Maria Evans PhD - Neurodivergence coach, trainer, and researcher.
- Isobel Arden
- Sep 11
- 3 min read
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Meet Maria Evans, helping creatives, educators & entrepreneurs achieve more with their neurodivergence.
In this interview, Mark invited Maria Evans to create her own fantasy cultural year from the answers to some easy questions where there are no wrong answers. Enjoy her responses below.
Maria Evans is the kind of professional who, if leadership and creativity had a child, would have raised it with strategic flair and empathy. A PhD-qualified researcher from the University of Warwick, she’s spent her career turning complex problems into teachable moments — whether in boardrooms, classrooms or zoom rooms.
Her CV reads like an inspirational playlist: project-leading for The Old Vic (evaluation projects since 2021), spearheading development programmes for the Royal Shakespeare Company, and steering grants strategy for the Paul Hamlyn Foundation — only to mention a few highlights.
Maria’s superpowers? Gender equality advocacy, leadership development, neurodiversity coaching, time-management wizardry, and coaching working women out of feeling “overwhelmed”.
She offers everything from a one-off “Breakthrough” 90-minute power-coach session to tailored group and individual programmes.
Expect clear, inclusive, and often charming guidance — plus a healthy dose of “oh yes, I can do that”. Maria’s workshops on neurodiversity, imposter syndrome, productivity and confidence don’t just teach — they transform.
In a nutshell: Maria Evans is your strategic whisperer, organisational jigsaw puzzle solver, and occasionally, your greatest cheerleader — all wrapped in one sharply qualified expert.
Explore some of Maria's work below
Maria's Fantasy Cultural Year ... with a magic wand and time machine at hand.
🌉 Favourite Place & Drinks
Maria’s happy spot? The Hungerford Bridge in London, overlooking the Thames. Picture her at the Royal Festival Hall terrace with a refreshing Hugo Spritz in hand.
📚 Books & Big Wins
Maria’s reading Oliver Burkeman’s Meditations for Mortals — calming and insightful.
Mark’s a Philip Pullman fan, especially book three’s emotional punch.
Maria’s fantasy cultural year? A dream role with a London-based foundation — a year-long global journey supporting neurodivergent creatives, complete with a TV show, book deal, TED Talk and a global university lecture tour.
She’s starting in Prague and choosing train travel whenever possible.
🎶 The Prog Rock Challenge
The twist? Maria can only listen to one musical genre for 12 months. She picked prog rock: Pink Floyd, Genesis, and new-to-her Dream Theater. Mark joined in, sharing their live cover of Dark Side of the Moon.
✈️ Travel & Food
Vegetarian food with Moroccan, Lebanese, and Greek flavours topped the dinner list.
Travel dreams: Jaipur and Seville.
Sports chat: Maria’s into tennis; Mark offered a seat at a championship in Jaipur.
🎨 Culture & Creativity
Imagined: a VR gallery in Seville, letting you step inside famous artworks.
London culture week: opera, theatre, musicals, concerts, and film. Highlights:
Pink Floyd at Earl’s Court.
Hamlet (1997 Barbican).
Les Mis at the Barbican (which they’ll see together).
🎭 Opera, Movies & Farewell
Opera pick: Tosca — Mark’s recommendation for Maria’s first.
Movie night choice: The English Patient or Sense and Sensibility.
Farewell lunch: vegetarian Mediterranean in London, joined (in spirit) by Maria’s late friend Xanthi.
🎧 Wrapping Up
Restrictions lifted — Maria’s first free choice is Alexi Murdoch for her yoga playlist. A fun round of “this or that” revealed her love for milk chocolate, window seats, comedy, and history.
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Mark Walmsley FRSA FCIM AGSM
Chief Culture Vulture
Arts & Culture Network
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