Computer rendering of Democrat donkey standing against Republican elephant on American flag. Elections and political confrontation concept.
Braver Angels: Maury Giles Steps Into CEO Role at Braver Angels
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Asia Tabb
Computer rendering of Democrat donkey standing against Republican elephant on American flag. Elections and political confrontation concept.
AIRED; December 30, 2025
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Maury Giles is stepping into his new role as CEO of Braver Angels after spending five years with the organization as a volunteer, a transition he describes as both unexpected and deeply purposeful. “If you would have asked me in January, February of this year what I’d be doing in December, never in a million years would I have guessed this,” Giles said. His professional path spans more than three decades as a journalist, political campaign professional, and market research and strategy consultant, work he says was always rooted in understanding what motivates people and how to connect across differences.
That search for deeper purpose eventually drew him closer to civic and bridge-building work. Giles said that while his career was successful, he increasingly felt called to align his professional life with his values. “I started realizing I was looking for ways I could find more purpose in what I was doing,” he said, noting that his volunteer efforts increasingly centered on organizations working to reduce polarization. Braver Angels, he said, became where he spent whatever extra time he had, even before the CEO position opened.
The moment that pushed him to apply came from across the political divide. A fellow Braver Angels volunteer who leans politically Blue encouraged Giles, who identifies as Red, to apply for the role. “It was really a manifestation of the thing I love most about this organization,” Giles said. “We see each other as humans, as fellow Americans, even when we disagree.” He described that call as a “calling,” one that resonated with Braver Angels’ emphasis on trust, authenticity, and servant leadership.
As CEO, Giles says Braver Angels must “step in to meet the moment” amid what he describes as a more toxic era of polarization than when the organization was founded nine years ago. “It’s not ‘I’m right and you’re wrong.’ It’s ‘I’m good and you are evil,’” he said. His vision centers on making “courageous citizenship the honored norm,” moving beyond dialogue alone toward active engagement across political differences. “We’re not asking people to be nice,” Giles said. “We’re asking for bravery—intentionally finding someone with a different point of view and choosing to build together.”
