Maia Molina-Schaefer shares a practical approach for starting a new job or stepping into a new leadership role without triggering immediate pushback. By focusing on six to eight weeks of flawless execution and small, consistent wins, trust builds before any big proposal lands. The “slow down to speed up” mindset helps change management, relationship building, and stakeholder buy-in happen faster once credibility is established.
Maia Molina-Schaefer has navigated more career pivots than most people attempt in a lifetime. Her journey began in the boxing ring at the U.S. Naval Academy, where she became the first woman to compete in the Brigade Boxing Championship. As a Marine Corps and Army Intelligence Officer and Military Diplomat, she led teams in combat zones across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, managed multi-million-dollar portfolios, and pioneered the first Women, Peace, and Security program with an African military partner. At West Point, she taught French and directed the Corbin Women’s Leadership Forum.
Now, as Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at Amplify Her Foundation, she channels two decades of leadership experience into advancing gender equity. She’s also a keynote speaker and a featured Moth storyteller based in New York City.
