I believe in the 'Who' of you

And I’ve spent my career helping leaders and organisations put people at the heart of how they work and lead.

Hi, I’m Mary Ann.

I’m a leadership development specialist, executive coach, and the author of Put Who First: A Human-Centred Guide to Leading Yourself and Others.

For more than 30 years, I’ve supported leaders and teams to build trust, navigate conversations with courage, and create cultures where people feel like they matter.

My work blends Emotional Intelligence, Conversational Intelligence®, practical leadership tools, and a deeply human approach.

I help people reconnect with themselves and with each other so they can lead with more clarity, confidence, and care.

Why this work matters to me

My career began in HR, working in multinational organisations where I witnessed first-hand the difference a human-centred leader can make. I saw how trust, presence, and emotional awareness could open people up — and how fear, reactivity, and disconnection could shut them down just as quickly.

Over the years, one truth became clear:

Leadership isn’t just about capability. It’s about connection.

It’s about the conversations we have, the energy we bring, the assumptions we hold, and the way we treat people — especially in moments of pressure.

This belief shaped everything I do.
It shaped my coaching, my training, my philosophy, and ultimately my book.

Today, I help leaders slow down, tune into themselves, and build the relational intelligence they need to genuinely bring out the best in their people.

How I support leaders & organisations

Leadership Development

Practical, human-centred programmes that build self-awareness, conversational skill, confidence, and relational intelligence.

Emotional Intelligence (Genos EI)

Evidence-based assessments and programmes that strengthen connection, communication, and performance.

1:1 Coaching

A grounded, reflective space where leaders develop clarity, confidence, courage, and a deeper sense of who they are as leaders and human beings.

What makes my approach different

A rare blend of Emotional Intelligence and Conversational Intelligence®
30+ years of practical experience across industries and cultures
A warm, grounded, human-centred approach people instantly trust
Practical tools grounded in psychology, neuroscience, and lived experience
A strong focus on real conversations, trust, and psychological safety
A way of teaching that feels personal, relatable, and immediately useful

I don’t just teach tools — I help people shift how they see themselves and others.

Contact Me

I just wanted to say how enjoyable and impactful the training last week was. There were a lot of insights, collaborative brainstorming, strong concepts and gentle wisdom. The term courageous conversations has been my mantra for the past week, both in the giving and receiving.

The feedback from my team members on the training has been fantastic so thank you so much for the impact you are having.

Brian McElwee, Guinness Storehouse Retail Store Manager.