TESTIMONIALS
MEANINGFUL CHANGE IS BUILT TOGETHER
Leaders, colleagues and partners reflect on working alongside Mayi. The trust built, the opportunities created and the progress made together.
TEAM Marketing - Commercial Leadership
“As a people manager, Mayi is highly regarded and appreciated by her direct reports. She fosters a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous development, while maintaining consistently high standards of delivery. Her ability to build resilient teams, develop talent and challenge constructively is a defining strength.”
» Alexander Smith
Director of Partnerships at Chelsea Football Club; former Director of Marketing Partnerships & Head of TEAM UK, TEAM Marketing
THNK - Visionary Leadership
“Mayi has the courage and audacity of a true pioneer: she dares to think big and bold, articulates a clear vision of a better tomorrow and excites others to join her on the journey. She is a gifted leader who can drive her vision to ultimate impact.”
» Rajiv Ball, PhD
Partner, THNK School of Creative Leadership, Lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley; former Partner, McKinsey & Company
Connecting Purpose and Commercial Value
“Mayi brought together strategic vision, commercial thinking and genuine purpose to create something quite unique: connecting the world of sport and athlete talent with leadership and workforce development in business.”
» Danny Crates PLY
Paralympic Gold Medallist, Global Keynote Speaker and Performance Specialist, Member of Mayi’s Team
The Adecco Group - Business Building
“Mayi built and led a multidisciplinary team with responsibility for the business unit and its P&L. She developed a new portfolio of products, strengthened the commercial proposition and expanded our outreach across priority markets. Her ability to connect product innovation, market insight and disciplined execution created a strong platform for growth.”
» Katrina Villarreal
Senior Leader, The Adecco Group
Strategic Transformation and Alliance Building
“Mayi combines strategic clarity with a deeply human approach to leadership. She brought partners across the sports ecosystem behind a shared ambition, transforming our athlete programmes into a scalable global business that created value for athletes, partners and the organisation.
» Cynthia Hansen
Managing Director, Innovation Foundation, The Adecco Group
IOC - Olympic Solidarity - Evidence into Strategy
“Mayi analysed previous Olympic Scholarship Programmes to develop a prognosis for the Beijing 2008 programme, including budget analysis and distribution. She successfully delivered a highly valuable tool for future programmes.”
» James Macleod
Managing Director, NOC Relations, Olympic Solidarity and Olympism365, IOC
United States Olympic Committee - Adaptability and Learning
“Mayi is a highly driven and adaptable individual who thrives in innovative environments and responds effectively to changing needs. She adapted extremely well to a new culture in Europe, and her work was always above par.”
» Carolina Bayón
Director, International Cooperation and Policy, United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee
Vision and Influence
“Mayi is a living example of someone who wants to change the world. When I first met her in 2011, she was already a visionary believer in the impact social media marketing could have on the growth of the women’s game around the world. From Jamaica to India, the United States to Switzerland, she developed a visionary and comprehensive approach to women’s football development.”
» Amanda Vandervort
President, Gainbridge Super League, United Soccer League
Leadership and Solutions
“Mayi is a visionary with an extraordinary ability to lead. She tackles issues head-on, finds solutions to every challenge and inspires her team to give their very best.”
» Emy Casaletti-Bwalya
Marketing Strategist and former member of Mayi’s FIFA team
Strategy at Global Scale
“Mayi knows how to think strategically and surpass the goals assigned to her. She managed a major programme implemented worldwide, developed innovative projects and proved herself to be a highly motivating and rewarding leader.”
» Thierry Regenass
Former Director of Member Associations & Development, FIFA
Communication and Credibility
“Mayi always impressed with her ability to carry her message. On panels and in presentations, she was consistently convincing and demonstrated very strong interpersonal skills.”
» Nicolas Maingot
Senior Communications Manager, International Hockey Federation (FIH)
Legacy Through Sport
“Through her vision and leadership, Mayi ensured that the legacy of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Chile 2008, extended beyond the tournament—creating more opportunities for girls across Chile to follow their dreams.”
» Michael Boys Loeb
Director, LOC Consulting
Creating Platforms at Global Scale
“Mayi was the prime mover behind two significant FIFA initiatives. She personally developed the idea for the FIFA Female Leadership Development Programme, which produced around 70 graduates globally in its first two editions. The Live Your Goals campaign was successfully deployed in more than 70 countries and touched the lives of many thousands of girls.”
» Hesterine de Reus
Coach, Coach Educator and Technical Expert
Influence and Role-Modelling
“What I always admired in Mayi was her drive and commitment to the women’s football cause, motivating and convincing people of the importance of her projects and the impact of her work. Through her work, she also served as a role model to many men and women around the world.”
» Flávia L. S. P. Rodrigues
Strategic Planning, OKRs and Capacity Building
Building a National Football Ecosystem
“Mayi initiated an official declaration between FIFA, the Namibia Football Association and its Women’s Department that led to youth leagues, a senior league, women in leadership roles and clear monitoring and evaluation tools. The programmes she introduced contributed to 12 regional women’s football committees, 18,000 registered youth players and 3,700 registered senior women players.”
» Jacqueline Gertze
Chairperson, Namibia Women’s Football, NFA Girls Centre and Galz & Goals Programme
Influencing Leaders, Changing the System
“During the years that Mayi worked for FIFA, she set up a worldwide web of development programmes from which hundreds of thousands of girls and women benefited. In countries where no one would ever dream that girls would get the chance to develop through football, Mayi convinced leaders not only to accept girls playing football under the umbrella of the national association, but also to invest and make the programmes a key priority.”
» Vera Pauw
Football Coach and Technical Director
Changing Perspectives, Inspiring Engagement
“Mayi’s teaching brought women’s football to life. What impressed me most was watching classmates move from indifference to genuine excitement about the subject. Her practical, creative approach encouraged us to explore our interests, share our knowledge and learn from one another.”
» Arianna Criscione
Co-Founder, Valeur Sport
Graduate, The Football Business Academy
Developing People, Unlocking Potential
“Mayi combines exceptional knowledge with a creative teaching style that brings out people’s full potential. Her guidance and thoughtful feedback helped me grow both personally and professionally. I wholeheartedly recommend her as a teacher and mentor.”
» Ajay Abraham
Senior Consultant, Sport+Stadia
Graduate, The Football Business Academy
