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theresa mayer
People, Strategy & Execution
Business Generalist | Executive MBA
Currently open to explore new opportunities
About Me
I believe leadership starts with courage. The courage to be critical with myself, to be transparent, to make tough decisions, and to create space for others to grow. Over the years, I’ve learned that attitude matters just as much: staying grounded in my values, even when the pressure is high. Especially in fast-moving environments, I’ve found that holding onto integrity, openness, and a willingness to challenge the status quo not only builds trust, but helps people do their best work. I aim to lead by example and create environments where people feel safe to speak up and step outside their comfort zones with confidence.
At the heart of my leadership approach are trust, transparency, ownership, and growth. I build genuine relationships based on reliability and integrity, fostering a culture where open communication and knowledge-sharing help teams see the bigger picture, connect the dots, and make smart decisions. I encourage individuals to take ownership and act autonomously, as it enables them to experience self-efficacy and strengthen the belief in their abilities.
With experience leading and developing teams, shaping strategic direction, and driving execution in startups and scale-ups, I bring a broad business generalist perspective. This enables me to bridge people, strategy, and execution: aligning talent and processes to help organizations scale sustainably and adapt confidently to change.
Building My Expertise on Three Pillars
Building on this foundation, my expertise centers around three key pillars: People, Strategy, and Execution. By aligning talent with strategic objectives and refining operational workflows, I support organizations in growing sustainably, leading through uncertainty, and delivering positive results in fast-moving environments.
01
People
People are the core of every organization, and investing in their growth and well-being is essential to lasting success. I strongly believe that leadership requires the ability to lead oneself, which is why I regularly invest time in personal development and coaching. I have a deep understanding of human behavior, emotional dynamics, and the patterns and triggers that influence how people collaborate. I consider this crucial for guiding and developing teams effectively. My leadership style is systemic and value-oriented. I balance empathy with decisiveness, striving to remain approachable and authentic while setting and driving clear goals. I see people not in isolation, but embedded within the broader system of structures, culture, and power dynamics. Because of this, I focus on influencing both individuals and their environment to create sustainable change. With experience leading teams directly and guiding cross-functional groups across organizations, I lead with emotional intelligence and foster genuine relationships. My commitment is working to create environments where people feel valued and encouraged to continuously grow, professionally and personally, because when people are empowered to contribute their best, organizations thrive.
02
Strategy
Strategy is one of the most underestimated levers of success, especially in fast-moving environments. It’s easy to focus on execution and short-term wins, but without clear direction, teams risk pulling in different directions, investing energy without alignment, and missing the opportunity to build lasting impact. Strategy became a central part of my work during my time as Chief of Staff, where I led the company-wide strategy process. I’ve come to see it as a powerful tool, not just for setting a destination, but for creating clarity and focus. A clear strategy enables teams to make smart, independent decisions and stay agile without losing sight of what matters most. I believe strategy is a continuous process of prioritizing, adapting, and making trade-off decisions. It’s just as much about choosing what not to do. I use OKRs as a practical tool to translate strategy into action, keeping progress transparent, aligning teams around shared goals, and helping everyone stay connected to the bigger picture. Because strategy and culture are deeply intertwined, I pay close attention to how values and goals reinforce each other. When the two are aligned, execution becomes more intentional and far more effective.
03
Execution
Clear priorities from strategy and OKRs are just the start. Delivering real results depends on focused, disciplined execution, and that’s where I thrive. I take ownership in translating strategic goals into actionable plans and driving them forward with dedication. With hands-on experience in streamlining workflows, optimizing business operations, and building the communication structures teams need to collaborate effectively, I ensure that work moves forward efficiently and with impact. My systemic leadership approach means I look beyond individual tasks to design the structures, processes, and cultural habits that make execution work. I’m passionate about operational excellence and organizational development, and I constantly refine tools and ways of working to reduce friction and support fast decision-making. I execute across core business areas, whether driving commercial performance, improving customer experience, reaching product-market fit or increasing employee engagement, while staying focused on outcomes that create meaningful value for the business. By blending operational discipline with the flexibility startups need, I help organizations not only deliver on today’s priorities, but also build the foundation for scalable, sustainable growth.