Humble Beginnings
Raised in a rural town in North Carolina, Dr. Mary M. Gillam is a former member of the Senior Executive Service (SES) Corps with the Department of Defense at the Pentagon, and a retired Air Force Colonel. She is the epitome of what faith, hard work, and determination can do.
Although she grew up with her blind grandmother, picking cotton, and held her first full-time job at 11-years of age (working as a cook in a highway café), she never forgot from where she came.
Ordained Minister / Servant Leader
After 30 years in senior executive leadership, management, and technology positions, this former Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Director of Technology, Innovation, and Engineering at the Pentagon decided to follow her passion and dream of helping to build champions and change lives.
By using the "God First Principle," and her faith, this Georgetown University Business School grad, was able to start two businesses, become an Amazon #1 best-selling author, invent a corporate board game for training leaders, write 13 books, and currently hosts and produces her own local TV show called "Leadership Table Talk." Dr. Gillam is also the creator of the C.O.R.E Leadership Development Model, and a proud graduate of the Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE) Program.
Award Winning Champion Builder
A seasoned leader with global experience leading several award-winning organizations, Dr. Gillam has been quoted for years in numerous print magazines, radio, and television. She was a featured segment on ABC 7, Good Morning Washington. Her books have been featured on major news online outlets such as FOX, ABC, and NBC. A John Maxwell certified Speaker, Coach, and Trainer, Dr. Gillam is a dynamic key-note speaker.
Having lived and worked in various countries, and served on numerous Boards, Dr. Gillam has been awarded multiple civilian and military leadership and humanitarian awards. Dr. Gillam was selected as a 2020 TELLY Award winner in three categories.
With a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry from North Carolina A&T State University, Dr. Gillam continued to pursue her education by earning four Masters Degrees, and a Doctorate in Management Information Systems Technology and a Doctorate in Ministry.
Proud to be a Veteran
After graduating from the V-WISE program, I was selected as one of six nation-wide finalists to compete in the Entrepreneur Innovation Award Competition sponsored by SBA and Syracuse University. In 2018, I was one of six ladies selected to give a TED TALK like speech at the Officers Women Leadership Symposium (OWLS).