Margarita Mayo

Margarita Mayo

Award-Winning Professor of Leadership, Bestselling Author, and Global Authority on Authentic Leadership

Core Intelligence Domain: Leadership
Location: Madrid, Spain | Languages: English, Spanish
Representation: Represented globally by PSpeakers Global Intelligence

Margarita Mayo is a globally recognised thought leader in authentic leadership, organisational behaviour, and the psychology of change, bringing decades of academic rigour and executive advisory experience to the global stage. As an award-winning professor at IE Business School, she has dedicated her career to understanding how leaders can inspire trust, navigate complexities, and foster environments of psychological safety and high performance. Recognised by the prestigious Thinkers50 Radar as one of the most influential management thinkers in the world, her proprietary frameworks challenge conventional leadership paradigms, urging C-suite executives to move beyond performative leadership toward genuine, purpose-driven influence.

Holding a Ph.D. in Organisational Behaviour from the State University of New York at Buffalo, alongside her distinguished background as a Fulbright Scholar at Harvard University, Professor Mayo’s insights are deeply rooted in empirical research. She translates complex psychological data into actionable foresight for global corporations, enabling business leaders to align their authentic selves with strategic corporate objectives while successfully guiding their teams through volatility.

Major Achievements and Academic Milestones

• Thinkers50 Radar Recognised: Acknowledged as a top global management thinker shaping the future of leadership.
• Bestselling Author: Author of the critically acclaimed book, “Yours Truly: Staying Authentic in Leadership and Life”, which was shortlisted for the CMI Management Book of the Year Award.
• Leading Academic Voice: Tenured Professor of Leadership and Organisational Behaviour at the prestigious IE Business School in Madrid.
• Global Visiting Faculty: Has taught and researched at top-tier institutions worldwide, including Lancaster University, ESMT Berlin, and Ivey Business School.
• Prolific Contributor: Regular contributor to highly respected publications such as Harvard Business Review, Financial Times, Forbes, and The Economic Times.
• Fulbright Scholar: Conducted pioneering research in leadership psychology at Harvard University as a Fulbright Alumna.

Keynote Speaking Themes and Strategic Frameworks

Margarita Mayo delivers highly tailored, research-backed keynotes that address the critical challenges facing modern boards and executive teams. Her speaking engagements focus on:

• Authentic Leadership in an Era of Disruption: How executives can cultivate trust, transparency, and genuine connection in high-stakes environments.
• The Psychology of Change Management: Equipping organisations to build resilience and navigate digital and cultural transformations seamlessly.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as a Strategic Advantage: Moving beyond quotas to foster true belonging and psychological safety within diverse teams.
• Overcoming the Imposter Syndrome: Strategies for leaders to align their internal identity with external expectations, reducing burnout and increasing executive effectiveness.
• Leading with Purpose: How aligning personal values with corporate missions drives sustainable growth and talent retention.

Key Takeaways

• Evidence-Based Insights: Leverage empirical research from a globally recognised academic to make informed, human-centric leadership decisions.
• Actionable Frameworks: Implement practical tools to measure and enhance authentic leadership within executive teams.
• Cultural Transformation: Learn the psychological drivers necessary to build resilient, diverse, and deeply engaged organisations.
• Strategic Foresight: Anticipate the evolving expectations of the modern workforce and adapt leadership styles to ensure long-term organisational success.