Thom Mayer M.D.
Doctor Thom Mayer has been a leader in times of crisis for over 25 years, navigating some of the most significant challenges imaginable.
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Services
Speaking
Dr. Mayer can be booked through thommayermd@gmail.com
A crisis is a bad place to try to discover your mission, vision, values, and culture-and these days we are all in a constant state of crisis, requiring innovation.
No one knows that better or in a more nuanced way than Dr. Mayer, whose leadership in times of crisis spans over 25 years, both in the NFL and in national disasters.
Others have written books on dealing with crisis, but Dr. Mayer has richly lived a life of leadership in crisis, from the Pentagon on 9/11 through the concussion and COVID crises in the NFL, to the battlefields of Ukraine.
Speaking Topics
Leadership vs. Leading: Words vs. Actions
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“Leadership is worthless… because it is just what you say—and anyone can say anything. But Leading is priceless.
Empowered Self-Leadership: “The leader you are looking for is… you!”
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Leadership is not reserved for a chosen few. It starts with personal accountability and the courage to act with purpose.
The Wisdom Within the Collective:
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“The answers are not above us—in our teams or families—they are within and among us.”
The Boss vs. The Leader
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“The Boss is someone who thinks he is the most important person in the room. The Leader is someone who's job is to make everyone else feel like they are the most important person in the room.
Consulting
As Duke’s Coach K said about Dr. Mayer’s work, “What is clearly ‘priceless’ is Dr. Mayer’s perspective on relationship-based leadership, his passion for doing rather than talking, and embracing the fact that we are all leaders-no matter where we are in our careers or lives.”
Innovation at the Speed of…Trust
Key Takeaways
To lead change requires 3 essential skills:
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Think about leadership, leading, and change in a radically different way
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Act on those insights withing a week-otherwise you won’t act at all
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Innovate yourself and your team, because the way we’re working…isn’t working




Thom Mayer, MD, is the Medical Director for the NFL Players Association, as well as a prominent figure in the fields of emergency medicine, sports medicine, and leading in times of crisis.
He has built a distinguished career focused on athlete and patient health, safety, emergency response, as well as the skills required to lead from the front lines, making significant contributions to clinical practice , medical education, and thought leadership.
Throughout his career, Dr. Mayer has been recognized as a national leader in patient safety, patient experience, emergency department management, and leadership across all businesses and industries.
Leadership is Worthless...but Leading is Priceless
"The title alone should assure this is anything but another cliché ridden book about leadership. The man nicknamed “the master of disaster” brings his unprecedented experience from the NFL Players Association, to the Pentagon on 9-11 and his deployment to Ukraine to offer thought provoking observations and memorable stories applicable to any industry."

Andrea Kremer
Pro Football Hall of Fame Journalist
“Dr. Thom Mayer’s new book is not an easy read. You cannot ‘flip through it.’ It challenges us to rethink the way we approach the next five minutes, the next two minutes. Please don’t ‘read’ this book. Dive in deep, reflect, and I, yes, guarantee it will change your life and the lives of those you work and play with.
It is that good, that profound, that powerful.”

Tom Peters
New York Times Best-Selling Author
“Dr. Thom Mayer’s book on leadership is enhanced by a rich series of personal examples drawn from his own life and extraordinary experiences. Perhaps the greatest lesson he has to offer is not to be discouraged by failure, but rather to use it as fuel – to take risks and get yourself back in the game. Leaders of all stripes can learn much from reading this book.”

U.S Senator Mark R. Warner
D-VA