadership and has served on several boards, including the 92Y Tisch Center for the Arts, The Television Academy of Arts and Sciences, Women in Media, the International Coaching Federation, and Counseling West.
Debra is a mentor for The Alliance for Women in Media and Together Women Rise - a global initiative dedicated to transforming lives and eradicating poverty among women.
Debra is certified by the International Coaching Federation, IPEC, BetterUp and The Energy Leadership Program. She holds degrees in Communication and Marketing. Debra lives and works in Santa Monica, CA.