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 From City Girl to CEO

At Meritology Institute, we believe leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about impact. And that belief was born from lived experience.

I'm Debbie Woodbury, Founder and CEO of Meritology Institute. I grew up knowing how to lead because I had to. Like many women, I was leading before I ever had the title. But navigating the professional world wasn’t always about skill or effort. It was about access. About being seen. About being given a shot.

After over two decades in public service, leading parks and recreation programs, and sitting at the table where policies were shaped, I realized something: many talented professionals are overlooked not because they lack ability, but because they lack opportunity.

That realization lit a fire in me. I

created Meritology Institute to close that gap, to build a space where professionals, especially those often left out of traditional development pipelines, could get the training, coaching, and support they deserve.

Meritology stands for just that: growth based on merit, your skills, your potential, and your readiness to lead. Whether you're the quiet expert in the room or the emerging leader looking for your voice, we see you. And we’re here to help you rise. text on your website by double clicking on a text box on your website. Alternatively, when you select a text box a settings menu will appear.