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Meredith Persily

Adjunct Professorial Lecturer, American University

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 technology, healthcare, financial services and government. 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.

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.

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

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.

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®.

Experience

  • –present
    Adjunct Professorial Lecturer, American University