Bio

As Chief People & Culture Officer, Donna Daniels is a member of Ceres executive leadership, leading people and culture strategy and operations for the organization's people ecosystem.

 

Donna brings over 25 years of experience transforming organizations across nonprofit, government, and private sectors. Since 2008, she has maintained an active consulting practice through Innervision Consulting, partnering with organizational leaders as a Human Resources Strategist, Investigator, and Leadership Coach to strengthen effectiveness and navigate complex challenges. Her consulting services include leadership coaching, HR strategy, employment investigations, conflict resolution, and mediation, serving clients across diverse industries and organizational sizes.

 

Donna's comprehensive HR generalist background and extensive experience in transformation is reflected in her deep expertise in talent development, workforce planning, organizational design, employee engagement, culture transformation, inclusion, and risk management. Prior to Ceres, Donna held senior leadership positions at organizations including the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where she developed and implemented comprehensive culture strategies and inclusion frameworks, as well as Lasell University and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where she has driven transformative initiatives across the full spectrum of human resources functions, with particular emphasis on enhancing employee engagement, strengthening organizational culture, and advancing inclusive workplace practices.

 

Donna holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Northeastern University and a Master of Education in human resources education from Boston University. Her certifications include Executive Coaching from Harvard Business School, Social Justice Mediation, Conflict Resolution, and an investigation certification from the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD). In 2023, Donna was recognized by New England Women in Energy & the Environment (NEWIEE) with their inaugural Founders' Award for her contributions to advancing inclusion in the sector.

 

A committed advocate for professional development and supporting underrepresented communities, Donna currently serves on the Board of All In Energy and has shared her expertise in years past as adjunct faculty at Suffolk University's Sawyer Business School and Emmanuel College's School of Business, as well as coaching and consulting with small Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises.