About

Nadra Ehrman and Dr. Maia at event at the Community Environmental Council (CEC), Santa Barbara, California. Photo: Maxx Hennard.

Throughout her career, Dr. Maia has been a catalyst for leadership with love.

Her career spans 15 years across every sector: private, government, academia, and nonprofit.

Holding a Doctorate in Urban Planning, she is a certified sustainability expert with a specific focus on climate resilience. Her commitment to fostering positive change has garnered international recognition, earning her prestigious titles such as an Obama Scholar and Dalai Lama Fellow.

She currently serves as the president of Filha do Sol, a nonprofit she co-founded on a mission to uplift frontline women’s leadership to promote climate justice, beauty and nature in Brazil and the Global South.

Previously, she served at the local government of Teresina, where she played a pivotal role in securing and implementing investments for climate resilience. Her expertise has also extended to global consultancy and speaking engagements on climate change and social justice, collaborating with institutions such as the Brazilian Center for Climate (CBC), the United Nations University (UNU), and Columbia University.

A scholar with a global perspective, Dr. Maia has attended esteemed institutions including the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, the Technology University of Delft in the Netherlands, and Columbia University in the United States. As a mentor for the Columbia University Women’s Leadership Network, she actively advances gender equality in Brazil.

In 2024, she was recognized at Change Now in Paris as one of the 25 Women Shaping our Future, a campaign that also showcased women like Sonia Guajajara, Brazilian Ministry of Indigenous People.

As an influential thought leader, mentor, and advocate for the next generation of leaders, Dr. Maia continues to inspire positive change, dedicating her life to promoting leadership education for meaningful impact.