Debra Benton has been in business successfully for over 30 years, having founded Benton Management Resources in 1976. She has helped professionals worldwide to design subtle changes in their presentation, attitude, and leadership style that ultimately resulted in an increase in their personal and professional effectiveness—and subsequently their financial status.
Her client list reads like a “Who’s Who” in successful business today. Debra’s style and ability to influence positive change has put people “in office,” made companies millions, accelerated career advancement, and created a beneficial ripple effect throughout numerous organizations.
She has coached corporate executives, politicians, and business leaders on their organizational impact in every industry imaginable. Every week Fortune, Forbes, or Fast Company features a client with whom she’s worked.
From thousands of in-depth interviews with high-profile leaders, Debra has written seven books and numerous articles in business publications, including the Harvard Business Review and the Wall Street Journal. Her best-selling books have been translated into 14 languages.
Her expertise has afforded her front-page coverage in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today. She has been repeatedly written about in Time, BusinessWeek, Fortune, and the New York Times; has been a welcome guest on the Today Show, Good Morning America, and CNN; and was interviewed by Diane Sawyer for CBS.
As an internationally recognized communications and interpersonal relations expert, Debra is a popular keynote speaker. She has spoken to hundreds of organizations, including American Express, United Airlines, Viacom, McKinsey & Company, Comcast, Kraft, Hewlett-Packard, the US Border Patrol, and Lockheed Martin in 18 countries before audiences as large as 5,000 on such topics as Executive Charisma, How to Think and Act Like the Best CEOs, and the Art of Leadership. As a speaker, Debra has consistently achieved a rating in the top 2 percent of all presenters.
Although Debra has never been in the military, she has tried to serve her country with her work, starting with a brief time on the USS Clarke missile frigate to observe naval leadership. Following that, she was invited onboard the USS Washington aircraft carrier and to be part of a group traveling with General Abizaid in the Middle East to study military leadership. She has repeatedly worked with most branches of the military, including several assignments with the Veterans Administration and the US Border Patrol.
Debra has been on the editorial advisory board for the Rocky Mountain News and was a career expert for CBS affiliate KMGH-TV.
She holds a BS in economics and finance from Colorado State University and is the recipient of the school’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
Debra lives with her husband, Rodney Sweeney, a retired cowboy and ranch manager, in Colorado.