About Maureen Chiana
Led by God. Grounded in Science. Committed to Practical Change.
I'm Maureen Chiana, CEO and Founder of The Mindsight Academy, Master Neuroplastician, NeuroLeadership Facilitator, Emotional Intelligence specialist, author and speaker.
I help people understand the thinking, emotional responses and learned behaviours affecting their decisions, relationships and results. Then we work on what they can do differently in the situations where those patterns show up.
I believe The Mindsight Academy is God's business, entrusted to me to steward. My faith is not something I add to the work afterwards. It is why the Academy exists and why I care about helping people put truth and understanding into practice.
I bring neuroscience, emotional intelligence, Scripture and practical application together. In Christian programmes, God's Word, prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit are central. When I work with businesses and mixed-belief groups, we agree the content and learning experience appropriate to that audience.
Awareness without action is not transformation.
MSc Microbiology • Master Neuroplastician • NeuroLeadership Facilitator • Emotional Intelligence Specialist • Author
The Story Behind the Work
God's Direction, a Difficult Season and the Questions That Shaped My Work.
My first career was in biomedical science, including medical microbiology and research. With an MSc in Microbiology, I was trained to look beneath the surface, question assumptions and examine evidence. I later moved into education and management, IT leadership and entrepreneurship. Each chapter taught me something different about people, pressure and performance.
In 2002, I opened a salon in Kent serving both Afro and European hair. The business attracted BBC and ITV coverage, but after four years I had to close it. The financial loss was significant. What stayed with me was also the shame, disappointment and damage to my confidence. Not long afterwards, my mother died suddenly.
I knew what I had achieved before, yet I began questioning my abilities and what I could attempt next. I wanted to understand why a painful experience could continue to influence identity, emotions and decisions long after the event itself.
That search brought me back to science. Hearing Dr Caroline Leaf speak about the brain reignited my research curiosity. I immersed myself in neuroscience, neuroplasticity and emotional intelligence, while Scripture, prayer and my dependence on God remained central to rebuilding my thinking and sense of identity.
I learned that understanding a response was not enough. I had to recognise the thinking and emotions influencing my choices, make different decisions, practise them and review what actually happened. In 2015, God instructed me to start Apogee Skills Ltd. I moved into full-time training and organisational development in 2016, bringing that conviction about insight and action into my work.
In 2017, God directed me to establish The Mindsight Academy so this work could extend beyond one classroom or organisation. I launched the Academy in 2018. I have always regarded it as God's business, and my role as one of faithful stewardship.
In 2023, God instructed me to establish Mindsight Women's Network, and I started it that same year. It was created for Christian women who may know what God says about their identity but still struggle with fear, comparison, overthinking or decisions they keep postponing. My desire was to help women bring Scripture into their actual thinking, emotional responses and everyday choices, supported by neuroscience, emotional intelligence, prayer, NeuroCoaching and accountability.
A year later, in 2024, I felt the Lord instruct me to write Rewire Your Brain with Neuroscience and Scripture Every Day. I believe the Holy Spirit inspired the book, including its topics and content. Published in 2024, the 366-day guide brings God's Word into daily reflection and intentional action, not something to read once and put away. In 2026, I launched the companion workbook to help readers put each insight into practice, review what happens, adjust and repeat.
These are not separate projects that I happened to build. They are connected expressions of the work I believe God entrusted to me: helping people understand what influences their responses and take responsibility for what they do with that understanding.
What This Looks Like in Real Life
The Change Must Be Visible in Decisions, Conversations and Action.
Capable people can understand what needs to happen yet find that fear, pressure or established habits pull them towards an old response. These are examples of the situations I help people examine and practise differently.
Under Pressure
From Defensiveness to Clearer Leadership
A manager who feels challenged may interrupt, justify or stop listening. We identify the trigger, practise a pause and a more considered response, and review what changes in the conversation and the relationship.
When Confidence Falters
From Second-Guessing to a Decision
Someone may compare themselves with others, overprepare or avoid a decision. We examine the belief and emotion behind the delay, choose a manageable action and build confidence through evidence of follow-through.
In Relationships
From Avoidance to Constructive Conversation
A difficult conversation can be postponed until frustration builds. We work on recognising that avoidance, preparing what needs to be said, listening with empathy and addressing the issue respectfully.
My Expertise & Approach
Understanding the Person Behind the Response.
