Barbara Adachi

Barbara Adachi is a proven business leader in professional services with expertise in human capital strategy and in the healthcare and insurance industries. She has provided key leadership to organizations as they reassess the future of work and talent strategies. Prior to her retirement in 2013, Barbara was the chief executive and National Managing Partner for Deloitte Consulting’s Human Capital Consulting Practice, a $1B practice with over 3,000 practitioners in the U.S., Mexico, and India. In this role, she was responsible for all aspects of operations overseeing P&L, business strategy, sales, and talent management. During her tenure, the Human Capital consulting business experienced 43% top-line growth and 41% bottom-line growth, including 3 acquisitions. Currently, Barbara serves on several boards including VSP Global (Vision Service Plan), Elements Global Services and is the President and Board Chair of the International Women’s Forum, Northern California where she is leading the organization’s transformation.

Barbara’s passion is advancing women’s leadership and she has always been viewed as a trailblazer, both as the first minority and female partner to lead the national human capital consulting business at Deloitte, and as a champion of diversity and inclusion. She served as National Managing Principal for Deloitte’s award- winning Women’s Initiative (WIN) for the entire U.S. firm from 2007-2011, achieving a significant milestone of 1,000 women partners, principals and directors. Under Barbara’s leadership, Deloitte LLP received its second Catalyst award in 2010, which honors organizations who have implemented groundbreaking strategies and programs to advance women. Viewed as an expert in diversity in the workplace, Barbara has had over 50 external speaking engagements, including appearing on Good Morning America.

Named one of the “100 Most Influential Women in Business” by the San Francisco Business Times for 10 consecutive years from 2003 through 2012, Barbara was then endowed as Forever Influential. She also been the recipient of Consulting Magazine’s Women’s Leadership Award, the Asian Women in Business Leadership Award and was listed among “Women Worth Watching” by Profiles in Diversity. In 2020, Barbara received the CEDAW Women’s Human Rights Award for International Comity.

Barbara graduated from the University of California with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and for fun enjoys international travel, fly fishing, fashion and entertaining.