Marie Gleeson is a former Naval Officer and Ship Captain with over 25 years of
leadership experience in high-pressure operational environments.
Today, she works with organisations, senior leaders, and teams across Europe
through keynote speaking, executive coaching, and leadership
advisory.
Marie Gleeson is a truly inspirational figure working in leadership. Best known for her keynote speaking, Marie has the remarkable ability to bring audiences with her on the journey, as she blends her extensive military and life experience with insightful perspectives on resilience and decision-making.
With over two decades of service in the Irish Navy, Marie’s journey from a young cadet in 1998 to the Commanding Officer of LE AOIFE, a prestigious position within the naval hierarchy, is a testament to her unwavering commitment to personal and professional development and leadership capabilities.
Marie grew up on a family farm based in rural Tipperary and although a landlocked county, she found her way to sea and home again with many challenges and triumphs along the way.
Marie joined the Navy in 1998 as one of the first female commissioned officers and served for more than two decades in operational leadership roles. During her career, she led teams in environments where trust, communication, clarity, and accountability were essential.
Those experiences continue to shape her work today.
Rather than relying on leadership theory alone, Marie brings a practical understanding of how people and teams operate under pressure — individually and collectively.
Much of Marie’s work focuses on helping leaders better understand how they think, communicate, influence, and impact others.
Strong leadership is not about appearing perfect or always having certainty.
It is about awareness, trust, responsibility, and the ability to operate effectively through challenge and complexity.
Today, Marie works across three core areas:
Her work spans corporate organisations, leadership teams, conferences, executive groups, and public sector organisations across Ireland and the UK.
Marie’s work is shaped not only by operational leadership experience, but by an understanding that people are rarely operating in ideal conditions.
Pressure, uncertainty, responsibility, identity, family, expectations, and self-doubt all influence how leaders show up.
Her approach creates space for honest reflection, practical clarity, and meaningful change — without jargon or generic frameworks.
Marie’s book explores leadership, identity, resilience, and experience through a deeply personal lens.
Part memoir and part reflection on leadership, the book offers an honest perspective on navigating pressure, responsibility, and change.
If you’re exploring leadership development, speaking, or advisory support, I'd be delighted to hear from you.
