Kenneth Maynard & John Maxwell

About Kenneth Maynard, PhD, FAHA

As a John Maxwell Certified Coach, Teacher, Trainer and Speaker, I can offer you workshops, seminars, keynote speaking, and coaching, aiding your personal and professional growth through study and practical application of John’s proven leadership methods. Working together, I will move you and/or your team or organization in the desired direction to reach your goals.

In the 1990s I led a laboratory of medical students and neurosurgeons in research centered on cerebral ischemia and stroke as an Assistant Professor in Surgery (Neurosurgery) at Harvard Medical School and Assistant Neuroscientist in the Neurosurgical Service, at Massachusetts General Hospital. I also held grants from the private sector as well as the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). I have published 50+ primarily original publications in international, peer-reviewed journals, in addition to numerous abstracts.

In 2000, I transitioned to the pharmaceutical industry where I worked at a top 5 French-based, global pharmaceutical company in Research & Development with increasing roles of responsibility.  I served in 3 different global leadership roles in Drug Discovery, Drug Development and External Innovation over 14 years.  In 2014, I transitioned to a Japan-based, global pharmaceutical company and served in 5 leadership roles within the first 8 years, covering 2 different industry-related functions, neuroscience and pharmacovigilance. Within these various roles I have:

  • led teams in neuroscience Drug Discovery & Clinical Development 
  • developed a global External Innovation group within a newly formed Therapeutic Strategic Unit on Aging
  • worked with pharmaceutical executives to develop a portfolio strategy looking into the future to create a top 10 neuroscience therapeutic area unit
  • drove Compliance and Operational Excellence initiatives within a Global Patient Safety/Pharmacovigilance function
  • developed people, processes, programs and tools to train global program leaders and their high-performing teams

Along the way, I have given presentations at and remained very active in volunteer leadership roles and Boards in academic societies, academic institutions and government organizations, including the Society for Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and the National Institute of Nervous Disorders and Stroke. 

Past and Current Leadership Roles

  • Society for Neuroscience Council
  • Broadening the Representation of Academic Investigators in NeuroScience (BRAINS, University of Seattle
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Advisory Board, College of Arts and Sciences
  • National Advisory Neurological Disorders and Stroke Council (NINDS Advisory Council)

Other Volunteer Leadership Roles

  • Member of the Executive Committee of the International Dose-Response Society
  • Member of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Translational Neuropsychopharmacology Task Force
  • Member of the committee on the Next Generation Initiative Board on Higher Education and Workforce Policy and Global Affairs, which published a consensus study report titled, “The Next Generation of Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences Researchers – Breaking Through”.
  • Member of the NIH Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (BEST), External Scientific Panel

The American Heart Association (AHA)/American Stroke Association’s (ASA)

  • Member, Stroke Council
  • Chair, Membership and Communications Committee
  • Held advocacy discussions with a team and 3 members of the US Congress
  • Participated in a White House Community Leaders Briefing on Cardiovascular Health.

Society for Neuroscience (SfN)

  • Chair, Membership and Chapters Committee
  • Chair, Professional Development Committee
  • Chair, Audit Committee
  • Chair, Finance Committee
  • Councilor

Presentations & Workshops On Various Topics Including

  • Best Practices When Preparing for a Career Shift Outside of Academia ?
  • Research Careers in the Private Sector
  • My Journey from Academia to the Pharmaceutical Industry
  • Postdoctoral Training, Is it right for you?
  • Transferable PhD Skills & How to Move Beyond Academia
  • New Models of Innovation
  • Hormesis and the Pharmaceutical Industry
  • Winning in the CNS R&D Space
  • Problem Solving and Decision-Making
  • Effective Teamwork
  • Foundations of Leadership
  • Leadership Action Plan
  • Leadership and Management
  • Leadership I – Culture, Styles, Goals and Skills
  • Leadership II – Lessons From Academic Leaders: Provosts to Presidents
  • Inclusive Leadership, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
  • What are you doing to grow your business?
  • Get the coaching you need to succeed
  • Communicating the impact of your research
  • Pitching research interests to different audiences
  • Developing an elevator pitch
  • Handling Disruptions During Your Presentation
  • Communication and Conflict
  • How to think about entrepreneurship; Strategies from lab to the market
  • Undergraduate degree? Check. What's next?
  • Power Dynamics: What is it?
  • Mastering Feedback and Making It Work to Your Advantage
  • Developing Key Relationships and Critical Networking Skills
  • Everyone Communicates, Few Connect
  • How You Manage Yourself Matters
  • Time Management: It’s All a Myth
  • What the Most Effective People Do Differently
  • Conducting Meetings That Get Results
  • Becoming a Person of Influence
  • Advice for a Young Investigator
  • Professionalism
  • Self-Discipline and Self-Management
  • Imposter Syndrome
  • Microaggression
  • Power Dynamics
  • Unconscious (Implicit) Bias