Beyond the screen
They shaped me. They inspired me. They moved me.
Mentors
These are the individuals who have deeply influenced my journey and growth in Canada. Their trust, guidance, and encouragement have shaped not only who I am as a person but also the professional I’ve become — more confident, curious, and grounded in purpose. Through their support, I’ve learned to approach my work with greater depth, empathy, and intention.
Lisa Kimmel
President & CEO,
Edelman Canada
Met me in 2018
"I've had the privilege of working closely with Maite for nearly seven years now, and I continue to do so in her freelance capacity. She initially joined Edelman as a junior designer and has since grown into an incredibly bright and talented senior designer.
What truly sets Maite apart is her unique ability to observe the world around her and translate complex challenges into clear, compelling visions. She tackles every project with remarkable determination, blending a rare mix of curiosity and creativity that always yields exceptional results.
Beyond her impressive skills, Maite possesses a profound sense of responsibility and focus. She's not just about setting goals; she pursues them with unwavering purpose, consistently following through and upholding the highest standards for herself. Maite brings energy, thoughtfulness, and a truly collaborative spirit to every endeavor, whether working independently or as part of a team. Any organization would be incredibly fortunate to have her contribute her talents."
Laura Kim
Chief Strategy Officer, Edelman Canada
Met me in 2020
"Over the past five years, I've had the privilege to get to know Maite, and watching her evolution has been nothing short of inspiring. During our years together at Edelman, we had the opportunity to work closely, and I was consistently struck by her unwavering drive and continual growth as a creative professional. From the moment I met her, Maite stood out for her insatiable curiosity and powerful drive to grow—not just as an exceptional designer, but as a deeply thoughtful and self-aware individual. She's constantly seeking opportunities to refine her craft, deepen her understanding of design, and explore new approaches with an incredibly open and inquisitive mind.
What I admire most about Maite is her profound commitment to both personal and professional development. She truly embraces feedback as a vital tool for growth, actively seeks out every learning experience, and consistently holds herself to an incredibly high standard of excellence, all while maintaining her humility and collaborative spirit. Equally impressive is her innate strength in teamwork. Maite is the kind of person who listens deeply, communicates with remarkable clarity, and always shows up for others with a generous, solution-oriented mindset. She actively creates space for shared success and is instrumental in fostering a positive, inclusive, and productive team culture.
It's truly rare to come across someone with such a powerful blend of creativity, sheer dedication, and profound emotional intelligence. I have absolutely no doubt that Maite will continue to grow, lead, and inspire everyone around her."
Greg Gray
Creative Director,
Hill & Knowlton
Met me in 2022
"Maite started at H&K Canada (now Burson) shortly after I assumed the role of National Creative Director. From day one, she asserted herself as a powerhouse within the studio. She attacked every project handed to her, regardless of size or profile, with an intensity and commitment I had never seen before. She jumped in to help before anyone thought to ask and quickly became adored by her colleagues. And she did it all with a frighteningly high level of talent and zero ego.
A dream to work with."
Elma Forić
Creative Director,
Hill & Knowlton
Met me in 2023
"It was a genuine pleasure to manage and collaborate with Maite during our time together at Hill & Knowlton. From the outset, it was clear she brought a rare blend of creative depth, sharp focus, and proactive initiative to every project she touched. What stood out most was her strong sense of purpose and clarity about her career path — an attribute that consistently impressed me.
She had a growth mindset. She approached each challenge with intention, not only refining her already impressive design skills, but also expanding her strategic thinking and collaborative instincts. Because of this, I was always thoughtful about creating opportunities that would stretch her in meaningful ways. Whether through joint project work, targeted feedback sessions, or assignments designed to build her portfolio, Maite consistently delivered with thoughtfulness, professionalism, and integrity.
Our regular check-ins became more than just status updates, they were collaborative spaces where we could problem-solve, exchange ideas, and align her day-to-day work with her long-term goals. That level of creative trust and alignment is rare, and I truly valued the partnership we built. Maite embodies all the qualities of a design leader in the making: focused, driven, collaborative, and constantly evolving. I have no doubt her talent will continue to grow and make an impact wherever her career takes her."
Jennifer Obeid
Vice President Health & Pharma
Hill & Knowlton / Burson
Met me in 2023
"Maite has an unwavering commitment to excellence. Her talent as a brand strategist and designer is undisputable, but it’s her ability to approach every task with an uncommon mindfulness and an unwavering calm demeanor that truly sets her apart.
As a designer at Burson, she is known for her ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities and create incredible outputs with limited briefings, direction, and tight timelines. She’s a master at balancing competing deadlines coming from dozens of project teams, never compromising the quality of her work or loosing her positive outlook.
Everything Maite touches is left more beautiful."
Karen Malone
Sustainability & ESG Strategy
Hill & Knowlton
Met me in 2023
"Working with Maite on the Mazda Canada Sustainability Report was one of the most memorable and creative projects that I experienced in my role as Vice-President of Sustainability at Hill & Knowlton.
From the very beginning, Maite demonstrated an innate understanding of what we needed to achieve and how to translate the complex narratives into design concepts that were not only visually compelling but strategically aligned with the client’s business and communications objectives. What impressed me most was her ability to quickly absorb the nuances of the brief and transform them into thoughtful, on-brand creative work that resonated deeply with both internal teams and the client.
We developed a strong working bond rooted in mutual trust, open dialogue, and shared standards of excellence. Maite consistently brought fresh thinking to the table, and our brainstorms often sparked some of the strongest design directions in both the 2022 and 2023 reports. Her professionalism and poise during client presentations were particularly noteworthy; I was proud to have her represent the creative team directly—twice—knowing she would speak with clarity, answer questions with confidence, and represent the creative vision with authority.
Maite is not only a talented designer but a collaborative partner, a strategic thinker, and someone who elevates the work through both skill and presence. I would readily welcome the opportunity to work with her again."