My experience spans biomedical science and research, education, leadership, business and organisational development, including work with Christian organisations and groups. I have worked with individuals, leaders and teams across the NHS, hospitals, Eli Lilly and Kent Business School, as well as churches, Christian organisations and women's groups. I connect neuroscience and emotional intelligence with the situations people actually face, then focus on the decisions, responses and actions they can practise and evaluate.
Neuroscience
Helps explain learning, attention, emotional responses and how habits are shaped through experience and repeated practice. It provides useful understanding, not a shortcut or guarantee of transformation.
Emotional Intelligence
Helps people recognise triggers, regulate emotions, understand others and choose more effective ways to communicate, decide and respond under pressure.
God's Word & the Holy Spirit
Scripture is the foundation and authority for my Christian work. It gives the truth and direction for renewing the mind; prayer, dependence on the Holy Spirit and obedient action are central to applying that truth in decisions, relationships and everyday life.
One God-led Academy, different audiences. My Christian faith is not concealed, but it is not imposed on anyone. For businesses, healthcare organisations, universities and mixed-belief groups, we agree the content and faith scope in advance. In MWN, Rewire and Christian events, Scripture, prayer and practical obedience are explicitly part of the learning. In every setting, people are encouraged to act, review and practise what they learn.
My Signature Framework
NeuroREACT®: From Understanding a Pattern to Practising a New Response.
NeuroREACT® is the framework I created to help translate insight into self-leadership, emotional capability, better relationships and consistent action.
Rewire
Notice and challenge unhelpful thinking and behavioural patterns.
Emotional Mastery
Recognise triggers and practise more constructive emotional responses.
Adapt
Respond with greater flexibility when circumstances and demands change.
Connect
Strengthen empathy, communication, relationships and trust.
Transform
Apply, review, adjust and repeat chosen responses consistently.
Identify a real situation, choose an alternative response, practise it, observe what happened and refine the next attempt. Tools such as NeuroCoaching and PRISM Brain Mapping can support this work where appropriate.
My Book & Companion Workbook
A Holy Spirit-Inspired Daily Guide to Putting God's Word Into Practice.
In 2024, a year after starting MWN, I felt the Lord direct me to write Rewire Your Brain with Neuroscience and Scripture Every Day. I believe the Holy Spirit inspired the choice of topics and the content. Published in 2024, the 366-day guide brings Scripture together with neuroscience, emotional intelligence, reflection and intentional action. I wanted a resource people would return to daily and apply, not simply read once.
In 2026, I launched the companion Workbook. It turns each day's insight into written reflection, decisions, practical exercises and review. Together, the two books encourage a repeatable process:
- Read and understand the insight and the Scripture.
- Notice the thinking, emotion or response that needs attention.
- Choose an action, practise it, review what happened and adjust.
The resources can be used independently or as part of a church group, retreat, book discussion or facilitated learning experience.
Ways to Continue the Work
Different Settings. The Same Commitment to Applied Learning.
Organisations & Groups
For businesses, healthcare organisations, universities, churches and Christian groups, I offer leadership and team development, emotional intelligence, NeuroCoaching and facilitated learning. We examine the responses affecting decisions, communication and relationships, then practise and review more effective ways of working. Christian programmes can explicitly integrate Scripture, prayer and the Holy Spirit.
Explore Organisations & Groups →Mindsight Women's Network
God instructed me to establish this network in 2023, and I began MWN that same year. It helps Christian women who are overthinking, comparing themselves or postponing decisions align their thinking and action with their God-given identity through Scripture, neuroscience, emotional intelligence, NeuroCoaching, prayer, practical tools and accountability.
Discover MWN →Lead To Excel Podcast
Through the Lead To Excel Podcast, I examine the patterns behind decisions, careers, business, relationships, faith and everyday life. Each episode connects an insight with a question or action worth taking into your week.
Listen to the Podcast →
Speaking, Conferences & Retreats
The Conversation Should Continue After the Event.
I speak at corporate and professional events, churches, Christian conferences, retreats and women's gatherings. My keynotes address the thinking and emotional responses behind self-doubt, difficult decisions, leadership pressure, boundaries and behaviour.
Each session is adapted to its audience, with a clear practical takeaway participants can apply, review and repeat afterwards.
Explore Speaking & Invite Maureen →Get in Touch
Let's Discuss What You Need.
Whether you are exploring leadership and team development, a group book or workbook experience, NeuroCoaching, a speaking invitation or a partnership, share a few details so we can understand your needs and respond properly.
Use the Your Enquiry field to tell me who the work is for, what is happening now, what you would like to be different and any relevant timescale.