Meredith Persily
CEO of Aspire@Work℠

Meredith Persily is CEO and founder of executive-coaching firm Aspire@Work, a consultant and facilitator, and adjunct professor/lecturer in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at American University. She specializes in the leadership challenges of complex, global organizations in government, technology, healthcare, and financial services. Meredith has explored the frontiers of aspirational leadership, human behavior, and organizational development. She is co-author of Six Paths to Leadership: Lessons from Successful Executives, Politicians, Entrepreneurs, and More (Palgrave Macmillan, June 2021).

With an MBA and professional coach certification, Meredith brings her deep business background, understanding of neuroscience, and a variety of leadership assessments to her clients. Meredith’s personal mission is to help people think boldly about what is possible and lead fulfilling and thriving work lives. Leaders call on Meredith to challenge their management teams, facilitate the development of their vision and strategic goals, and instigate transformation.

A keen observer and trusted advisor, Meredith helps her global C-suite coaching clients break through the clutter, get clear about the real issues at hand, find their purpose, and take risks so they can play in an even bigger arena.  She has delivered leadership programs in 17 countries across five continents, and in 38 U.S. states, including the District of Columbia.

Her current workshops include Building A Culture of EngagementPower vs. Influence: What Do You Want and How Can You Get More?Ten Essential Tips for Managing MillennialsSix Paths to Leadership.

Meredith served on the faculty of American University’s Kogod School of Business from 2010-2013 and transitioned to teaching public sector leaders in American University’s School of Public Administration Key Leadership Programs. Her courses include Transforming from Manager to Leader, Leading High Performance Teams, and Action Learning.

Featured on NPR, in Entrepreneur, SHRM, Roll CallPolitico, and more, Meredith is a subject-matter expert on multi-generational leadership, career transition, executive onboarding, employee engagement, and current workplace trends.

Meredith earned an M.B.A. from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and her B.A. with honors from Brown University. She completed the Certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University and is credentialed as a Professional Certified Coach (P.C.C.) by the International Coach Federation, and certified in The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®), iEQ9 Enneagram, The Leadership Circle Profile™, DiSC®, Appreciative Inquiry, Korn Ferry’s ESCI (EQ) tool, Polarity Thinking®, and The NeuroLeadership Institute’s Brain-Based Coaching®.

Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, she began her career as a telecommunications market analyst and then Research Director for the telecommunications division of Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), based in São Paulo, Brazil. As the former director of training and consulting for The Congressional Management Foundation, she coached and consulted for more than 80 members of the U.S. Congress and their senior staff.  She also served as director of executive education of CEB’s Corporate Leadership Council (now Gartner for HR), working with hundreds of leading corporations around the world.

There is no greater joy than seeing our clients have the impact they envisioned for themselves and their organizations.

– Meredith Persily

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