Don Carter

Background

About Don Carter

I lead People & Culture work that connects strategy to purpose and performance to people. With over 30 years of global HR leadership and 17 years of service as a U.S. Army Reserve officer, I bring discipline, clarity, and care to the work of building resilient, values-aligned organizations.At Kiva, where I serve as Executive Vice President of People & Culture, I lead global people strategies that expand access to capital for women, refugees, climate-vulnerable populations, and systemically marginalized entrepreneurs. From reimagining equitable compensation to scaling high-performing, distributed teams, I build people-first systems that align mission with performance and empower our workforce to drive lasting impact.My career has taken me across six continents and into HR leadership roles within global corporations, privately held companies, and nonprofits. Along the way, I’ve helped navigate enterprise change, led cultural transformation initiatives, and built three services-based firms centered on leadership, talent, and inclusion.I do my best work at the intersection of complexity and mission, where HR must be strategic, adaptive, and deeply grounded in human insight. I collaborate with CEOs, boards, and senior leaders to shape leadership practices, organizational design, and talent systems that support long-term growth and impact.Outside of my executive role, I coach leaders and teams using the Everything DiSC® framework to unlock self-awareness, strengthen communication, and build influence. I also contribute thought leadership through writing, podcasting, and learning communities—including prior contributor roles with the Forbes HR Council, SHRM Executive Network, and currently as a founding member of the Employee Well-Being Council. I believe HR, when aligned with purpose and executed with clarity, is one of the most powerful levers any organization has. I’m committed to building cultures that last—where people thrive, and purpose drives results.