About

Biography

Mary Lou Tierney

Where Science Meets Soul: A Bridge Builder’s Journey

Mary Lou’s approach uniquely integrates brain, nervous system and heart science with deep wisdom about human connection. Her understanding of conversational neurochemistry and the brain-heart connection brings a rare scientific rigor to the often-intangible elements of team dynamics.

Mary Lou Tierney transforms how teams work together. Drawing from her unique journey as both an elite tennis chair umpire and enterprise change leadership, she brings extraordinary insights into building psychological safety and fostering innovation in high-stakes environments. As the creator of “The 12 Steps of Leadership Humility” and author of “The 6 Social Skills for Psychological Safety & Joy at Work,” Mary Lou offers practical wisdom for modern leaders facing complex challenges.

Her corporate impact speaks volumes. At the MITRE Corporation, she revolutionized a 50-year-old innovation management process, leading a 55-person stakeholder team through enterprise-wide transformation. Her work earned multiple Officer Awards and has been published in prestigious journals, demonstrating her ability to translate leadership theory into measurable results.

Mary Lou at Northeastern University

What sets Mary Lou apart is her unique integration of leadership disciplines. As a Mentor at the Gordon Institute of Engineering Leadership and a Board-Certified Health Coach, she understands both the technical and human elements of organizational transformation. Currently preparing to become a Benedictine Oblate at Glastonbury Abbey, she brings soul-sourced depth and purpose to her leadership style, helping organizations build environments where innovation and human potential do truly flourish.

As a speaker, Mary Lou delivers:

  • Evidence-based strategies for building psychological safety in high-stakes, results-driven environments
  • Practical frameworks for leading transformational change
  • Real-world insights from officiating Grand Slams to facilitating breakthrough enterprise innovation
  • A unique perspective on leading with both courage and humility
  • Clear pathways for moving from surviving to thriving at work

Her message resonates with authenticity and practical wisdom, grounded in her commitment to serving others and fostering environments where teams can achieve both excellence and joy. Whether addressing corporate leaders, engineering students, or emerging professionals, Mary Lou provides actionable insights that transform how teams work together.

The Heat of Transformation: Where Art Meets Science

Just as she studies the neurochemistry of human connection in her work, Mary Lou’s pursuits in endurance sports and glassblowing demonstrate the delicate balance between technical precision and intuitive wisdom. Whether measuring the health of her nervous system though heart rate variability or working with the unique properties of molten glass, she understands that transformation requires both scientific knowledge and soulful attention.

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