Listening, leading and giving back: Mary Lou Maher shares advice and lessons learned

Mary Lou Maher (BCom ’83) has built a distinguished career spanning Canadian business, governance and community leadership. As one of the first women to serve on KPMG’s executive committee, she helped pave the way for greater representation in senior leadership. She has also been a vocal advocate for inclusive workplaces and a generous mentor to emerging leaders across industries. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for advancing equity in the workplace, mentoring future leaders and leading with purpose. This spring, she returns to McMaster to be honoured for both her professional accomplishments and her lasting impact on others.

Maher shared reflections on leadership, career growth and the values that have guided her throughout her career.

What advice do you have for students that are graduating and just beginning their careers?

My first piece of advice is to be patient and be a sponge. Learn with every opportunity you have, whether it’s volunteer work, your job or your friend group. Whatever it is, learn as much as you can. Reading and staying current is critical for those entering the workforce.

And my second piece of advice is be kind. I worry that kindness has taken a bit of a backseat these days with what we see on social media, what we hear and the stuff that gets headlines. We could all be a bit more kind to each other as human beings.

What opportunities and challenges do you see emerging for young professionals entering the business sector today?

The fast pace of technology change. What you learned in your first and second year has changed now when you graduate because of what’s happening with AI, quantum, etc.

I think that technology will be the hardest and most exciting thing for new graduates to deal with when they get into their careers. And they’re probably going to go into organizations that aren’t as advanced as they may be as individuals.

I think new graduates are going to have a great opportunity to help change the business world out there.

Looking back at your journey from a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1983 to becoming an honorary doctorate recipient in 2026, what pivotal moments shaped your career?

Well, there are two. One was, as a small-town girl, I went to McMaster because it was a smaller university, and my goal was to stay in a smaller town for work. But I had a mentor who encouraged me to go to Toronto because I was going into an accounting auditing role. So I did, and I think it made a big difference in my career, in my ability to develop, find friends and build my network. All that stuff just blossomed from being there.

And the second one would have been when I was appointed to the executive committee at KPMG. That was a pivotal turning point for me from a leadership perspective. I was the first woman on the executive committee, sitting with all these guys who had been in those roles for a long time, and trying to find my voice. I had a fantastic mentor who was on the executive committee at the same time I was, who helped me find my voice around that table. My career in leadership took off on an amazing trajectory from there.

What do you feel has been your secret to success?

Throughout my career I’ve been empathetic and a kind person who is a good listener. I believe those are the traits that helped me get to where I am.