BUILD THE CAPABILITY TO DELIVER CHANGE
Maria equips leaders and teams to own delivery in their part of the business, surface issues early and keep performance on track without relying on a central programme team to deliver change. Her military experience shaped an approach that builds capability before pressure rises.
Impact
$2BN MERGER
Supported executive integration during Virgin Mobile UK's merger, protecting the Virgin culture.
17% adoption in year one
Exceeded Deloitte's 10% benchmark for an inclusion-led Ways of Working tool.
27,000+ Employees
Led Deloitte UK’s culture plan across five businesses, enabling business-led delivery from FY26.
99% PARTICIPATION
Achieved across 23 regions in Virgin Mobile India's first national engagement survey.
NEW-STARTER NPS: +20 TO +80
Designed Vodafone Group’s first global induction programme.
Military Commendation
Led national community police training, rebuilding trust between Iraqi police and local communities.
SOLIDER OF THE YEAR
Awarded during military service and later admitted as a Freeman of the City of London.
BRITISH FORCES IN BUSINESS FINALIST 2026
Recognised as an Outstanding Achiever for translating military leadership into culture and people transformation.
Service 01
INTERIM & FRACTIONAL CULTURE, PEOPLE & TRANSFORMATION LEADERSHIP
Embedded Transformation Leadership | 3–6 months
Maria clarifies decision ownership, translates the change into practical leadership expectations and builds the capability for the business to lead delivery.
Impact: Clear accountability, decisions made at the right level and ownership transferred from the central programme team into the business.
Service 02
BEHAVIOUR UNDER PRESSURE LAB
Leadership Simulation Lab
For: Senior leadership teams preparing for transformation, restructuring, merger integration or rapid growth.
Maria uses current business dilemmas and simulated pressure to expose behaviours that delay decisions, discourage challenge or weaken trust.
Impact: Leaders agree and rehearse how they will respond before those behaviours disrupt delivery.
Service 03
LEADERSHIP UNDER PRESSURE
For: Leadership and HR conferences, early careers and women in leadership events.
Through the frontline story behind The Doughnut Principle™ | The Trust Loop, Maria shows how behaviour under pressure shapes trust, judgement and reputation.
Impact: A practical model for recognising pressure behaviours and earning, protecting or rebuilding trust when scrutiny is high.
"Maria supported me and my team brilliantly during a $2bn merger, helping transform the business and disseminate the culture into the expanded organisation. She is an outstanding performer."
Virgin Mobile UK | Co-founder & Former CEO
THE DOUGHNUT PRINCIPLE™ | THE TRUST LOOP
The Doughnut Principle™ is a practical leadership model for the moments when trust is tested.
It shows leaders how to build trust before pressure rises, protect it while decisions are difficult and rebuild it when confidence has been damaged.
EARN TRUST BEFORE PRESSURE RISES
Build credibility through honest communication, reliable behaviour and relationships that make challenge possible.
PROTECT TRUST DURING DISRUPTION
Stay visible, own difficult decisions, communicate consistently and act in the interests of the whole organisation.
REBUILD TRUST WHEN BROKEN
Acknowledge what happened, change the behaviour and show people they can trust again.
“Maria was instrumental in defining our employee and leadership values - aligning behaviour nationally. Without her, establishing our distinct, non-hierarchical culture at scale would have been difficult.”
Virgin Mobile India | Chief People Officer
