01
Employee Experience
I help companies create experiences people remember — from onboarding and recognition to mentorship programs and the everyday moments that make employees feel welcome and supported.
Employee Experience, Internal Communications & Culture
I turn workplaces into communities.
Culture isn't built through perks or slogans. It's built through how people are welcomed, recognized, informed, and supported every day.
What I Do
Three ways I help companies become places people love to work.
02
Internal Communications
Newsletters, intranets, Town Halls, leadership messaging, and communication strategies that help employees stay informed, connected, and engaged.
03
Fractional Chief Happiness Officer
A trusted partner for founders and leadership teams who want to strengthen culture, improve employee experience, and build the systems that help people thrive as the company grows.
In Their Words
What leaders and employees say about working with Maria.
"I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Maria for her dedication to recognizing the significant events in the lives of our employees. Her efforts truly make this a special place to work."
"Thank you for regularly reaching out and involving me with community and culture activities while I work remotely. Much appreciated."
"Maria, much appreciated that you continue to have these very nice newsletters!"
"Maria is a competent woman with a rare ability to solve problems thinking out of the box. She is very resourceful bringing a unique and varied blend of experiences, including HR, operations, and marketing to the job at hand. Maria's secret power is her exceptional ability to connect with people, enabling her to pull whatever resources needed to complete a project. All while bringing a positive, can do attitude to the job."
A Point of View
How I think about culture.
Culture isn't built through slogans or perks.
It's built through hundreds of small moments.
- How people are welcomed on day one.
- How leaders communicate during uncertainty.
- How achievements are recognized.
- How people feel when they walk into a Town Hall.
- How connected they feel to the mission — and to each other.
Those moments shape how employees experience work every day.
That's where I focus my energy.
About Maria
A boutique advisor who has actually done the work.
Twenty years inside startups, scale-ups, and global teams — building the onboarding programs, newsletters, Town Halls, and recognition systems that make people stay.
Having lived and worked across multiple countries and languages, I bring a global perspective to building engaged teams where people feel connected, included, and understood—whether they work in the same office, across time zones, or somewhere in between.
People often know me as
The Chief Happiness Officer
Over the years, colleagues have nicknamed me the "Chief Happiness Officer" — not because I organize parties, but because I help create workplaces where people feel welcomed, connected, informed, and valued.
What I believe
People stay when they feel welcome.
I don't believe people stay because of free lunches, company swag, or values written on a wall.
They stay because they feel welcome. They stay because they trust the people around them, understand where the company is going, and feel that their work matters.
What I've learned
Twenty years inside change.
I've spent the last 20 years helping organizations grow through periods of change — from early startups finding their footing to companies preparing for acquisition.
Along the way I've built onboarding programs, recognition initiatives, intranets, newsletters, Town Halls, mentorship programs, and communication strategies that help people understand where the company is going and how they fit into the story.
Why I do this work
The bridge between leadership and employees.
Throughout my career I've often been the bridge between leadership and employees. I take that responsibility seriously.
Some of the most important work happens in that space — helping people feel heard while helping organizations move forward.
Because when people feel welcome, great things happen.
MS Human Resource Development — VillanovaPwC HR Consulting AlumniBilingual English & RussianMultigenerational & Multicultural WorkplacesInternal Communications Specialist
Resource Library · Volume 01
The Bring Your Kids to Work Day Playbook
The Ultimate Step-by-Step Playbook for Biotech & Pharma Companies
The first in a growing library of practical tools and playbooks for HR professionals, founders, and people leaders. A 26-page step-by-step guide covering timelines, templates, agendas, volunteer coordination, shopping lists, and more — everything I wish I'd had when I planned my first one. Built for biotech and pharma, adaptable for any industry. More resources coming.
What's Inside
- →Complete event timeline & planning checklist
- →RSVP forms and volunteer coordination templates
- →Structured agenda with activity ideas by age group
- →Shopping lists, budget guidance, and vendor tips
- →Communications templates for internal announcements
The Playbook
Bring Your Kids to Work Day
26 pages · 12+ templates
PDF instant download
PDF instant download
Let's Work Together
Ready to build something people actually love coming to?
Whether you need a fractional culture partner, a one-time event transformation, or just a discovery conversation — I'd love to hear what you're building.
Or write to maria.m@happinessdepartment.com