Marie Gleeson

Leadership Consultant & Coach at Navmar Leadership, Former Commanding Officer of the Irish Naval Service & Inspirational Keynote Speaker

  • Former Commanding Officer in the Irish Naval Service
  • Leadership Consultant & Coach at NavMar
  • Captain of LE AOIFE
  • Chief Strategy Officer at Cognate Health
  • Senior Associate Consultant at Ingenium
  • Senior Advisor at BTAS Advisory Services

When Marie Gleeson is booked for events, they are known to discuss the following speaking topics:

Beyond the Horizon – Overcoming Challenges & Surviving the Storm
Navigating Choppy Waters – Building High-Performing Teams in an Ever-Changing World
Commanding with Compassion – How to Lead with Strength & Empathy
Charting Your Course – The Leadership Journey to the Captain’s Chair

Marie Gleeson, a former Commanding Officer in the Irish Naval Service, Leadership Consultant, Coach at NavMar Leadership, and Inspirational Keynote Speaker, has carved an extraordinary career marked by resilience, dedication, and exemplary leadership. Her nearly three decades of military service, culminating in her role as Captain of the LE AOIFE, make her a compelling speaker for audiences seeking insights into decision-making, mental resilience, and fostering team performance under pressure. Marie’s ability to connect with diverse audiences stems from her wealth of experience in high-stakes environments, where her tenacity and leadership truly shone.

Marie’s journey began in 1998 as a cadet in the Irish Naval Service, where she quickly ascended the ranks, holding critical positions such as Navigation Officer of LE AOIFE and Executive Officer of LE NIAMH. Her strategic acumen was further demonstrated through roles like Director of Shore Operations and Director of the Strategic Planning Cell. Over two decades, she confronted immense challenges, from the devastating loss of a colleague at sea to leading complex international drug interdiction operations. Each trial solidified her reputation as a leader who embodies resilience and inspires those around her to persevere, even in the face of adversity.

Following her retirement from active naval service, Marie transitioned into leadership roles across various sectors, including her tenure as Chief Strategy Officer at Cognate Health and Senior Associate Consultant at Ingenium. Currently, as a Senior Advisor at BTAS Advisory Services, she leverages her extensive leadership experience to guide organisations in achieving transformative outcomes. Her coaching work at NavMar Leadership underscores her commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders, drawing on the insights she gained as one of the pioneering female officers in the Irish Navy. Her trailblazing career exemplifies the strength and determination required to succeed in a male-dominated field, making her an inspiring role model.

Marie Gleeson’s compelling story and insightful perspectives make her an ideal choice for events such as corporate gatherings, leadership workshops, and team-building sessions. Her ability to engage audiences with topics like navigating challenges, building high-performing teams, and leading with empathy ensures she leaves a lasting impact. By sharing her experiences, she inspires individuals and organisations to embrace resilience and achieve excellence. She is now available for bookings through the Inspirational Leadership Speakers Agency.

Official Testimonials

Marie Gleeson is regularly booked to engage audiences at events, read their latest feedback below:

“We had the pleasure of having Marie speak to our teams at Trigon Hotels as part of our Data Bites programme. Marie is uplifting, inspiring and motivational. She has a unique and powerful story and she tells that story in a way that captures an audience. Whilst the story is unique, it had the ability to resonate with a broad group of people in different ways. Marie’s experience in leadership and team engagement connected strongly with our own team while also having a very human side that gave a real sense of balance. I would highly recommend Marie as she has such an energetic and positive disposition and really is a pleasure to listen to”

Aaron, Managing Director, Trigon Hotel Group

“Marie delivered a very powerful speech to our Executive Institute members. Our membership community is mainly made up of Senior Executives from Ireland’s leading companies. Their feedback for Marie’s session was excellent giving the content a 9.8 out of 10 feedback score. We look forward to working with Marie in the future and are very confident recommending her as a speaker”

David, Marketing & Communications Director, Executive Institute

“When it came to finding the right person to address Irish primary school leaders on the conference theme ‘Leading with Purpose’, there was unanimous agreement that Marie Gleeson would fit the bill. Marie listened to our brief very carefully and delivered compelling and personal input on resilience, trust, empathy, mental toughness and the need to sustain yourself through your leadership journey. It’s rare that our audience responds with a standing ovation. Her message clearly resonated strongly with the 950+ principals present. Marie deserved every second of the applause and the accolades that followed.”

Páiric, CEO, Irish Primary Principals Network

“Marie was one of the keynote speakers at our Microsoft Ireland International Women’s Day event. To say that she captivated the room would be an understatement! She is a very inspiring speaker with an amazing story to tell. She connected her story to our theme of equality and the feedback from attendees was excellent. I would highly recommend Marie, she was a pleasure to deal with in the planning stages of the event and delivered a fantastic event for us”

Eimear, Senior Manager, Microsoft Business Operations

“Raw, personal and deeply honest, Marie is an exceptional storyteller. She connected with the audience in that rare way of making everyone in the room feel like she was speaking to them directly, taking them on her journey through the highs and lows of leadership, and life. Her story is a rollercoaster of emotions that reflects the true nature of leadership in all its forms, and will leave you feeling moved, inspired and uplifted.”

Jennifer, Chief Executive, Nothern Health & Social Care Trust

To enquire about Marie Gleeson for your event or corporate function, simply contact us via agent@inspirational-leadership-speakers.com or call a booking agent on 0203 0070 320.