Anna Maria
Anna Maria is a trailblazer in the executive coaching field, recognized as one of the first professionals to establish the practice in Germany 24 years ago. With over three decades of international experience, she has partnered with executives and organizations across diverse industries—ranging from technology and finance to consumer goods and non-profits—to develop and implement high-impact, sustainable leadership and change initiatives. Her approach integrates deep coaching expertise with extensive global business acumen to deliver transformational results.
“I believe self-awareness is the cornerstone of meaningful growth and authentic living. By understanding ourselves—our values, emotions, strengths, and blind spots—we gain the clarity to navigate life with intention. It is through this deeper awareness that we unlock the power to make choices that align with who we truly are, rather than reacting to circumstances or external expectations.
Freedom of choice is one of the greatest gifts we possess. It allows us to take ownership of our lives, chart our unique path, and shape our future. When we pair self-awareness with the freedom to choose, we step into a space of boundless possibility. In this space, we can respond to challenges with resilience, nurture relationships with authenticity, and pursue goals that bring fulfillment.”
Approach
Anna Maria collaborates with senior leaders and teams to address complex challenges, foster meaningful change, and drive sustainable growth. Her work is rooted in understanding clients’ unique needs and creating tailored solutions by challenging paradigms, leveraging action learning, and cultivating environments where individuals feel empowered to unlock their full leadership potential. She believes that every person, team, and organization can achieve significant growth by embracing fresh perspectives, enhancing their capacity for effective action, and harnessing their untapped potential.
Background
Before transitioning to executive coaching, Anna Maria held senior leadership roles, including CFO positions, at globally recognized companies such as Ascom, Nike, and Sage. Her career has spanned multiple countries and cultures, where she demonstrated an exceptional ability to lead transformative change initiatives. She successfully navigated strategic repositioning efforts, improved organizational effectiveness, and aligned teams around shared visions. Her contributions include implementing innovative finance and HR systems, coaching leadership teams through complex transitions, and orchestrating culture shifts to align with strategic goals.
Education & Credentials
Anna Maria holds a Master of Studies in Social Innovation from the University of Cambridge Judge Business School and a B.S. in Business Administration from City University.
In addition to her academic degrees, she embodies a deep commitment to lifelong learning and professional excellence. Her extensive educational journey includes executive development programs in change management and negotiation at Stanford University, leadership development at the Center for Creative Leadership, co-active coaching at The Coaches Training Institute, executive personality dynamics at the International Gestalt Institute, and neuro-linguistic programming (DVNLP) in Germany.
Her certifications include:
Hogan Leadership Assessments
360° Social and Emotional Competency Inventory (ESCI)
Lumina Spark
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
Conflict Dynamics Profile
Change Style Indicator
Affiliations
Anna Maria is a Fellow at the Institute of Coaching (IOC), affiliated with McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School. She is an active member of the International Coach Federation (ICF), where she previously served on the board of ICF Germany, playing a pivotal role in advancing the coaching profession across Europe.
Languages
English, German, Spanish, Swedish
Industry Specialties
Retail/Consumer Goods, Technology, Pharma, Manufacturing, Professional Services, Research, Non for Profit
Areas of Expertise
Executive Coaching, Executive Leadership Transition, Executive Team Coaching, Women as Leaders, Executive Presence and Communication, Conflict Resolution
Recent Clients
L'Oréal, SkinCeuticals, Shiseido, Adidas, Mercedes Benz, Heraeus, Intel, Brenntag, Sodexo, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Testimonials
CHRO, Tech
In my 30+ year career as CHRO, I met, interviewed and hired many executive coaches to work with executive teams. Anna Maria is truly in a class by herself. I saw first-hand the positive impact she had on individual executives. In my case, she had a transformative impact on my leadership effectiveness.
Her experience, perceptiveness, and the assessment tools she leveraged enabled her to quickly identify issues that had been impeding my effectiveness as a leader. Anna Maria helped me understand how my past experiences shaped how I viewed my environment and interactions with others to my detriment. As we worked through those issues, Anna Maria was compassionate, supportive, and firm. She helped me identify and implement strategies for resolving those issues while constantly challenging me not to rely on old patterns and to do the hard work of actually changing my mindset.
As I had hoped, working with Anna Maria gave me the tools to become a much better leader. What I hadn’t expected was that I would also become more confident and fulfilled both professionally and personally.