David DeVaughn, MPA, PCC is an executive coach and strategic advisor who helps Black, Brown, and people of color leaders lead with integrity, clarity, and purpose—especially when they’re navigating inequitable institutions.

Through StrivEquity Consulting LLC, David partners with individuals and organizations committed to justice—not just as a value, but as a practice. He equips leaders to clarify their values, assess their institutional conditions, and design strategies that advance both personal growth and systemic change. His work integrates leadership development, equity strategy, and political analysis—grounding coaching in real-world complexity.

David is the creator of the Equity-Responsive Leadership (ERL) coaching framework, a seven-step model designed to support mid-career leaders who are often expected to carry the weight of equity work with limited resources or recognition. His approach centers compassion, care, and trauma-informed practice, while also addressing power, identity, and the politics of transformation in the workplace.

David is an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Professional Certified Coach (PCC), trained at the Teleos Leadership Institute. He is certified as a Minority-Owned Business Enterprise by the NYC Department of Small Business Services and is a proud alum of the National Urban Fellows (2013) and ProInspire Fellowship (2011). He holds an MPA from Baruch College’s Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, and a BA in American Studies and Latiné Studies from Williams College.

Raised in both Chestnut Hill and Brockton, Massachusetts, David brings a cross-sector background and a personal commitment to building leadership practices rooted in justice, dignity, and sustainability.

Past and current collaborators include New York State Health Foundation, NYC Public Schools, John Hopkins University Center for A Livable Future, Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, NYC Mayor’s Office of Urban Agriculture, and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.