Maria Benedetti (Munàh) is a Transformational Keynote Speaker, Certified Life Coach, Women’s Empowerment Mentor, Award-Winning Storyteller, and Founder of Kriola Di Força— a global movement dedicated to empowering Cape Verdean women and girls through leadership, healing, and cultural pride. Maria’s leadership story was forged through lived experience—not privilege. Born in Portugal and raised in a community marked by inequality and exclusion, she became a mother at a young age and faced significant barriers to education and opportunity. At 19, she moved to the UK without speaking English and began rebuilding her life—teaching herself the language using children’s books and cartoons.

She became the first in her family to attend university, qualified as a midwife, and led groundbreaking work addressing health inequalities for ethnically diverse women. Her courage and advocacy helped shift awareness around culturally safe care and inspired the development of similar roles across other NHS organisations. Maria is a Certified Life Coach, a Mental Health First Aider, and holds an NVQ Level 4 in Information, Advice and Guidance. Through keynote speaking, mentoring, and coaching, she supports women navigating burnout, identity, and imposter syndrome— equipping them to lead with clarity, confidence, and compassion.

Her sessions are ideal for women’s leadership summits, corporate inclusion programmes, educational institutions, and
resilience-focused events. Maria also uses creative expression to reach and empower others. Her viral anthem Kriolas became a powerful tribute to the resilience of Cape Verdean women—honouring generational strength, voice, and identity. The song sparked the launch of Kriola Di Força, a growing platform for intergenerational empowerment, visibility, and legacy. Maria Benedetti speaks to those ready to rise. Her voice invites women to honour their story, prioritise their well-being, and lead with vision that transforms generations to come.