About the Professor

Debbie Abbott has extensive leadership experience in high-technology finance and marketing, having worked and consulted for top-tier Silicon Valley firms. She has been an adjunct faculty member at San Jose State University since 2006.

Debbie earned her MBA in Finance from UCLA and began her career at Xerox, where she spent ten years as a financial manager and was recognized for excellence in forecasting and strategic planning. Her career includes finance and marketing management roles at Flex, Cisco, Xerox and more. She retired from her full-tme work in 2021 and continues to teach Finance at SJSU. She also currently serves on the board of the Federated City Employees Retirement System for the City of San Jose, on the board of Untold Improv, and as a member of the Citizens Oversight Committee for the Cambrian School District.

In her courses, Debbie integrates core financial principles with real-world applications in corporate planning, investing, and personal finance. Known for her engaging style and practical insights, Debbie approaches teaching as one of her passions—something she does “for the fun of it.” Her commitment to student success and instructional excellence has earned her the designation of Master Teacher.