Mary Lou Décosterd is founder and Managing Executive of The Lead Life Institute, a learning consultancy offering programs and services to help executives, teams and organizations become their best. Dr Décosterd is author of an upcoming book entitled, Right Brain/Left Brain Leadership: Shifting Style for Maximum Impact and author of a children’s book series entitled, The Adventures of Magical Max. Dr. Décosterd has 25 years of experience in organizational development, applied psychology, and university teaching. 

Dr. Décosterd is adept at assessing individual and organizational needs and obtaining results.  She works as an executive coach to leaders and leadership teams and as a facilitator, speaker, designer and trainer for both profit and non-profit organizations. Areas of expertise include leadership and interpersonal development, implementation and execution, cultural and team alignment, strategic change leadership, mediation, attitude and motivation, wellness and work/life balance. Her work focuses around four critical success drivers: business acumen, influencing, executing and self-satisfaction. 

Prior to founding The Lead Life Institute Dr. Décosterd was a partner at Executive Partners, a Chicago-headquartered international consulting firm and before working for Executive Partners, she had her own consulting practice, was a tenured university professor and held high-level leadership positions in the non-profit sector. 

            Dr. Décosterd has lived and worked in the U.S. and abroad. She is a graduate of The University of Hartford, The University of Oklahoma, and The Fielding Institute. She holds a B.A. in Psychology, Master’s degrees in Educational Psychology, Organizational Development and Clinical Psychology, post-master’s certification in community psychology, and a Ph.D. in Human Development.  She has been recognized by “Who’s Who in Teaching” and “Outstanding Women of America”.