Maureen Chiana is the CEO and founder of The Mindsight Academy, where she helps leaders and organizations harness the power of neuroscience to achieve peak performance, navigate challenges, and lead with confidence. From starting her career in medical research to building her own business, Maureen has always been driven by curiosity, resilience, and a passion for empowering others.
Her entrepreneurial journey began when she recognized a gap in the market and decided to step forward with solutions. Today, she works globally, helping individuals and organizations understand how the brain impacts behavior, leadership, and decision-making. Humans of Fuzia is proud to feature Maureen because her story is one of courage, continuous learning, and commitment to creating impact through leadership.
Q: Maureen, what first inspired you to begin your entrepreneurial journey?
Maureen: It started when I was no longer satisfied with my job in medical research. I first became a consultant and realized how much I enjoyed working for myself and managing my own time. A few years later, I spotted a need in the market—a niche that wasn’t being addressed—and I created a business in the UK to provide the solution. That was the real beginning of my entrepreneurial journey.
Q: Thinking back to those early days, what challenges did you face?
Maureen: My biggest challenge was the fact that I had never run a business before. I had to learn everything from scratch—managing premises, navigating business processes, and especially managing people. I didn’t realize how complex people management could be until I was in it. That was definitely the steepest learning curve for me.
Q: Do you work solo today, or do you have a team?
Maureen: When I started out, I had a team of employees. Now, I work with a remote team of freelancers who support me in different areas. It’s a more flexible structure that allows me to focus on what I do best while still having the right people around me.
Q: What are your thoughts on women in leadership today?
Maureen: Women have always been leaders, though not always recognized as such. The encouraging thing now is that more women are stepping into senior leadership roles, and the percentage is rising. There’s still a long way to go, but I believe it will keep improving because there are more opportunities, more women’s networks, and more organizations supporting women to rise.
That said, unconscious bias is still very present, especially in recruitment. Women need to be reminded—and reassured—that they can and should go for senior leadership positions. When women lead, they bring empathy and unique perspectives that often drive greater results. Leadership is richer and more effective when women are part of it.
“Women need to be reassured and reminded that they can—and that they should—step into senior leadership positions. The benefits of women in leadership are clear: empathy, balance, and better results.” – Maureen Chiana
Connect with Maureen Chiana: http://themindsightacademy.com/
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