Bio
Bio
Maya Paley (she/her) is a leadership and team coach, facilitator, and strategist with over 20 years of experience working alongside mission-driven leaders and organizations. Through Maya Paley Consulting & Coaching, she partners with individuals and small teams to support courageous leadership, build trust and alignment, and foster transformative workplace cultures.
Maya Paley (she/her) is a leadership and team coach, facilitator, and strategist with over 20 years of experience working alongside mission-driven leaders and organizations. Through Maya Paley Consulting & Coaching, she partners with individuals and small teams to support courageous leadership, build trust and alignment, and foster transformative workplace cultures.
Maya works with social impact professionals and values-aligned organizations to:
-Navigate transitions and inflection points
-Build stronger, more collaborative teams
-Clarify values, purpose, and vision
-Strengthen leadership presence and relational capacity
-Develop organizational culture rooted in belonging and shared power
As a facilitator, Maya creates inclusive, reflective spaces for team retreats, leadership development, and strategic conversations. She is particularly passionate about supporting people doing deep systems change work to lead in a way that feels sustainable, aligned, and connected.
Maya’s work is shaped by her own lived experience as a mixed-race woman who grew up witnessing inequities within and across her own family. From a young age, these experiences inspired her commitment to intersectional feminism, racial justice, and the dismantling of systems of oppression. That early awareness now fuels her work helping others lead with clarity, purpose, and compassion.
In addition to her solo practice, Maya is the Co-Owner and Managing Consultant at Cities & People Advisors, where she leads strategy, evaluation, and facilitation work for philanthropic, nonprofit, and government organizations. For large-scale projects beyond coaching or facilitation, visit citiesandpeople.com.
Maya holds a BA in Political Science from UC Berkeley and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University, with a focus on gender, migration, and development. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters California as Co-Chair of the Development Committee, and is a member of both the American Evaluation Association and the International Coaching Federation.
When she’s not coaching or consulting, Maya can be found drinking tea, eating dark chocolate, and spending time with her kids, family, and community.
Maya Paley (she/her) is a leadership and team coach, facilitator, and strategist with over 20 years of experience working alongside mission-driven leaders and organizations. Through Maya Paley Consulting & Coaching, she partners with individuals and small teams to support courageous leadership, build trust and alignment, and foster transformative workplace cultures.
Maya works with social impact professionals and values-aligned organizations to:
-Navigate transitions and inflection points
-Build stronger, more collaborative teams
-Clarify values, purpose, and vision
-Strengthen leadership presence and relational capacity
-Develop organizational culture rooted in belonging and shared power
As a facilitator, Maya creates inclusive, reflective spaces for team retreats, leadership development, and strategic conversations. She is particularly passionate about supporting people doing deep systems change work to lead in a way that feels sustainable, aligned, and connected.
Maya’s work is shaped by her own lived experience as a mixed-race woman who grew up witnessing inequities within and across her own family. From a young age, these experiences inspired her commitment to intersectional feminism, racial justice, and the dismantling of systems of oppression. That early awareness now fuels her work helping others lead with clarity, purpose, and compassion.
In addition to her solo practice, Maya is the Co-Owner and Managing Consultant at Cities & People Advisors, where she leads strategy, evaluation, and facilitation work for philanthropic, nonprofit, and government organizations. For large-scale projects beyond coaching or facilitation, visit citiesandpeople.com.
Maya holds a BA in Political Science from UC Berkeley and a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University, with a focus on gender, migration, and development. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters California as Co-Chair of the Development Committee, and is a member of both the American Evaluation Association and the International Coaching Federation.
When she’s not coaching or consulting, Maya can be found drinking tea, eating dark chocolate, and spending time with her kids, family, and community.
Consulting Services
Consulting Services
Whether you're looking for support with strategic visioning or planning, turning a program idea into a reality, creating successful advocacy campaigns, or improving workplace culture through an equity lens, Maya is ready to listen, show up, and help you make your magic happen. Let's work together so you can be as effective as possible in making our world more just, equitable, inclusive, safe, and meaningful. Reach out to discuss any of the following services:
Services:
Retreat Facilitation
Team Building
1-1 Leadership and Executive Coaching
Team Coaching
Coaching
Coaching
Whether you're building a stronger, more connected team, designing a retreat that fosters reflection and alignment, or seeking personalized leadership coaching, Maya offers grounded, relational support to help you move forward with clarity and purpose. Her coaching and facilitation are equity-centered, collaborative, and rooted in deep listening. Let’s work together to grow your leadership, strengthen your team, and co-create a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world.Schedule a Session
Upcoming Trainings
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Upcoming Trainings
Testimonials
Testimonials
What folks I've worked with have to say:
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