About Mari Williams
Welcome!
‘My work sits at the intersection of leadership, psychology, strategy and happiness - because ultimately we all want to be happy.’
The official line
I’m Mari Williams, a coach, therapist, mediator and trauma specialist who works with senior leaders, teams, individuals with public roles and elite sports performers worldwide. Many of them lead or sit within multi-million and billion-pound organisations across the public sector and global enterprises. I’ve worked with people my entire life, and with leaders for over two decades. I have led workshops, been a speaker, and mentored entrepreneur founders within two accelerator programmes at Cambridge University Judge Business School for over half a decade.
I’ve also worked with global organisations across a wide range of industries including biotech, tech, health, academia, law, energy, sport, private finance and banking, and the creative industries. I’ve appeared on Community, Heart and BBC radio, and delivered the commencement speech for business graduates at Anglia Ruskin University. I’ve been interviewed on guest podcasts, and have even been referenced in a PhD! I have written two books - It Begins with YOU and Alone and Rising, and I host two podcasts Alone and Rising and The Alternative Leader Podcast.
I live in Cambridge, UK, but travel internationally for work, culture and curiosity.
The unofficial line
I believe that where we have influence over it, life should feel warm, happy, playful, and be filled with deep connection and contentedness… and I don’t believe that this excludes being dynamic, intentional, ambitious, strategic or successful. Our lives are dictated by every choice and decision we make. My aim has always been to clear whatever prevents those decisions from being the right ones - accepting that a few well-intentioned mistakes are part of the process.
The butterfly effect becomes very real when you study human life.
After a very challenging childhood, I had my first child at 17. Since then I’ve spent my entire adult life studying, reflecting and learning from my mistakes, to be a better version of myself for my own happiness, and so I can be a better parent to my now, five adult children (and now grandchildren - that makes me feel so old!)
My life has not been the easiest, some I talk publicly about, and some I don’t, but it does mean that I bring a wide-ranging lived experience, (with a dash of neurodiversity) which adds another dimension. Clients have described me as ‘real and down to earth’. While I wish my ‘realness’ hadn’t been so hard, I’m glad I can at least use my experiences, where relevant, to sit with my clients when they are in a dark hole and not flinch. Helping guide them back to a successful and happy life. I will likely bring humour with me.
I am now at a place where I am genuinely happy and content - whilst still strategically planning the next phases of my business and my life (lots more travelling!) It’s this lived perspective that forms how I work with clients today. I know change is possible because I live it.
My experience, thinking and values →
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PCC Accredited Coach
Coaching - Coaching Development
Mediation - CMP Professional Workplace Mediator
Therapy - Quest Institute (Dip and Master Prac)
RTR, EMDR and AMDR - Various
Post Grad in Education Studies - Child and Adolescent Counselling - University of Cambridge
GTTP - Graduate Teacher Training - English Secondary - University of Cambridge
BA Hons English Literature - Anglia Ruskin University
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Alongside my formal qualifications, I continue to study and explore areas of human psychology and behaviour.
Moral injury - the psychological distress that can arise when decisions or actions conflict with our moral values, particularly when those decisions affect others
Social contagion - how behaviour and emotions spread through organisations and groups
Neurodiversity
Identity and role fusion - when leaders become psychologically fused with their role
Neurodiversity
The neuroscience and biology that underpin human behaviour
How people function within systems, influence one another, and the role meaning and purpose play in how we live and lead successfully.
Somatic approaches to trauma and emotional regulation
Language, meaning, and how the words we choose influence how we think, communicate and relate to one another.
Epigenetics
How faith shows up in leadership
Generational trauma
The role sleep, movement and nutrition play in focus and performance
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Love, kindness and connection with family, friends, and in the small human moments we share with strangers.
The belief we all have the capacity for change, at any age, when we have the right support around us.
The power of humour to bring people together and lift us in both dark and light moments.
That we must take responsibility for our own growth and choices.
The belief that business can be a force for good when led and acted on responsibly.
The belief that humanity has the capacity to change the world for the better.
A commitment to honest conversations, even when they are difficult.
Sorry, is a very powerful word.
“Tomorrow is a new day, fresh with no mistakes in it.”
Taken from the book - Anne of Green Gables
by Lucy Maud Montgomery
(My favourite book in the world)
Born in Cambridge, UK. My first life problem to solve!
Everyone else had a perm, what they didn’t have, was hair as thick as mine.
I was 26 when I graduated. I’d studied full time, with 3 children under the age of 6 - as a single parent. I’m proud of 23 year old me.
On the panel to discuss entrepreneur mindset at the Enterprise Tuesday talks, at the Cambridge University Judge Business School. Is it just me who hates perching on those stools?
One of my favourite buildings in Cambridge, The Judge Business School- beautiful architecture. It always reminds me of the staircases in Harry Potter!
The person behind the work
My happy space. I talk about this tree in my AL Podcast pilot.
My first of five children (all now adults). I’m just 17 here. I nearly died so I’ve had an appreciation for life ever since.
After a show in Brighton, I saw Billy on the street. We had a chat about where my name came from and how much he liked it. I was starstruck as I’ve loved his comedy for years.
Many of my clients are neurodiverse which means you have to think outside the box to work with them. This client used cards to help him verbalise his issues.
Recording the audio for my book, It Begins with YOU. Tip - always check your writing for when you have to read it out!
I speak with my hands! Giving my talk about how lack of self-worth shows up in leadership and why you must resolve it.
My mother was told to bring me back to school in a year as I couldn’t sit still. First sign of ADHD?
Christmas dinner with friends, at Magdalene College Cambridge. Balancing being a mum with being in my 20’s.
During training you fill your mask with water so you know what to do if that happens underwater. I burst into tears and refused to open my eyes. I did go on to dive in Australia and the Maldives.
My ingenious solution to sore eyes, from so much computer time during covid-19. I didn’t wear them for client calls!
Client humour. I received this text from a client who had been exploring and clearing his poor relationship pattens in his session. Humour is so useful when you are going through this work, I encourage it.
Tired but very happy in Berlin. At the age of 51 I finally got to go back packing around Europe. Not quite a gap year, but a whistle stop tour of 6 capital cities, in 17 days. My 18 year old son came with me.
Moments after this was taken the donkey took off at speed. I have never been on back on a horse or donkey since!
I am ‘that’ person that loves fancy dress. I have a party every year for my birthday. Last year I was Nessa from TV show, Gavin and Stacey.
My first ever talk - How your brain holds you back from moving forwards. I hired and room, invited everyone I knew, and 80 people turned up! The talk was loved so much, it’s still a talk I give today.
Even though I was in my pyjamas, my youngest daughter insisted I take a photo with the first ever copy of my book. Illustrations drawn by my eldest daughter.
My mother died in 2019 having never realised her dream of going in a bi-plane. (She had grown up with them in the war). I wasn’t allowed to take her ashes so I put on all her jewellery and went up. I have huge respect for the airman who flew in these while they bounced about.
“I believe that every person, regardless of nationality, gender or background, deserves respect, dignity and kindness, and the opportunity to grow beyond their circumstances.”
- Mari Williams
