Mary Davis Holt

Mary Davis Holt is an executive coach and keynote speaker on business, women, and leadership. She holds a position as a partner at Flynn Heath Holt Leadership, a consultancy and talent development firm focused on advancing women’s careers to top levels. Holt is based in North Carolina, USA, enhancing her influence and accessibility in various corporate and nonprofit boards.

Holt co-authored the New York Times bestseller "Break Your Own Rules: How to Change the Patterns of Thinking that Block Women's Paths to Power," which is informed by over 1,700 interviews with executives from Fortune 1000 companies as well as continuous work with more than 5,000 professional women. Her book introduces new paradigms for success that challenge outdated assumptions like "Focus on Others" with "Take Center Stage" and "Hard Work Will Get You There" with "Be Politically Savvy."

Before her role at Flynn Heath Holt Leadership, Holt held significant executive positions at Time Warner, including Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Time Life, Inc. She had comprehensive oversight of various corporate functions such as finance, information technology, marketing, human resources, manufacturing, and distribution. Notably, she led the worldwide management of manufacturing distribution for all Time Inc.'s magazines, including "Time," "Fortune," "People," and "Sports Illustrated." Additionally, she served as president of Time Life Books and Time Life Kids, further cementing her leadership in publishing. Her extensive experience and dynamic approach to leadership development have made her a sought-after speaker and coach. She has also delivered impactful leadership training programs in Tanzania, significantly contributing to the creation of a nationwide network of women leaders.

Holt's expertise and engaging speaking style are highly regarded, as evidenced by her engaging 2012 TEDx Gramercy talk, "Break Your Own Rules," which has attracted considerable attention online. Her speaking topics encompass leadership, women in business, organizational development, management, peak performance, and change, making her a pivotal figure for events and workshops aiming to inspire and transform business professionals.