Meet Dr. Gavoni
Meet Dr. Paul "Paulie" Gavoni, Ed.D., BCBA-D.
WSJ, USA Today and Amazon bestselling author, Behavioral Scientist, and global keynote speaker who trains elite athletes and UFC professionals. Founder and Managing Member of Heart & Science International (HSI).
Dr. Paul "Paulie" Gavoni brings nearly 30 years of experience as an educator, behavior scientist, school and organizational leader, executive, author, speaker, consultant, and performance coach. Known for his street-smart approach to the science of human behavior, he helps leaders move from good intentions to observable action and measurable impact.
Dr. Paul "Paulie" Gavoni is a powerhouse of innovation, integrity, and impact. With nearly 30 years of leadership in education, behavior science, and organizational performance, he brings a rare blend of deep expertise and real-world application.
The Founder's Story
A street-smart approach to the science of human behavior.
Founder & Managing Member
A pioneer in applying Organizational Behavior Management to school leadership and systems improvement, Dr. Gavoni begins with values, defines the accomplishments that matter, pinpoints the behaviors required to produce them, and helps organizations align the systems that support lasting performance.
The Story in Six Beats
AUTHORED WORKS
Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling co-author of 18 books. Books grounded in behavior analysis, balancing technical depth with accessibility. Co-author of MMA Science.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Hosts The Heart & Science of Leadership Podcast. Writes the Heart & Science of Leadership Substack and The Behavioral Toolbox Newsletter.
APPLIED PRACTICE
A behavior scientist since 2004, Dr. Gavoni trains elite athletes and UFC professionals.
Elite Athletes & UFC Professionals
The same science that builds performance under pressure builds leaders.
Dr. Gavoni trains elite athletes and UFC professionals. His work with Kenny "Deuce" Garner helped take Garner from a 1–2 professional record to the M-1 Global Heavyweight Championship. The experience demonstrates how composure, cue recognition, focused attention, restraint, decision-making, deliberate practice, feedback, and execution under pressure build observable performance.
The Firm
Founder-Led. Team-Ready.
Heart & Science International (HSI) is a professional services firm that applies the science of human behavior to enhance performance, leadership, and culture within districts and organizations. HSI partners with leaders committed to positive change, helping them engage in systems and performance thinking to implement practical, evidence-based strategies that produce desired outcomes.
A company, not a solo act
A professional services firm with a multidisciplinary bench of senior subject-matter experts and consultants, assembled per engagement.
Small business, federal-ready
Registered U.S. federal contractor. Small-business status, SAM.gov registration, and teaming-ready delivery models.
One science, every sector
The same applied behavior science, proven across education, corporate, nonprofit, government, and elite sport.
Our Vision
All meaningful outcomes are driven by behavior. When organizations design systems that support accountability, adaptability, and high performance, they unlock potential, drive lasting change, and achieve sustainable success.
Our Mission
Equip people with the ability to engage in performance thinking: the skills, knowledge, and tools to analyze behavior, drive performance, and create meaningful change.
The RAISE Values
Values that define how HSI creates impact.
Resilience
Adapting, adjusting, and evolving in response to challenges instead of just pushing through.
Authenticity
Keeping it real: being direct, owning mistakes, and staying true to values.
Involving Stakeholders
The best solutions come when the right people are at the table, shaping the outcomes that impact them.
Simplicity
Clear, actionable, repeatable solutions. Complexity is the enemy of execution and scale.
Empowerment
Equipping people to increase their influence over meaningful outcomes—capable, confident, supported, and increasingly independent.
Related Ventures
The Behavioral Toolbox
The Behavioral Toolbox is a separate, education-focused company offering practical school-based behavioral consulting, OBM coursework, and tools. Dr. Gavoni is a co-owner. It is a related venture, separate from HSI's services and from the HSI Resources vault.
Better Outcomes. Faster. Through Behavioral Science.