creative executive. branded content strategist.
professional culture obsessive.
Great content doesn’t happen by accident.
I’ve spent more than a decade at the intersection of editorial instinct and brand strategy — first as a writer and editor, then leading branded content for Dunkin’, Uber, Sol de Janeiro, and more.
Now I work with brands directly, most recently as a fractional Creative Director for Nutrafol.
Three ways to work together
MONTHLY RETAINER
Fractional Creative Direction
Senior creative leadership without the full-time hire. I set the strategy and voice, brief your team and agency partners, and review the work so everything ships sounding like you.
Brand & campaign strategy
Tone of voice & audience
Creative briefing & review
3 WEEKS • $2,800
The Positioning Sprint
Get clear on who you are, who it’s for, and how to say it. A fixed-scope sprint for founders and small businesses that ends in a working document, not a theory deck.
Positioning statement
Audience personas & messaging pillars
A “say this, not that” language bank
PROJECT-BASED
Brand Voice & Content Strategy
For brands that know what they're about but need it written down and put to work, across every channel and every writer.
Tone-of-voice & copy style guides
Social & content strategy
Campaign concepts
150M+
campaign impressions
10+ yrs
building editorial and branded content
40M+
impressions from celebrity-led activations
BRANDS I’VE BUILT WORK FOR
Nutrafol • Dunkin’ • Uber Eats • Sol de Janeiro • First Response • Barefoot Wine • Nutella • Bounce Curl
Hello there!
I’m Maria, a creative director and brand strategist who relates way too much to Strega Nona.
Before I was writing briefs, I was writing for The Cut, The Washington Post, Glamour, Elle, and Refinery29. I still write Sunday Sauce, my Substack about the Italian-American experience, food, and modern womanhood.
I live in New Jersey with my husband, our dog Edie, and our sourdough starter named Leroy.