Donna Hughes || Founder and CEO, Hughes Solutions, LLC || https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnamhughesjd/

Written by M3 Placement on March 28, 2023. Posted in Advisory Board.

Donna Hughes, JD, is the Founder and CEO of Hughes Solutions, LLC, an executive coaching and human resources consulting business. Hughes Solutions’ mission is to enable senior and emerging leaders, particularly women and people of color, to excel in their leadership capabilities, and positively shape their teams, organizations, and communities.

Over the course of her career in Fortune 500 global organizations, and a not-for-profit organization, Donna gained the respect of executive leaders and corporate boards for her ability to drive positive cultural change through instilling inclusive leadership, and for her legal and business acumen. Donna most recently served as the Chief People Officer for EmblemHealth, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit health insurers. Donna’s career and contributions at EmblemHealth were showcased by Profile Magazine’s December 2019 article, “How Donna Hughes Guides Teams along the ‘Curve of Change’”.

Donna’s prior roles include SVP, Human Resources, for Impax Laboratories, Inc., Vice President, Labor & Employment for Allergan, plc, and Director and Assistant General Counsel for Circuit City Stores, Inc. Her rise through progressive leadership roles in the field of law to the C-suite was showcased by American Healthcare Leader’s December 2017 article, “Seizing New Opportunities for Growth”.

For her contributions in leadership, Donna was recently named to Crain’s New York Business’ 2022 list of Notable Black Leaders and its 2021 list of Notable Leaders in Healthcare. In addition, Donna was named to Crain’s New York Business’ 2020 list of most Notable Women in Talent and recognized as one of Diversity Leadership, Inc.’s 2021 national list of “Top 50 HR Professionals”.

Donna is a sought-after speaker for institutions of higher education, national organizations, and has been a guest podcast speaker on various topics including, the value of coaching, conscious leadership, diversity, equity and inclusion, culture transformation, and leading organizations through the Covid-19 pandemic and social unrest. In October 2021, Donna was the featured speaker at the Le Moyne College, Madden School of Business program “Conscious Leadership and Culturally Competent Healthcare.”

Donna received her Juris Doctor from Rutgers University School of Law-Newark, her Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers College, Rutgers University. She is a graduate of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) Accredited Coach Training Program (ACTP).