July 30, 2026

#50 - Ambassador Maria Brewer

Show Notes

"People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou

Growing up, Maria Brewer knew what it felt like to be othered, to be treated as an outsider. The memories of those feelings never left, and she spent her diplomatic career--which included two ambassadorships--looking for inclusivity and ways to get to 'yes.' In fact, we suspect that it was her aversion to the word 'no' that fueled her spectacular career.

Ambassador (ret.) Maria Brewer is a leadership coach, speaker, and former U.S. ambassador whose diplomatic career spanned nearly three decades. She served as U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone and the Kingdom of Lesotho and held senior leadership roles at the U.S. Department of State, including at the Foreign Service Institute, where she helped mentor and develop the next generation of American diplomats.

Across postings in Africa, Asia, and Washington, DC, Maria led diverse teams, navigated complex global challenges, and represented the United States at the highest levels of government. These experiences shaped the leadership philosophy she shares in The Ambassador's Leadership Edge, built on the principles of Power, Presence, and Purpose.

Today, Maria works with mid-career leaders, especially Latina professionals, through speaking, coaching, and writing. Her guiding motto, "Bloom Where Planted," reflects her belief that leadership grows through resilience, service, and the commitment to lift others as we climb.

To learn more about the book and Maria's executive coaching practice, visit her website here.