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Faculty Spotlight: Debra Crombie
- Scott Doggett
- Apr 13
- 3 min read
Developing Leaders. Building Confidence. Seeing People as Priceless!
At the National Academy of Leadership Development, we believe leadership is most powerful when it begins with how we see people. This spotlight is part of our ongoing effort to highlight faculty members who are not only developing leaders, but helping shape cultures where people feel valued, seen, and empowered to thrive.
Meet the Leader Behind the Work
Before we dive into the conversation, it is worth knowing a bit about the leader behind the insights. Debra Crombie is the Founder of Sterling Training Group LLC, where she partners with small to mid-size organizations to address turnover, low performance, and employee relations challenges. Through customized leadership development, succession planning, performance management, and psychometric training, she helps organizations build stronger, more confident leaders and healthier workplace cultures. As part of the NALD faculty, she is also licensed to deliver the Priceless Leadership workshops.
👉 Read Debra’s full bio here: Debra (Iovino) Crombie
Leadership becomes truly priceless when leaders lift others up instead of tearing them down.
The Conversation
Tell us a little about what you do and who you serve.
We help small to mid-size organizations combat turnover, low performance, and employee relations issues through customized leadership development, succession planning, performance management, and psychometric training.
Where are you based?
Lake Worth, Florida, and working with organizations across various locations.
What is a defining moment or season that shaped how you lead today?
Early in my career, I would ask my manager for help the minute I was stuck. Instead of giving me the answer, she would ask questions that made me realize I had not explored all the possibilities on my own. That experience helped me become more resourceful and independent. As a leader, I adopted a similar approach with my team by asking, “What have you considered?” It builds trust, confidence, innovation, and capability much faster than simply giving answers.
What are your primary areas of focus right now?
Leadership development, succession planning, performance management, and psychometric training.
Who do you most enjoy working with and why?
Confident and decisive leaders in organizations are easier to work with, but I also truly enjoy working with those who are not. I appreciate diverse thinking and often learn something valuable in the process, no matter the organization or situation.
What encouragement would you offer a leader who feels stuck or discouraged?
I would focus on getting to the root of why they feel that way by using a “Mineral Rights” coaching approach. It helps uncover what is really going on and uses thoughtful questions to guide people toward their own insights, solutions, and next steps.
What does seeing people as priceless mean to you?
We all come from different backgrounds and experiences. We need to embrace that and value the uniqueness in others so they feel seen, heard, safe, and valuable. It is not about tearing people down because they think or communicate differently than we do.
Finish this sentence. Leadership becomes truly priceless when...
Leaders understand that their role is to lift others up, not tear them down, especially for their own gain.
What is something people might not know about you?
I am currently taking guitar lessons with the son of the lead singer from Matchbox 20.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
My passion is helping people become better versions of themselves through talent development opportunities. Nothing in our work brings me greater joy.
Areas of Impact
Leadership Development
Succession Planning
Performance Management
Psychometric Training
Connect with Debra Crombie
A Final Word
Debra brings a practical, people-first approach to leadership development that helps organizations build stronger, more confident leaders. As part of the National Academy of Leadership Development faculty, she is licensed to deliver the Priceless Leadership workshops and support organizations in creating cultures where people feel valued and empowered.
Because at the end of the day, leadership is not just about results. It is about people.
And people are priceless!
To learn more about the National Academy of Leadership Development, explore our faculty, or bring the Priceless Leadership experience to your organization, visit:
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