ABOUT MARY

Washington DC-based Mary Davis Holt is:

  • Performance coach for executives & teams
  • Keynote speaker, Workshop facilitator
  •  New York Times bestselling author
  • Harvard Business Review contributor
  • Corporate executive with 30 years of success

Mary—a seasoned corporate executive and board director, with deep expertise in strategic leadership and governance—works with Fortune 1000 men and women to re-ignite performance.


"Mary is a dynamic master in executive leadership coaching." —CAO, Booz Allen Hamilton


Her leadership development firm delivers coaching, training, and workshops to rising leaders and their teams. An in-demand speaker and facilitator, Mary's engagements include TEDx Grammercy Park, Deloitte, KPMG, AIG, UBS, NASDAQ, State Department, Leidos, Heidrick and Struggles, NIH, and Gallo Winery.


Mary’s previous corporate career features 30 years as an executive, building publishing businesses at Time Warner—culminating as Chief Operating Officer at Time Life Inc. During this time, Mary earned progressive leadership roles across operations of many Time Inc. titles including People, Life, Sports Illustrated, Money, and National Geographic magazines. Her responsibilities spanned all operations, national and global, from business affairs to editorial, IT, manufacturing, licensing, marketing, human resources, and customer service.


A longtime believer in service, Mary’s board experience spans financial services and cultural institutions. Service includes:


  • Capital Group’s American Funds, Independent Trustee for 2 funds (Club Level), 16 years
  • George Mason University’s Costello College of Business (#1 Public University for Entrepreneurship Research in 2023), 23 years
  • Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Member Board of Directors, 8 years
  • George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Board Chair and Strategic Advisor during its major institutional expansion, 7 years
  • Salem College (alma mater), Board Chair and Trustee, 20 years
  • Alexandria, VA Chamber of Commerce, Director
  • Folger Shakespeare Library, Meridian International Center, and The International Women’s Forum of Washington DC (1992–present).

Mary co-authored BREAK YOUR OWN RULES—a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Washington Post bestseller (2011). Also, THE INFLUENCE EFFECT, an Axiom Business Book Award winner (2017). She has authored or co-authored 7 Harvard Business Review articles.


Mary’s MBA is from New York University’s Graduate Business School.


Mary's work is "valuable. Fun. Engaging." —Managing Director, AAPA


Are you ready to get excited about what’s possible again—for you and your team?

“My passion is working with women—up and down the ladder—to move them forward, faster…because I want you to achieve your greatest potential.” –Mary 


Executive coach and speaker Mary Davis Holt helps women achieve the career of their dreams. Her qualifications begin with her 30-year career in publishing at Time Warner where she became COO of Time Life Inc. Her oversight included finance, IT, marketing, HR, manufacturing, and distribution for magazines like Time, Fortune, People, and Sports Illustrated. She also served as President of Time Life Books and Time Life Kids. 


Mary then spent 12 years as executive coach and program facilitator at Flynn Heath Holt Leadership. A boutique firm dedicated to advancing women in business. Clients included dozens of Fortune 500 companies, professional service firms, and government and not-for-profit organizations. Mary’s highlights include working with women leaders in The Netherlands, Tanzania, and India.



Mary is the co-author of two critically-acclaimed books: 



  • Break Your Own Rules: How to Change the Patterns of Thinking that Block Women's Paths to Power—a bestseller per The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Washington Post
  • The Influence Effect: A New Path to Power for Women Leaders 


She and her co-authors wrote several popular Harvard Business Review articles such as “Women, Find Your Voice: Your Performance In Meetings Matters More Than You Think,” "The Upside and Downside of Collaborative Leadership," and "Why Aren't You Noticed for Your Accomplishments?" All three are featured in the book, HBR Guide for Women at Work. 


Mary is an in-demand speaker virtually and in-person, for keynotes and workshops. Her TEDx talk “Break Your Own Rules,” has garnered more than 40,000 views.


“Mary’s was one of the most highly rated sessions from our three-day leadership event. Every participant walked away with new insights into their personal leadership style—and learned new strategies and tactics to take back to their workplace.” –Jennifer Broderick, Managing Director, AAPA Center for Healthcare Leadership & Management 


Mary earned her BA from Salem College and her MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. She serves on several corporate and non-profit boards. 


“I unequivocally attest that Mary has enabled a more robust, forward leaning and confident pipeline of leaders throughout Booz Allen Hamilton.” –Laura Adams, CAO 




If you are ready to re-ignite your career, you need the Real Deal. Contact Mary today.