Maria Wade
Location: Poughkeepsie, NY
Biography
Maria Wade is a Master Certified Coach (MCC) with nearly two decades of experience leading from the front and over nine years devoted to helping executives transform their leadership. Her background includes roles such as Chief Legal Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Executive Director, giving her a firsthand understanding of what it takes to navigate the pressures and complexities of senior leadership. Maria’s time in these roles taught her not only the technical demands of leadership but also the emotional resilience it requires. Combined with her extensive education in law, finance, business, and coaching, Maria brings a thoughtful and deeply relatable perspective to her work with clients.
Maria’s Leadership Integrity Coaching Framework for executive presence and leadership effectiveness reflects her belief that leadership is about more than just getting results—it’s about leading with authenticity, resilience, and a clear sense of purpose. Rooted in neuroscience and adult development theory, her approach helps leaders connect who they are to how they lead, building trust and creating lasting, meaningful change in their organizations. Maria loves seeing the ripple effects of coaching: when leaders thrive, they inspire those around them to grow, collaborate, and find joy—not just at work, but in every part of their lives.
Working with Fortune 500 leaders, Maria focuses on executive presence and transformational coaching that helps leaders expand their thinking, embrace complexity, and unlock their potential. She partners with her clients to align their personal values with their professional lives, enabling them to lead with integrity and make a positive impact. For Maria, true leadership success is about more than titles or outcomes—it’s about creating lasting change in people, organizations, and the broader world.
Niche Areas of Expertise
- C-Suite
- Executive Presence
- Strategic Thinking
- Change Management
- Women & Leadership
- Leaders in Transition
Industry Experience
- Automotive & Assembly
- Capital Projects & Infrastructure
- Chemicals
- Electric Power & Natural Gas
- Financial Services
- Healthcare Systems & Services
- High Tech
- Manufacturing
- Media & Entertainment
- Nonprofit
Languages
- English
- Russian
Education
- Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia - MA, Jurisprudence/Law
- RANEPA - MBA, Innovation/Project Management
- RANEPA - BA, Financial Management
- Peoples' Friendship University of Russia - JD, Jurisprudence/Financial Law
Certifications
- ICF - MCC
- Columbia University Columbia Coaching Certification Program
- Accelerating Coach Excellence (WBECS)
- Prosci Change Management Practitioner
- Hogan
- 360 Interview
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