Hi, I’m May Busch

Former COO of Morgan Stanley Europe and your guide to greater professional and personal success

My mission is to help you do more, be better and make the difference you are meant to make in the world. All while sparking more joy for yourself and those around you!

From “nice, quiet Chinese girl” to Chief Operating Officer for Europe

Coming from a family of doctors, academics and public servants, I was determined to blaze my own trail in a career I could call my own. I’ve also always been motivated by a challenge and as they say, “be careful what you wish for”, because did I ever get one! That’s how I ended up in investment banking.

From learning to create a spreadsheet to navigating the corporate politics, I learned a great deal about the business world. Much of this came from trial and error and making a lot of mistakes because no one in my network could help me.

I was not a natural in finance or capital markets (it was just what I did for a living), but through keen observation, hard work and creating a strong network, I advanced through the organization with 10 roles over 24 years.

During that time, I also got married and had three daughters at a time when maternity leave was just 6 weeks! Was it tough being a working mom in a male-dominated industry in a very corporate environment? Yes. Clearly.

But I recognized opportunities, learned from mistakes, and really discovered the right combination to grow, succeed and lead.

My next era of meaningful work

Then one day, I knew my work there was done.

So I shocked everyone by choosing to leave a perfectly great career to figure out my next era of meaningful work.

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I believe you need to be bold, play big and tap into your unfettered ability to be joyful if you want to be the best version of yourself.

I discovered that what I’m really interested in is what makes people tick and what makes certain individuals and teams more successful than others.

Wherever I go, I see too many people still playing small, just like I did back in the day. It upsets me to see wasted time, people and potential.

I’m passionate about helping people close the gap between where they are now and that very best version of themselves that they want to be.

Let’s unleash all that potential. Let’s get back to our unfettered ability to be joyful.

And why stop there?

Let’s harness that joy and energy and bring it to our work and the rest of our lives and make our world a much better place.

And that’s why I’m now an executive coach, speaker, advisor, author and entrepreneur.

Which brings me to YOU!

If you're not seeing the results you want out of your career and life, then I’m here to inspire you to aspire to be your best self. To fulfill all your wonderful potential and live life in your unique and joyful way.

If you need help to “bust out” of your little box, I can help. If your ambition is to rise up through the organization, I’ve got you covered there too.

For most of us, it’s a question of clarity, confidence and courage. What do you need right now?

A great place to start is my blog where I share free actionable insights and advice on leadership, career success and living a richer life. And if you haven't done so already, I invite you to sign up to receive my weekly insights.

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My promise

You can count on me to tell it like it is and share what I’m living and learning. Some of it will be in real time without the pretty packaging because my focus is on authenticity and timeliness to help with your success.

I love engaging with people looking to learn and grow. So don’t be a stranger! I love hearing about your wins as well as how I can best serve you. You can always let me know by leaving a comment on a blog post or replying to one of my emails.

I’m delighted to be a part of your journey. I’m rooting for you, so keep going!

Thank you for visiting.

Be bold. Play big. Spark joy!

For Senior Leaders: Career Mastery™ Leadership Accelerator 2025