Hazel S. Evans

Hazel S. Evans is the President of the San Francisco Chapter of the Private Directors Association, where she shepherds initiatives to strengthen governance practices and board leadership across private companies.

She is a board director, executive search leader, and innovation operator with more than 20 years of experience spanning startups through global enterprises. Hazel works at the intersection of artificial intelligence, climate technology, sustainability, and digital commerce, partnering with CEOs and boards to align leadership, governance, and operational execution for long-term value creation.

Hazel is the Founder and CEO of Highland Valley Digital, where she partners with companies at critical inflection points to build the leadership required for what comes next. She places C-suite leaders across fractional, full-time, and board roles and is frequently engaged to build boards from the ground up, recruiting independent directors, and establish governance frameworks that support scale, accountability, and capital readiness.

A servant and pay-it-forward leader, Hazel leads with heart and a deep commitment to stewardship. Her leadership experience includes senior roles at Sephora and Ralph Lauren. Serving on multiple private and nonprofit boards, she is passionate about advancing the next generation of board leaders and expanding diverse representation in corporate governance.