Mike Mears is a former Senior Fellow, Human Capital with The Conference Board. He retired as Chief of Human Capital of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), where he founded and headed the CIA Leadership Academy. He is a trainer and leadership consultant to government and private sector organizations. Mike bases his leadership techniques on the latest research in psychology and neuroscience. His work focuses on new approaches ranging from more effective feedback methods to easier ways to change organizational culture. 

Before his role at the CIA, Mike was a Senior Vice President at GE Investments where he managed private equity funds and served as a turnaround specialist and a Six Sigma Black Belt. Prior to GE, he led several successful start-ups. 

Mike’s military service included commanding a nuclear missile site and serving as a general’s aide in Vietnam, where he was decorated for valor. He earned his undergraduate degree at the US Military Academy at West Point and his MBA from Harvard Business School.

Mike teaches or lectures on leadership at the Department of Defense, in the intelligence community, Georgetown University, the University of Salzburg, the University of Maryland, and the National Intelligence University. He is writing a book titled, Changing Minds: Brain-friendly Ways Great Bosses Energize Employees and Change Culture.