Mary McGovern Gebhardt has worked for Stanford University, Dominican College, Foothill College, and the University of San Francisco — serving as a professor and faculty member for both undergraduate and graduate programs.

Mary pioneered and served as director of a groundbreaking international MBA program at the University of San Francisco’s School of Business, recognized as USF’s first executive management degree program with on-site application. Mary’s innovative curriculum, popular classes, and revolutionary strategy implementation — applied directly in their workplaces — allowed employed CEOs and managers to grow both personal skills and organizational goals. She worked with countless business leaders to implement customized cultural change in their own settings.

She then established her own private management consulting firm, Collaboration & Innovation Management Consulting, which allowed her to expand her work, and lead decades of growth and team-building sessions around the world. She served as a longtime consultant to the Governor’s Committees for Employment, the Community College Systems, the World Institute on Disability, and wrote the Strategic Plan for the County of Marin.

Mary has designed custom interventions for Hilton Hotels, Bank of America, the Canadian Government, Sonoma Raceway, The Cheesecake Factory, and the University of Hawaii. Mary’s ongoing work in small and large businesses includes: medical, construction, home services, food industry, agriculture, manufacturing, real estate, wellness, music, hospitality, transportation, education, and many more. She has facilitated extensive strategic planning for both nonprofit and for-profit businesses.

In addition to both university and private experience, Mary has passionately advocated for nonprofits — donating her time and efforts to organizations that benefit those with disabilities, as well as native peoples. Mary has worked with the Navajo, Hopi, Native Samoans, Native Alaskans, Native Canadians, and Native Hawaiians.

With more than four decades of experience, she leads boards and leadership councils through realignments and success planning. Mary helps both small and large business owners stop spinning their wheels, and start moving with clarity.

Mary navigates big ideas and goals skillfully, and helps business owners transform them into simple, doable steps. Her custom interventions move far beyond the cookie-cutter surveys and handouts of traditional management consulting, inspiring true growth instead of just documentation. From sharpening strategy to streamlining day-to-day operations, her hands-on style helps businesses both big and small tackle challenges and spark new opportunities.

Whether your business is a sole proprietorship, a partnership, a family run business, a community-based enterprise, or a large organization or firm — Mary will make you more successful and profitable (and help you enjoy your work more).

Mary loves her family, her dogs, her home state of California, and a great laugh. After decades of consulting, she’s seen it all — and will help you and your business reach the next level without judgement.