Michaela Simpson
Location: San Francisco, CA, United States
Biography
Dr. Michaela Simpson is a behavioral scientist, speaker, and leadership coach whose work sits at a rare intersection: clinical neuroscience, psychology, organizational performance, and the creative arts. With a PhD in Psychology from UC Berkeley, peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals, and over a decade translating brain science into business strategy, she brings a depth of scientific rigor to her work.
Dr. Simpson has partnered with Fortune 500 companies on challenges that go beyond conventional consulting, from redesigning how global teams collaborate to building performance systems that account for how diverse brains operate. As a thought leader on the neuroscience of workplace experience and neurodiversity, she advises senior executives on building cultures where different minds become a competitive advantage.
Her approach is rooted in the full spectrum of human experience. Drawing on her training as a researcher and psychotherapist, she addresses the whole person: cognitive, emotional, physiological, and relational. She is equally at home in a research lab, a Fortune 500 boardroom, or a conversation about the intersection of creativity and cognition, having worked in the music industry and maintained a lifelong practice as a pianist and dancer. That creative fluency allows her to connect with leaders in ways purely analytical approaches miss.
In her coaching practice, Dr. Simpson works with high-achieving leaders ready to understand the patterns driving their decisions and stress responses at a neurobiological level, and to use that understanding as a strategic advantage. Her style is direct, warm, and grounded in science.
Fluent in English and German, Dr. Simpson splits her time between Europe and the US. Her multicultural perspective is not theoretical; it is lived, and it shapes how she navigates the complexities of cross-cultural leadership and global team dynamics.
Niche Areas of Expertise
- C-Suite
- Change Management
- Digital Leadership
- Diversity & Inclusion
- Emotional Intelligence
- HR Advisory
- Intercultural Communications
- Internal Coaching Strategy
Industry Experience
- Government
- Education
- Professional Services
- Pharmaceuticals
- Chemicals
- Nonprofit
- Health Care Providers & Services
Languages
- English
- German
Education
- Stanford University - BA, International Relations
- Santa Barbara Graduate Institute - MA, Somatic Psychology
- University of California, Berkeley - PhD, Psychology
Certifications
- Georgetown University Center for Continuing and Professional Education
- Hogan
Are You Ready To Shape A Better Future Together?
Partner with AIIR to empower your leaders and ascend into the future.