DRDA Welcomes Stephen Mitchley as Chief Operating Officer

Stephen brings a diverse and global leadership background to DRDA. He began his professional journey in mechanical engineering after earning his Honors and Master’s degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. His early career in the mining industry provided exposure to complex operational environments where precision, accountability, and disciplined execution were essential.

Over time, Stephen discovered that his greatest passion was not only in technical systems, but in the people and processes that power them. This realization led him to transition into healthcare, where he spent years building and scaling businesses across multiple service lines. In those roles, he focused on operational excellence, leadership development, forecasting, and building high performing teams aligned around a common purpose.

Stephen was drawn to DRDA because of its mission driven culture and clearly defined values.

“Most companies center their vision around financial success,” Stephen shared. “DRDA has a compelling mission and a noble purpose. That creates an anchor point for what we do and why we do it. The firm’s values provide a framework for accountability, safety, predictability, and alignment. That foundation creates a powerful community dynamic.”

As Chief Operating Officer, Stephen is responsible for translating strategy into disciplined execution. His mandate is to build a scalable and sustainable operational framework while protecting and reinforcing the values that define DRDA’s culture. His areas of focus include business process engineering, operational reporting, forecasting, leadership and individual development, and technology enablement.

He believes growth must be intentional.

“Growth is not simply expansion,” Stephen noted. “It is ensuring that systems, people, and culture evolve together. Every individual should understand how their unique contribution impacts the success of the firm.”

Stephen finds fulfillment in three core areas: solving complex challenges, developing individuals to become the best version of themselves, and working collectively toward a shared goal. This balanced leadership philosophy aligns closely with DRDA’s commitment to excellence, collaboration, and long-term client relationships.

Outside of work, Stephen enjoys golf, exploring new cities, and cooking multi-course meals from scratch for family and friends. A passionate cook, he enjoys experimenting with cuisines and preparing meals that bring people together. Having grown up in South Africa, he brings a global perspective and thoughtful leadership style to his role.

DRDA welcomes Stephen to the executive leadership team and looks forward to the positive impact his leadership will have on the firm, its clients, and its people as the organization continues to grow with purpose and discipline.