I'm Maria and I’m here to challenge the idea that you just have to wait to have more years of experience and more training to grow in this field.

Back in 2019, I moved to one of Canada’s most expensive cities for what I thought was my dream job in evaluation. I took a pay cut for it because I believed it would be worth it.

It wasn’t.

I was underpaid, undervalued, and told I wanted to grow “too quickly.” My mental health hit rock bottom, and I started wondering if I’d have to leave evaluation to meet my career and financial goals.  

Everything changed when I stopped waiting for someone to hand me a better opportunity and started creating my own.

I invested in personal development. I discovered coaching. I reframed what I believed was possible in this field. And then I took action.

Since then:

• I became a Manager of Research, Evaluation, and Learning
• I doubled my income in just two years
• I built a consulting and coaching business that aligns with my values

Now, I help other mid-level evaluators take action towards the career they deserve.