MEET MARIA ORLANDO
A curious change catalyst on a mission to inspire and make good things happen.
Hello! I’m Maria Sole Orlando, a People, Culture, and Digital Transformation Leader who brings a spark of clarity to complex change.
My journey began in Italy, a place of beauty, strong traditions, and close-knit communities. But as a woman with international ambitions, I quickly learned the importance of reinvention. Building my career has meant creating my own roadmap, tackling challenges head-on, and growing through each new role. From those early days as a project manager in healthcare to leadership positions in IT, Marketing and Digital Transformation, each experience has shaped my perspective on guiding others through change.
Today, I use my dual background in IT and Marketing and my expertise as an Organizational Change Manager, Senior Scrum Master, and Executive Leadership Coach to help organizations and people thrive. I blend Agile methodologies, design thinking, and a strategic and human-centred approach to align teams, boost productivity, and foster sustainable growth.
With over 10 years of experience across 40+ countries, I’ve worked alongside leaders and teams in startups and Fortune 500 companies like Inditex Zara and Nestlé Global IT. Each project has been an opportunity to turn complex challenges into pathways for growth, guiding teams to embrace change and connect their work to meaningful outcomes.
Think of me as a strategist with a coach’s touch. I’m known for connecting with people, asking insightful questions, and helping teams uncover their solutions. Here’s what I bring to each role:
I believe that transformation is as much about people as it is about processes. My approach is rooted in empathy, positive psychology, and a commitment to helping others succeed. I combine new ways of working with design thinking to create environments where high-performance teams and inspired leaders can reach their full potential.
My roots taught me to be adaptable and to appreciate the journey as much as the destination. When I’m not transforming businesses and people, you might find me penning travel stories on my slow travel blog, Travellector, where I share tips for luxury day-trippers and wine lovers. Or perhaps I’m enjoying a good book, experimenting with learning a new language or planning my next adventure. I bring that same spirit of curiosity and appreciation to every project, aiming to make the process both productive and enjoyable.