Teresa B. Hairston
Teresa B. Hairston is a seasoned Human Resources leader and strategic business partner, currently serving as Senior Manager of Talent at Delta Dental of California Insurance Company. Based in Alpharetta, Georgia, she brings over two decades of experience in leadership development, talent strategy, and organizational growth across corporate and consulting environments. In her current role, Teresa plays a pivotal part in cultivating leadership excellence throughout the organization—aligning executive actions with company values, fostering collaboration, and driving performance through innovative talent initiatives.
Alongside her corporate career, Teresa is the Principal Consultant at Aspire Consulting Agency, where she guides organizations in enhancing performance, compliance, and talent optimization. Her work emphasizes equity, inclusion, and leadership development—helping both nonprofit and for-profit clients strengthen their culture and workforce effectiveness through data-driven strategies and change management.
Prior to joining Delta Dental, Teresa held progressive roles at Mercedes-Benz USA, American Express, and other global organizations, where she spearheaded diversity and inclusion initiatives, led organizational development programs, and managed large-scale employee engagement efforts impacting thousands of employees worldwide. Her approach integrates emotional intelligence, communication, and a deep understanding of human behavior to build inclusive, high-performing workplaces.
Teresa earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and completed Organizational Development certification studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She also holds certifications in Change Management and Emotional Intelligence (Bar-On EQI).
A passionate advocate for equity and empowerment, Teresa is actively involved in community initiatives supporting economic development, health and rehabilitation, and science and technology education. Known for her empathy, authenticity, and strategic vision, she continues to shape environments where people and organizations thrive together.
• Change Management
• Emotional Intelligence - Bar-On EQI
• Myers Briggs Certified Practitoner
• Organizational Development Consultant
• Scrum Master
• Scrum Trainer
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte - Certification, Organizational Development
• University of Phoenix - BBA
• SHERM
• Power of Technology Foundation - Secretary
• Project Management Institute
• Society for Human Resource Management
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to listening well and staying curious. I ask thoughtful questions and help people see that if we work together, we win together. My biggest accomplishment has been helping the companies I’ve worked with achieve “Best in Workplace” recognition.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received comes from Maya Angelou: “I've learned that people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This has guided the way I interact with colleagues and clients throughout my career.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
To young women entering the industry, I advise understanding the history of inclusion and belonging in this country. Being aware of this context helps navigate challenges and advocate effectively for yourself and others.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges—and opportunities—in my industry is building consensus among people to create positive community impact. Collaboration is essential to drive meaningful change.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value trust, integrity, transparency, and innovation in both my personal and professional life. Outside of work, I enjoy gardening, hiking, exploring the arts, and listening to jazz music. I am also deeply committed to volunteer work, supporting community development, education, food insecurity initiatives, youth sports, and youth ministry.