Mary Rapaport is on a mission to democratize strategic thinking.
She believes it’s not just for the elite few—it belongs to everyone. When people at every level think more strategically, organizations move faster, ideas get stronger, and work becomes a whole lot more rewarding.
Mary is the creator of The Strategic Playground, an immersive development experience that makes strategic thinking feel less like theory—and more like a superpower you can actually use. Her approach blends bold concepts, playful energy, and immediately applicable tools that help leaders and teams think, act, and lead with greater impact.
As a learning strategist, Mary works with well-known companies and brands to design development strategies that build real capability—strategies that actually support growth, not just check a box. Her background in brand strategy and organizational design gives her a sharp eye for how thinking, structure, and people come together to drive results. She’s led marketing and enablement teams, redesigned functions for high-growth companies, and knows how to connect strategy to execution.
She’s also been an active leader and contributor within the Association for Talent Development’s Twin Cities chapter, helping others in the field stay connected to the joy of learning and the power of professional development.
Whether she’s on stage, facilitating a session, or helping a team reimagine what’s possible, Mary brings contagious curiosity, sharp insight, and a deep belief in the untapped potential inside every organization—just waiting for the chance to think bigger.
Because in a world obsessed with tools and tech, Mary believes the real edge still belongs to people—and how well they think
Mary is available for keynote speaking, executive retreats, strategic planning kickoffs, and more presentation opportunities! Please view the Speaker Menu to learn more.
Xcelerate Can Help:
Build Learning Strategies for Growth
For organizations that are rolling out a critical company initiative, retooling their go to market strategies or making major changes that impact their sales teams and the customers they serve, a Learning strategy will help you reinforce critical adoption behaviors, beliefs, attitudes and actions that will drive revenue growth.
Build strategic thinking with The Strategic Playground workshop or 1:1 coaching
Cultivate key executive, leadership and strategic skills through a mentorship that will prepare you to step into a more senior role, or receive personalized coaching support as you roll out a new training program to help you and the org achieve the vision sooner.
Create custom trainings & workshops
Increase revenue with high-impact workshops and immersive learning experiences that will help your staff think more strategically about their accounts, teach non-sales professionals to sell and better motivate the client to take action.
What Clients Are Saying
