Meet Maria-Ines Fernandez | Management Consultant & Certified Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maria-Ines Fernandez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maria-Ines, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

I always knew, deep inside that starting my own business was for me. The thought of aligning my true self and my purpose with my work and passions had been a constant nudge throughout my life. It made sense, yet the moment never seemed to be right, until it was.

At various times during my career, I asked myself, “Now?” “Am I ready?” Fear, doubt are so powerful; on the other hand, life is amazing and if you are like me, introspective, curious, analytical and intuitive, keep moving, the day comes when even if not everything is completely aligned, you’re there, you are doing it. I now understand that everything I’ve done has been instrumental to preparing and building for this moment.

So, what was my thought process?

The thought was always there, and the process embraced years of experience, research, study, reinvention, identifying my skills, passions and interests; twenty years in the People, Talent and Culture space in different industries and geographies, building organizations from the ground up, managing change and transformation, and the satisfaction that comes from making a difference to others.

It was a thoughtful and never ending process:

1. Since childhood, my personal and professional journey have consistently involved adaptation and integrating into new cultural and social environments including learning new languages, being the new kid on the block, reaching out to others for support and guidance …. I had been accumulating knowledge, experience and learning mindfully and otherwise.

2. Repatriating to New York after 15 years in Europe was hard, and yet, I was able to reintegrate into New York’s corporate world and face the challenges of post 2008 global and financial crises, downsizing, unemployment and once again feeling like the “new kid on the block.” I was fortunate to participate in an outplacement program (12 months) with Right Management in New York working with seasoned consultants who guided and counseled me to reset, transform and design a new career strategy and value proposition.

3. Designing and building the future took obtaining an MBA, certifying as a Coach, working as a consultant and ultimately creating a business and marketing plan defining a niche, goals, brand, integrating my experience, determining costs and planning the launch. It is a never ending process.

4. What does it take? Persistence, resilience, a positive mindset, rigor and focus and being thankful. Step by step, one day at a time.

Rewards: Many / Regrets: None

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My Work:
Comprises the various roles/titles/positions/accomplishments that span a rich trajectory. My career is non-linear, broad and full of rich experiences spanning industries, geographies and functional areas. I have lived and worked around the world. I am curious and with an insatiable appetite for learning. I am a global citizen. This is what sets me apart.

Building organizations from the ground up in corporate, nonprofit and international sectors provide me with the perspective and flexibility required to navigate a wide range of operational environments. I have and will always focus on aligning people, skills, systems and processes to achieve results that drive transformation and growth through a clear strategy, targets, and outcomes.

The opportunity to share what I know to help others achieve their goals remains my inspiration and the source of enormous personal and professional fulfillment.

The sum of my work – career, is non-linear, broad and full of rich experiences spanning industries, geographies and functional areas. I have lived and worked around the world. I am curious and with an insatiable appetite for learning. I am a global citizen. This is what sets me apart and what allows me to help others who navigate their own journey.

My Art:
I am a keen observer with the sense and sensibility towards the aesthetics, beauty, nature and people. My “eye” and “ability to read people and situations” are the result of integrating intuition with learning and experience. This helps me balance my technical/theoretical knowledge with my creative talent.

I am also an artist and use different media to express and share my art. This includes oil painting, ceramic art, photography, guitar playing.

These two elements (work/art) have paved the way to who I am and what I do. They are the foundation to continue to build my and others’ future.

What sets me apart is my spirit, my inner strength and joie de vivre, that comes from a desire to live fully, and as true to myself as I possibly can. This translates into constantly searching to learn, expand and desire to make a difference in peoples’ lives.

My message to myself and others is to never stop learning, exploring, creating to make sure I/YOU live your full potential. Challenges have a way to show us possibilities. Through my story, I KNOW every experience leads to something to work on, improve, let go, and build from.

Some lessons which I try to incorporate into my business include:
Building resilience, embracing change and adapting to it, integrating different opinions, adapting to change, building relationships, managing time, work-life balance, communicating openly, with candor and sensitivity to others, cultural awareness, everyone can add to one’s learning in some way or another, be the leader you want to be, adopting a discerning attitude, encourage creative and critical thinking, take care of mind, body, use your talent, be patient/tolerant with yourself and others, build trust and have excellence as a personal goal (go the extra mile). We all have a unique journey and challenges will come, remain calm and and understanding of others in difficult times. Take care of each other. Care, serve, be there, show up. Know that we are not perfect, we have flaws. Humility is essential.

The opportunity to share what I know to help others achieve their goals remains my inspiration and the source of enormous personal and professional fulfillment.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I will choose NYC, as it’s been my home for the last few decades. I would have a chat with my friend to confirm main interests. Ask questions: Confirm if they have visited before and when. What do you know about the City? What is the budget, food preferences, etc.
A general itinerary
Day 1 arrival: welcome lunch at a nearby bistro; PM tour by bus/car (familiarization); coffee/drink; walk around the neighborhood, dinner at home, plan the rest of the week.
Day 2: walk on Central Park, have a picnic, walk Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue, look at shops and landmarks; go to the Top of the Rock, Empire State of One Vanderbilt to see admire the view from high above. Dinner downtown (choice italian, chinese, spanish, mexican, indian, korean, french, other) at a small, quaint restaurant.
Day 3; go downtown to City Hall on subway, walk around to appreciate the area; take subway to Brooklyn Heights or Dumbo, have pizza at a famous restaurant in Dumbo, walk to the edge of the water, then visit the main area galleries, shops and parks; around 6:30 go to the Brooklyn Bridge, cross on foot, take photos and see Manhattan sunset, once inland walk towards the Lower East side near for a drink and small bites before heading home.
Day 4: take the Red Line (1) to 14th-15th street, go to Chelsea Market, browse, have quick lunch or buy a sandwich; then head towards the meatpacking district — option 1: enter the Whitney Museum and/or 2: go up the Highline (railroadtrack turned garden, extending from 14th street to 32nd street), we may want to pause after lunch in the park, and to to Little Island (short detour); then continue up to 32nd Street to Hudson Yards. Walk around, there are shops, coffee or drink. Then go uptown to a neighborhood Italian or French bistro.
Day 5: go to 72nd Street (Dakota Building and Strawberry fields), perhaps rent a boat or hike in Central Park, have lunch – picnic or sandwich; walk towards Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue, visit the Conservatory on Fifth and 105 Street, walk into either Guggenheim, Met, or other museum – my best friend loves to walk and the arts, stop at a neighborhood bookstore. Sit at a park bench, have coffee, go home for dinner (tapas/wine)
Day 7: Let friend choose a new or repeat destination — ferry to Staten Island, Financial District, New Museum, World Trade, walking tour. Broadway, theatre or concert. Supper near the theatre Lincoln Center or Broadway.
Day 8: Farewell Brunch, departure.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To my parents, brothers and sisters, teachers, mentors, coaches, friends and everyone who has inspired, listened and supported me in this journey.

Website: www.imaginethefuture.us

Instagram: inesdlcroix

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/inesita