Debbie Goodman

CEO

Manhattan Beach, California, United States34 yrs 6 mos experience
Highly Stable

Key Highlights

  • CEO Advisor & Coach of the Year – Africa 2025
  • Host of the podcast On Work & Revolution
  • Two-time bestselling author
Stackforce AI infers this person is a leader in Executive Search and Leadership Development across Africa and the USA.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Executive SearchLeadership DevelopmentCoachingTalent Management

Other Skills

RecruitingFinanceEntrepreneurshipHR PoliciesManagementSearchSourcingExecutive ManagementTemporary PlacementHuman ResourcesTalent AcquisitionFinancial ServicesRetailHR ConsultingStrategy

About

As CEO of Jack Hammer Global, I lead a group of companies specializing in executive search and leadership development, including Jack Hammer Africa (Africa's largest executive search boutique covering 24 countries), Jack Hammer USA (ranked Top5 boutique firm), and Virtual Coaching Partners, a global executive coaching platform. Over more than two decades, my mission has been simple: help boards and CEOs build amazing workplaces - through finding and developing great leaders. This is how companies and people flourish and thrive. Alongside my executive search work, I advise CEOs at pivotal moments in their leadership journey — newly appointed CEOs finding their footing, leaders scaling fast, and CEOs preparing for transition or exit. My role is part sounding board, part strategist: creating space for clear thinking when the pressure is on and the decisions really matter. And....I was recently awarded "CEO Advisor & Coach of the Year – Africa 2025" by GBM (nice way to start 2026😊) I host the podcast On Work & Revolution (now in its 4th season!), speak to executive audiences on leadership and workplace trends, and am a two-time bestselling author ("In the Flow" and "The Living Room Leader"). And on a personal note? I’ve never been much for straight lines. I started out as an award-winning dancer and choreographer, whilst completing my law degree. I never worked a single day as a lawyer, but my love for dance has come full circle: after work, I dance (a lot 😉) and am currently a US Pro-Am ballroom dance champion 💃

Experience

34 yrs 6 mos
Total Experience
7 yrs
Average Tenure
4 yrs 10 mos
Current Experience

Africa partner network

Founding Partner

Jan 2025Present · 1 yr 3 mos · South Africa

  • Africa Partner Network is the leading network of workplace and talent solutions in Africa. Our partner members provide a range of workforce, leadership, talent and Africa-centric people solutions for local and global organisations.

On work and revolution

Podcast Host

Oct 2022Present · 3 yrs 6 mos · United States

  • On Work and Revolution is a podcast that leads the way to creating amazing workplaces where people and ideas flourish. Or at least to work-life that doesn’t suck! We speak to trend-setters, futurists, academics, and leaders who are shaking things up and finding new ways to work-life in our time.
  • This show is for the leaders and pioneers who want to build thriving workplaces; who want to be on the cutting edge of people trends; and who need to navigate the world of work right now.

Ontheblock

Investor/ Advisor

Jun 2021Present · 4 yrs 10 mos · Los Angeles, California, United States

  • We help Blockchain and Crypto companies find Fractional Leaders

Coinfund

Advisor

May 2021Aug 2022 · 1 yr 3 mos

Rebel girls

Strategic Advisor

Apr 2020Jan 2025 · 4 yrs 9 mos · California, United States

  • Global, multi-platform empowerment brand dedicated to helping raise the most inspired and confident generation of girls.

Virtual coaching partners

CEO & Co-Founder

Aug 2017Present · 8 yrs 8 mos · Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

  • Virtual Coaching Partners is an online coach-matching platform, which helps leaders and entrepreneurs to source high impact leadership coaches, friction-free.

Jack hammer

CEO

Feb 2001Present · 25 yrs 2 mos

  • For over two decades, Jack Hammer Global has been transforming executive search and leadership advisory — helping organisations across Africa and beyond find, place, and develop the leaders who make strategy real and build amazing workplaces.
  • Jack Hammer Africa
  • Africa’s largest executive search boutique, covering 24 countries on the continent. We help public and private organisations, non-profits, and private equity investors build high-performing leadership teams, including complex US–Africa cross-continental searches.
  • Virtual Coaching Partners
  • Africa’s #1 online coaching platform connecting leaders with world-class career and leadership development support. We help leaders clarify purpose, fulfil potential, and elevate impact.
  • CEO Advisor (Leadership, Growth, Transition)
  • I work directly with CEOs at key inflection points — including newly appointed CEOs, leaders embarking on significant growth or transformation, and CEOs preparing for succession or exit. My focus is on clarity, judgment, and decision-making: supporting leaders as they navigate complexity, align stakeholders, and make confident choices at moments that shape the future of the organisation.
  • Africa Partner Network (APN)
  • Founding Partner of APN, the leading network of workplace and talent solutions in Africa. Our members provide workforce, leadership, talent, and Africa-centric people solutions for local and global organisations.
  • Our edge: we find the balance between performing to win and building connection; extraordinary rigor and effortless flexibility; challenging the status quo and keeping it real. Asking the hard questions. Always looking beyond the obvious. Drilling deep. Whether we’re finding the right leaders, backing CEOs at pivotal moments, or building leadership capability that lasts.
  • That’s why we’re called ‘Jack Hammer’.
Executive SearchLeadership DevelopmentTalent ManagementCoaching

Capital assignments

Financial Services Recruitment Consultant

Feb 1998Jun 2000 · 2 yrs 4 mos

Jagged dance

Founder, Choreographer, and Contemporary Dancer

Jan 1995Jan 1998 · 3 yrs

Jazzart dance theatre

Contemporary Dancer, Choreographer, Teacher

Jan 1990Jan 1994 · 4 yrs

Education

Stanford Continuing Studies

Customer Development

London Business School

Entrepreneurial Growth Forum

ACC Coaching, UCT Graduate School of Business

University of South Africa BA.LLB

Law

Stackforce found 100+ more professionals with Executive Search & Leadership Development

Explore similar profiles based on matching skills and experience