Member since September 2024
Maria is an executive leadership coach who empowers CEOs and leaders to challenge conventional corporate norms, fostering cultures of belonging and high performance. Unlike traditional consultants, she goes against the grain to enhance team connectivity to boost performance beyond expectations. Her extensive knowledge and speaking skills make her a sought-after coach, consultant, and speaker. She is the creator and host of the "Finding the Upside" podcast and TV series. As CEO/Founder of Training Innovations and MDR Brands, Maria has transformed thousands of businesses across eight sectors, over 1600companies, delivered over 5800 presentations, and trained 200,000+people. Her expertise includes leadership, training, product management, client service, organizational efficiency and business process optimization. She is a Certified Personal Empowerment Coach (PECC), Master Level Certified NLP Coach and Master Practitioner of Hypnosis and TimeLine Therapy (TLT).
Connecting with people, exploring new cultures, traveling to places I have never been, cultivating inclusive spaces and promoting acceptance, spreading kindness and love and having a positive impact on others.
How I came to embrace Rebel Leadership - the journey of my time spent in corporate America and navigating being a leader that has a positive impact on people. It took me years of being led in the traditional model of leaders that come from the flawed systems of business, culture and society. My contrarian approach is what worked with the humans that were in my care, not how I was being led, and it was an evolution of breaking away from what was modeled to choosing to be a rebel leader. As I transitioned out to entrepreneurship, I carried this approach forward in my company and continue to empower others to step away from the outdated models that no longer work and be bold enough to choose to be a rebel.
After 20 years in corporate senior management, I was released during the economic downturn! In truth, I had already decided to start my own business. I was tired of working for others in a climate that didn't align with who I was. I wanted to create something different for myself and others so I could truly have an impact on the people around me. I had taken the initial steps of incorporating, building a business plan and hired a business coach. Then it happened, I lost my job. It really was what I called to myself I believe. Although the timing of leaving was not what I planned, it was a push towards what I was meant to do. That moment completely changed the trajectory of my life...I was free to create what I wanted...a place where people could belong and be free to be creative and innovative without the confines of the corporate game. I accepted the challenge of changing that for others too, as I inspire and educate others to understand what I had discovered through my journey.
How I came to embrace Rebel Leadership - the journey of my time spent in corporate America and navigating being a leader that has a positive impact on people. It took me years of being led in the traditional model of leaders that come from the flawed systems of business, culture and society. My contrarian approach is what worked with the humans that were in my care, not how I was being led, and it was an evolution of breaking away from what was modeled to choosing to be a rebel leader. As I transitioned out to entrepreneurship, I carried this approach forward in my company and continue to empower others to step away from the outdated models that no longer work and be bold enough to choose to be a rebel.
After 20 years in corporate senior management, I was released during the economic downturn! In truth, I had already decided to start my own business. I was tired of working for others in a climate that didn't align with who I was. I wanted to create something different for myself and others so I could truly have an impact on the people around me. I had taken the initial steps of incorporating, building a business plan and hired a business coach. Then it happened, I lost my job. It really was what I called to myself I believe. Although the timing of leaving was not what I planned, it was a push towards what I was meant to do. That moment completely changed the trajectory of my life...I was free to create what I wanted...a place where people could belong and be free to be creative and innovative without the confines of the corporate game. I accepted the challenge of changing that for others too, as I inspire and educate others to understand what I had discovered through my journey.