Episode 79 From Marketing Expert to Global Leader with Maria Norowzian

What really changes when you step into senior leadership?In this honest and insightful conversation, Sarah speaks with Maria Norowzian, Group & UK Hospitality Director at ATG Entertainment, about the realities of career growth, leadership transitions and learning to lead beyond your technical expertise.Maria shares her journey from starting out in marketing at McDonald’s in Australia to leading innovation and hospitality strategy for one of the world’s largest theatre companies. Together, they explore the steep learning curves that come with ambitious career progression, the mindset shifts required at senior level, and why leadership is far more about influence, relationships and vision than having all the answers.This episode is packed with valuable insights for managers, heads of department and aspiring senior leaders navigating growth, confidence and career progression.In This Episode We Discuss:Moving from functional expert to strategic leaderThe leap from “Head Of” to Director level leadershipWhy curiosity and growth mindset accelerate career successLearning through mistakes, failure and discomfortBuilding confidence in a bigger leadership roleLeading teams and managing cross-functional relationshipsHow coaching supports leadership growthThe importance of vision, calm and clarity in leadershipAmbition, hard work and finding flow in your careerCreating success and freedom on your own termsTimestamps00:00 – Introduction to Maria and her role at ATG Entertainment01:00 – Maria’s early career journey and passion for marketing03:00 – Why steep learning curves drive career growth04:00 – The transition into leadership and building teams06:00 – Why moving from Head Of to Director felt so different07:00 – Leadership mindset shifts and learning through mistakes08:00 – Expanding beyond marketing into commercial leadership10:00 – Why Maria sought coaching support11:00 – Transferable skills, confidence and navigating fear13:00 – Leadership blind spots and executive presence14:00 – Maria’s definition of great leadership15:00 – Career advice for ambitious professionals17:00 – Working hard, ambition and finding flow18:00 – The value of coaching for leaders20:00 – What “Unstuck and Unstoppable” means to MariaUseful LinksConnect with Maria on LinkedInYour First 100 Days by Niamh O'KeeffeSign up for Weekly Career InspirationLearn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching ProgrammesBook a Free 121 Clarity CallConnect with Sarah on LinkedInRate & Review the PodcastIf you found this episode of Unstuck & Unstoppable helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Sarah know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected]