Neil Markey
“Einstein said it best: The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.”
His Role
Neil Markey is the Co-Founder and CEO of Beckley Retreats, a holistic wellbeing company that merges the science-backed benefits of psychedelics with contemplative practices to support lasting transformation. At Beckley, Neil is committed to building a business rooted in integrity—both within the company and across the diverse communities it serves.
His Story
A former Captain in the U.S. Army’s Special Operations 2nd Ranger Battalion, Neil completed three combat deployments—one to Iraq and two to Afghanistan. After returning home, he began a dual MBA/MIA program at Columbia University. During this time, unresolved PTSD and depression surfaced, prompting him to explore alternative healing modalities. This marked the beginning of a profound personal journey with mindfulness and psychedelics.
In 2015, Neil earned his teacher’s certification in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) from Jefferson University and has since taught hundreds of individuals around the world. Prior to founding Beckley Retreats, Neil worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Co., where he also co-led the firm’s internal mindfulness initiative. He later served as Chief Growth Officer for a $450M private equity portfolio company, overseeing strategic planning across a 3,500-person organization.
Neil is currently a part-time Master’s student at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where he is studying the impact of integrative health programs—including psychedelic-assisted therapies—on individual and community wellbeing.
His Why
He credits meditation and plant therapy with saving his life. A curious mathematician from an early age, Neil sees no real divide between science and spirituality. “Yes, there are miraculous things that are difficult to measure,” he says, “but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. We see miraculous phenomena everywhere.” Quoting Einstein, Neil reflects: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
