About Maria
Executive & leadership coach
I am an Executive and Leadership Coach with more than 25 years of international experience across Europe, the US, Singapore, and Asia. I work with senior leaders, C-level executives, and high-potential talent who are navigating complex transitions, developing their leadership presence, or strengthening the way they connect with their teams and stakeholders.
My clients are typically referred by CHROs or L&D leaders who have identified a capable executive with a people challenge, or a high performer stepping into a role that demands a different kind of leadership.
Originally from Austria, I spent over 20 years living and working in Singapore, where I built my coaching practice and worked with leaders across the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and the United States. That experience shaped how I work today. I understand the dynamics of leading across cultures, navigating organisational complexity, and adapting to different business environments.
Clients describe me as resourceful, insightful, and inspiring, someone who provides focus, fresh perspectives, and practical tools that deliver immediate results.
About Maria
Executive & leadership coach
I am an Executive and Leadership Coach with more than 25 years of international experience across Europe, the US, Singapore, and Asia. I work with senior leaders, C-level executives, and high-potential talent who are navigating complex transitions, developing their leadership presence, or strengthening the way they connect with their teams and stakeholders.
My clients are typically referred by CHROs or L&D leaders who have identified a capable executive with a people challenge, or a high performer stepping into a role that demands a different kind of leadership.
Originally from Austria, I spent over 20 years living and working in Singapore, where I built my coaching practice and worked with leaders across the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and the United States. That experience shaped how I work today. I understand the dynamics of leading across cultures, navigating organisational complexity, and adapting to different business environments.
Clients describe me as resourceful, insightful, and inspiring, someone who provides focus, fresh perspectives, and practical tools that deliver immediate results.
Philosophy
Who you are is how you lead
I believe that sustainable leadership growth starts from the inside out. Who you are is how you lead.
Many leadership development programmes focus primarily on skills and strategies. While those are important, they are rarely sufficient on their own. A leader who does not understand why they shut down under pressure, or why they default to control when situations become uncertain, will struggle to apply even the best frameworks consistently.
My coaching approach combines practical strategies with honest self-reflection. Together, we work on emotional intelligence, resilience, authentic presence, and the ability to create positive impact for teams and organisations. These are not abstract concepts in my practice. They are the daily habits and mindset shifts that change how a leader shows up, how their team responds, and how results are achieved.
A leader who used to lose patience in meetings learns to listen long enough to hear what their team is actually telling them. A senior executive who avoided difficult conversations develops the confidence to address underperformance with both clarity and empathy. These shifts are where real leadership growth happens.
Credentials
Background and credentials
MSc in Human Resource Development, National University of Ireland (Dublin). Diploma in Coaching and Leadership Supervision from the Coaching Supervision Academy. Certified Coach through CoachU at the Basic, Advanced, and Corporate levels.
Assessment and Diagnostic Tools
I am certified in several of the most respected assessment instruments in the field, giving me a multi-dimensional view of leadership capacity and development needs.
EQ-i 2.0 EQ360 Hogan Assessments DISC Profiling TESI Pearman Personality Integrator Hardiness Resilience Gauge Coaching with Physical Intelligence
Since 2006
DISTRIBUTING EQ-i 2.0 ACROSS ASIA
Authority in measuring & developing Emotional Intelligence
My work with emotional intelligence goes beyond coaching. As Managing Director and Lead Consultant at Kandidata Asia, I have been responsible for the distribution of the EQ-i 2.0 across the Asian market since 2006. In this role, I conduct certifications for coaches and HR professionals, and I design EQ-development programmes for organisations. This depth of experience means I understand the instrument at a level that goes well beyond standard practitioner use.
F500
THE FIRST 90 DAYS® METHODOLOGY
Leadership Transitions
I am a leadership consultant with Genesis Advisors, the authority on “The First 90 Days,” the most widely adopted executive transition methodology in Fortune 500 companies. This partnership enables me to bring a proven, structured approach to helping leaders navigate the critical early months of a new role, whether they are stepping into a promotion, moving to a new organisation, or taking on an international assignment.
DEI + Neuro
APPLIED NEUROSCIENCE & INCLUSION
Continuing Education
I hold a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace certification from the University of South Florida, as well as certification in Applied Neuroscience for Coaches and Leaders. The field of leadership development continues to evolve, and I make it a priority to stay current so that my clients benefit from the most effective approaches available.
The Company behind My Coaching Practice
About VIP Dynamics
VIP Dynamics is the company behind my coaching practice. I founded the business in 1997 (originally as Matraco Consultants) and rebranded to VIP Dynamics in 2010. The name reflects the framework that guides my work:
Dynamics refers to understanding and managing the human, team, organisational, and market forces that shape how work gets done and how leaders succeed within their organisations.