Strategy and AI
with someone
who's done it

Confident leaders. Smart use of AI.

 

 

CONSULTING

You need more than advice. You need someone who can think alongside you.

I work with leadership teams and organisations on strategy, AI adoption, and the decisions that are hard to make alone. We start with where you are and build a clear path from there.

TRAINING

Your team knows AI is coming. They just don't know what to do with it.

Half-day and full-day workshops for corporate teams and SME owners. Two strands: leadership and communication, and building AI literacy. Practical and built around how your business works. 

SPEAKING

Are you ready to give your audience something they'll remember?

I speak at conferences, corporate events, and panels on leading people through change, the real challenges of leadership, and where AI fits into that.

Why Maria

I’m the person you call when things get complicated and you need someone to come in, make sense of the situation, and help you move forward.

Twenty years leading global teams at Sotheby’s across New York, London, and Geneva taught me what it takes to get people aligned and collaborating effectively under pressure.

Today I work with leadership teams and organisations on strategy, leadership development, and AI adoption, and the kind of change that doesn’t come with a manual.

These are leaders who aren’t technical, and don’t need to be. My job is to help them think clearly and lead with confidence, and I bring AI in as one part of that.

Solving problems like this is what gets me out of bed in the morning.

 

Questions people ask before getting in touch

I help leadership teams get clear on their strategy, strengthen how they lead and communicate, and work out where AI actually fits in. That’s different from a vendor selling you software, a generalist agency running a project, or a course teaching you prompts. I work alongside leadership teams and MDs, starting with where you are right now.

No. AI is one part of what I do. Just as much of my work is leadership development, helping teams communicate better, make decisions faster, and lead through change with confidence. AI comes up in a lot of those conversations, but it’s not the whole conversation

This is the most common situation I walk into. The tools are there, the licences are paid for, and most of the team still isn’t using them. That’s an adoption problem. Successful AI integration requires clarity on use cases, team buy-in, and practical training that connects AI to real workflows. That’s exactly what my consulting and training work addresses.

AI literacy is the ability to understand what AI tools do, where they’re useful, where the risks are, and how to use them responsibly. It matters for two reasons. First, teams that understand AI use it better and more confidently. Second, Article 4 of the EU AI Act requires organisations to ensure their staff have appropriate AI literacy. My workshops build that foundation in a way that’s practical, not theoretical.

 If your business operates in the EU, supplies products or services to the EU, or uses AI systems that affect people in the EU, the regulation applies to you regardless of where you’re based. That includes UK businesses. The most immediate obligation for most SMEs is the AI literacy requirement under Article 4, with the August 2026 deadline now close. I help organisations understand what applies to them and what proportionate compliance looks like in practice.

Consulting is for leadership teams who need to think through their AI strategy, AI readiness, or EU AI Act compliance at an organisational level. Training is for teams who need to build practical AI skills and confidence in their day-to-day work. The two often go together. A leadership team working on strategy frequently also needs its people upskilled. I can support both.

My clients are based across Europe and internationally. I work in English and French and deliver remotely and in person. My background is international, having spent twenty years leading teams across New York, London, and Geneva, so working across borders and cultures is built into how I operate.

Mostly SMEs and mid-sized organisations, though I also work with larger corporate teams through training engagements. The sweet spot is a leadership team that’s serious about AI but doesn’t have an internal AI function yet. They need an outside perspective and a structured approach, not a six-month consultancy project with a team of twenty.

We have a short conversation, usually thirty minutes, to get clear on your situation and what you need. From there, I’ll outline what I think makes sense and what working together would look like. No hard sell, no lengthy proposal process. If it’s a fit, we move quickly.

No, and neither do I. My work is strategic and practical, not technical. Whether we’re working on leadership, strategy, or AI, my job is to help you think clearly, make good decisions, and bring your people with you. I don’t install software, write code, or manage technical implementation. If that’s what you need, I can point you in the right direction.

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“Maria manages to make everything simple”


Francisco Bautista
Managing Director, Malca Amit

“Maria manages to make everything simple”


Francisco Bautista
Managing Director, Malca Amit

“Maria has that rare ability to get the best out of people, to challenge them to reach and excel.”


Kathryn Ward
Director of People & Performance, The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

“Maria is the voice of reason in a complex world.”


Kim Field
Director, 4D Projects

“Maria is one of those rare people who has true insight into the world of charities as well as business. Her ability to combine the best of both sectors has never ceased to amaze me.”


Jon Meech
CEO HandsOn London

“Maria is one of those rare people who has true insight into the world of charities as well as business. Her ability to combine the best of both sectors has never ceased to amaze me.”


Jon Meech
CEO HandsOn London

“Maria is a person who combines human skills with business to a high level. She knows how to approach business with efficiency and simplicity.”


Louis Emond
Director Client Experience, DBL

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