Mary Kovacs

Mary Kovacs is an executive coach, educator, and transformational HR leader with over two decades of experience guiding senior leaders through growth, change, and complexity. Since 2000, she has been professionally coaching corporate executives, consistently integrating a coaching perspective into her executive roles across diverse sectors. 

She currently serves as Chief People Officer at FYi Health Group, a North American leader in eye care with 350+ locations and 4,000+ employees. Her mandate spans enterprise-wide people strategy across clinical, retail, and corporate teams. 

Previously, Mary served as Associate Vice President, Human Resources at Canadian Tire Corporation, where she led the people strategy for a $3.5B business portfolio including SportChek, Mark’s, and Pro Hockey Life. Her leadership supported major business transformations, M&A integration, and cultural revitalization. 

Mary’s coaching approach is grounded in systems thinking, emotional intelligence, and purpose-driven leadership. Known for her grounded candor, strategic clarity, and authentic connection, she supports leaders in navigating change, elevating presence, and unlocking transformation in themselves and their teams. 

In addition to her executive role, Mary teaches Human Resources Information Management at Mount Royal University and previously taught core HR courses at Sheridan College, including Human Resources Planning, Compensation & Benefits, and Recruitment & Selection. 

She serves on the Board of Directors for the Calgary Total Rewards Network. 

Certifications & Education

• MBA, Athabasca University 
• Project Leadership, Cornell University 
• Ivey LIFT Advanced Coaching Certification Program 
• Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) 
• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) 
• Accredited Executive Compensation Professional (AECP) 
• EQ-i 2.0 / EQ360 Certified Practitioner 
• Insights Discovery Certified Practitioner 
• Motivation Factor Certified Coach