Welcome
Hello, thanks for coming by - I'm Maria
I work with smart, intelligent and thoughtful individuals (just like you) who want to do the work they care about in a way that is right for them. It's individualised and personalised development, practical without being prescriptive, focused on expanding your thinking and getting you results.
I've been on a mission to make a difference for most of my working life, and it's taken me across the world and back again. From tiny start-ups to large organisations, I've learnt I do my best work when I'm closest to the people and communities I believe in.
My love of working in groups started with teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) in Southeast Asia, where I worked with diverse multilingual groups, learning fast to make learning relevant and enjoyable. Many years later, building on the experience, I completed a Level 3 Award in Education, became joint CEO of a training and coaching organisation, where our whole focus was designing and delivering coaching programs, training and workshops.
I hold postgraduate qualifications in Personal and Business Coaching (2007), a postgraduate diploma in Social Work, a level 3 Award in Education, a Mental Health First Aid certificate, Oliver McGowan Autism training and I'm a founding member of the Universal Coaching Alliance. If you like personality profiling - I'm a protagonist ENFJ-A.
I'm a founding professional member of the Universal Coaching Alliance and currently managing the coaching services, including the Step-Up Coaching Program at Lifecraft Cambridge, more over on my LinkedIn profile.
Every person's context, responsibilities and ambitions are different - I'd love to hear from you. Let's book a call.
Impact
For fifteen years I led Illuminate, a charity - CIO created by my business partner and myself in Cambridge. We specialised in delivering professional coaching programs and tailored workshops and training for people with low confidence, burnout, and mental‑health challenges.
Across that time we worked with over 2,000 adults and trained more than 900 employees in organisations, using person‑centred, practical approaches that prioritised agency and lasting change.
We closed the charity in 2024 after completing our mission, and now I bring the same evidence‑led, compassionate practice to private clients and organisations as a freelance coach and trainer. If you want support that combines frontline experience with strategic, results‑focused development, let's have a chat.
Maria helped me to work through some important things and I am struck by how generous and flexible she is. Maria is incredibly skilled at reading what is needed in the moment and not afraid to bring humour into the coaching relationship, something I really appreciated. At the right moments, Maria challenged me in a way that encouraged me to think more robustly ... Thank you. Philippa Budgen 2026
