Mary Burgess
Mary Burgess founded The Compassionate Disruptors to help leaders show up with more clarity, steadiness, and humanity. They bring more than 25 years of experience in leadership, organizational development, and higher education.
Mary’s work focuses on practical, human-centered approaches that help leaders understand how values, emotions, and behaviour shape culture. Their work is grounded in strong theoretical foundations and real-world leadership experience, and they make both accessible through steady, practical approaches that people can use in daily situations.
Mary teaches in two graduate programs at Royal Roads University, where they help students learn how to facilitate learning in digital spaces and how to create healthy, vibrant organizations.
As an autistic, non-binary person, Mary brings a lived understanding of navigating systems that don’t always fit. This shapes their commitment to practical, human-centered leadership.
Before founding The Compassionate Disruptors, Mary served in senior leadership roles across the BC post-secondary system, supporting teams through change and helping organizations strengthen culture, strategy, and results.
Mary helps leaders notice what matters, understand their impact, and act with steadiness and intention.