May Samali - Human Leadership Lab

Human Leadership Lab is an Australian-based global leadership development company founded in 2020 by May Samali. Initially established as a boutique executive coaching service in San Francisco, the organisation has expanded its reach to partner with innovative organisations worldwide. The firm is dedicated to unlocking leadership potential in individuals, teams, and organisations through bespoke programs and learning experiences. They offer comprehensive services encompassing coaching, training, facilitation, and speaking engagements, all tailored to specific client needs across various sectors.

May Samali, the Founder and CEO, is central to the Human Leadership Lab's ethos and success. Her extensive professional background includes serving as CEO of Ventures at the High Resolves Group, where she led global cross-functional teams and technology ventures in the education sector. She was also the inaugural employee and investor at Urban Innovation Fund, a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm. This diverse experience, combined with her early roles as a people manager and startup investor, ignited her passion for developing leadership mindsets and skills.

The Human Leadership Lab distinguishes itself through its commitment to a unique approach it terms "human leadership". This philosophy places people at its core, emphasising human skills such as adaptability, bravery, and compassion, which are vital for success in today's dynamic global landscape. The organisation's methodology draws upon a rich tapestry of established frameworks from institutions like the Co-Active Training Institute, Conscious Leadership Group, Leadership Circle, and Positive Intelligence. Rather than offering generic advice, Human Leadership Lab focuses on bespoke solutions that align with each client's distinct goals and contexts, promoting transformative growth through partnerships that typically span a minimum of six months.

Samali's academic and professional credentials underscore her expertise; she is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) and holds a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential from the International Coaching Federation. She is also a Fellow at the Institute of Coaching at Harvard Medical School and an Adjunct Senior Industry Fellow at RMIT University's Centre for Future Skills and Workforce Transformation. May earned a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University as a Gleitsman Leadership Fellow and Australian John Monash Scholar, complementing her first-class degrees in Law and Economics from the University of Sydney. Her insights and work have been featured in reputable publications, including Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, The Australian, and Stanford Social Innovation Review.

The organisation's mission is to cultivate human leadership, building a thriving world of work that is adaptable, brave, and compassionate. Human Leadership Lab's research-based and experiential approach aims to build trust, innovation, and mental fitness within organisations, teams, and individuals, fostering clarity of purpose, peak performance, and a thriving work culture. May Samali actively embodies the principles she advocates, ensuring the Lab's work combines scientific insights, coaching expertise, and strategic thinking to help leaders evolve effectively.