Maria McDowell

Maria started her career as a digital delivery consultant working with a vast array of agencies and brands spanning the past 20 years. A career spent managing, building and nurturing teams and departments, led Maria to develop a deep passion for mentoring & coaching. She is a member of the BIMA mentoring council and is also Head of Mentorship for Brixton Finishing School.

“I know what it is like to stall in my career, be labelled and championed. I also know how what it is like to have an advocate and how a true mentor and sponsor can change not only the direction of your career, but also your life.

Lollipop mentoring was founded at the beginning of the year and is a free mentorship programme for ambitious black women in advertising & marketing. Pairing professional Black women with senior industry mentors. The aim is to provide support to counter inequalities embedded in workplace culture as well as the disproportionate impact on Black womens’ careers as a result of the pandemic.