About

Hi, I'm Debra Ceffalio.

I’ve sat in your chair — and I know exactly what you’re up against.

I partner with senior communications leaders at Fortune 500 companies, providing strategic counsel and hands-on support so you have the bandwidth to operate at the level you were hired for.

Schedule a Call ›

Why communications leaders work with me

I've led communications at Fortune 500 companies like US Foods and Albertsons, navigating IPOs, billion-dollar mergers, layoffs, crises, and multi-year transformations. I've rebuilt teams from the ground up, advised four different CEOs, and carried the impossible weight of the CCO role.

Today, I teach leadership and organizational communications at Northwestern University while partnering with senior leaders like you.

I know what it's like to be:

  • Stretched impossibly thin with no senior-level backup

  • Everyone's trusted advisor, while you have no one to turn to yourself

  • Stuck in the weeds instead of showing what you're truly capable of

I provide strategic counsel when you need a sounding board and take complex, high-stakes work completely off your plate. You get your time back to focus on the work only you can do.

  • “Debra understands what it's like to be a CCO, and she translates that experience into practical, actionable insights. Her strategic perspective and her thoughtful, collaborative approach make her the kind of trusted partner every senior leader needs.”

    — VP, Communications, Fortune 500 B2B company

How It Works

  • Discover

    We start with a conversation about what's keeping you up at night. You share your situation, the outcomes you need to achieve, and what success looks like. Together we identify exactly what needs to happen to get you there.

  • Design

    You get a custom solution tailored to your specific challenge, whether it's a high-stakes project, strategic counsel, team development or whatever you need. No off-the-shelf solutions, because your challenges aren't off-the-shelf. You'll know exactly what's happening and when.

  • Deliver

    You hand off the project and get back to your strategic priorities. I handle it and deliver work that's ready to use. You cross it off your list and move on.

  • Develop

    The relationship often evolves into ongoing support. As new challenges emerge and priorities shift, you have a trusted advisor on call who already understands you and your business and is ready to help.

Let's Talk ›

Who I work with

I work with senior communications leaders – CCOs, SVPs of Communications, VPs of Communications – typically in retail, food & beverage, healthcare, industrial, or B2B industries. 

Recent clients:

  • Healthcare systems navigating complex transformations

  • Food & beverage companies managing high-stakes reputation issues

  • Retail organizations going through mergers and restructuring

  • Industrial & B2B companies building strategic communications capabilities

Recent projects:

  • Transformation communications – Strategic plans that keep employees informed and aligned during large-scale organizational shifts

  • Sensitive communications – Communications that maintain employee trust and protect organizational reputation during difficult situations like layoffs

  • Executive communications – CEO communications strategies that strengthen employee engagement, enhance executive visibility, and elevate company reputation

  • Function redesign – Department assessments and redesigns that optimize resources, develop talent, and position communications for greater strategic impact

Ready to get unstuck?

If you're stretched thin and need support from someone who's been there – let's talk.

Let's Talk ›