Silvia Damiano

Silvia Damiano

Founder & CEO
About my Brain Institute

Scientist, educator, author, speaker, coach, award-winning leadership specialist, filmmaker and creator of the i4 Neuroleader Model & Methodology.

Silvia's scientific background and curiosity about the human brain led her to a decade long journey of research into optimal brain functioning and the application of neuroscience in leadership and daily life. Her past and current roles have uniquely prepared her for the current undertaking, that of leadership activist & change agent.

Silvia Damiano founded The About my Brain Institute in 2009, with the purpose of democratising leadership & neuroscience. She has a passionately held belief, that leaders in our 21st century global economy and their organisations must radically change long-held ideas of what constitutes effective leadership

In her ground-breaking books ‘Leadership is Upside Down’, ‘Brain-Friendly Leadership’ and the 2018 documentary ‘Make Me A Leader’, Silvia provides both compelling evidence and explores the importance of leadership in our personal and professional lives and what it takes to develop the human behind the leader.

Silvia has worked in different countries, across many industries, helping teams and organisations improve business performance. Silvia’s clients have described her as a passionate, dynamic, a highly experienced speaker and master facilitator on the topics of Emotional Intelligence, Cultural Change, Neuroleadership & Engagement.

Silvia is passionate about leaving a legacy of well-rounded leaders who can act and decide in a way that better serves humanity. Her clients include Microsoft, Australian Stock Exchange, NSW Government, VISA, Fuji Xerox and Manpower amongst many other global companies.

Posts by Silvia Damiano

How To Set Boundaries Without Feeling Guilty

By Silvia Damiano on 17 March 2026

How to Set Boundaries Without Feeling Guilty5

I want to tell you a story about a senior executive in her 50s (details have been changed to protect confidentiality).

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The Science of Compassion and How Power Can Erase It

By Silvia Damiano on 10 March 2026

The Science of Compassion and How Power Can Erase It2

Compassion isn’t just a poetic idea. It is wired into our biology.

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My Mother, The Ultimate Biohacker

By Silvia Damiano on 3 March 2026

My Mother, The Ultimate Biohacker

This article is in memory of my mum, Adela (AKA Coca).

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Smarter Systems, Tired Minds

By Silvia Damiano on 24 February 2026

Smarter Systems - Tired Minds2

Why Our Inner Growth Must Catch Up to Technology Technology is evolving at a pace that feels impossible to match.

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The Leadership We Didn’t Know We’d Need

By Silvia Damiano on 17 February 2026

The-Leadership-We-Didnt-Know-Wed-Need2

There was a time when we told our children that if they studied hard, got into university and landed an entry-level job, they’d be on their way to security. That ladder, stable, linear, predictable… is gone.

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Jane Goodall’s Legacy: Lessons On Leadership And Compassion

By Silvia Damiano on 11 November 2025

Jane Goodall’s Legacy: Lessons On Leadership And Compassion

The news of Jane Goodall’s passing at the age of 91 invites us to pause and reflect. Her death is not only the loss of one of the world’s most beloved primatologists, but also a reminder that leadership lessons are not found only in boardrooms or textbooks. Sometimes, they are born in …

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Empowering Leaders Through Personal Growth with Gail Eaton-Briggs

By Silvia Damiano on 10 November 2025

gail-feature

Gail Eaton-Briggs is a leader with a deep passion for developing others. As the Brain-Friendly Leadership Certification Hobart Master Trainer for the About My Brain Institute, she brings decades of experience in leadership development, a keen understanding of human potential and a str …

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From Digital Lovers To Grandmothers-For-Hire: What Japan Teaches Us About Loneliness

By Silvia Damiano on 16 September 2025

From Digital Lovers To Grandmothers-For-Hire- What Japan Teaches Us About Loneliness-3

In Japan, loneliness has led to two very different solutions: A digital bride and a rented grandmother. At first glance, both stories may sound surreal. But behind them is a very human truth: When connection feels out of reach, people find alternatives. Not because they’ve stopped wan …

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Are Our Work Habits Damaging Our Brains? The Case for Brain-Friendly Leadership

By Silvia Damiano on 9 September 2025

Are Our Work Habits Damaging Our Brains? The Case for Brain-Friendly Leadership

Recently, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by our i4 Neuroleader™ Master Trainer - Angella Clarke-Jervoise for the Brain-Friendly Channel to discuss a topic very close to my heart: what it means to be a brain-friendly leader and why we should all care about it. You can watch th …

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Can You Stand On One Leg? The Neuroscience of Agility

By Silvia Damiano on 2 September 2025

Can You Stand On One Leg - The Neuroscience of Agility

We’ve been using the word “agility” in the workplace for years, but how often do we stop to think about what agility actually means? Beyond being a corporate buzzword, agility is a fundamental trait that impacts not just business success but also longevity, relationships and overall w …

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The Neuroscience Of Collaboration: Why We Must Bring Back Team-Building Days

By Silvia Damiano on 26 August 2025

The Neuroscience Of Collaboration- Why We Must Bring Back Team-Building Days

For years, organisations invested in team-building retreats to foster trust, camaraderie and collaboration.

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What A Physics Breakthrough Reveals About Biased Leadership

By Silvia Damiano on 19 August 2025

What A Physics Breakthrough Reveals About Biased Leadership

Recently, I came across a fascinating piece of news: after nearly a century of scientific debate, MIT physicists have resolved the legendary standoff between Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr over the true nature of light.

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