About
Maria Francu
I Walk The Talk. I Deliver.
I Show You the Possibilities.
I was born into an oppressed society, but my parents instilled in me limitless thinking.
Growing up in Bucharest, Romania,
I dreamed of the life I now live.
I spent my early years on my grandparents’ farm, where I learned to love the land and farm animals and to appreciate the wisdom of simpler living. Listening to my grandfather’s stories of surviving WWII as a prisoner of war in Siberia, I saw firsthand the struggles and strength of the Romanian people living under a repressive communist regime.
When it was time for school, I moved to the city with my parents, who always stressed the value of education. I was naturally curious, driven, and determined to create a future beyond Romania, a dream they fully supported.
l-r: Maria as a young child with her parents. Maria’s middle school portrait, and then later as a teen with her teacher.
I achieved my dream of coming to America, but life threw me some curveballs...
After years of planning, I immigrated to the U.S. with my spouse at age thirty. While the journey was exciting, adjusting to a new country was challenging. Despite moments of doubt, we persevered.
The years that followed brought both triumphs and trials: infertility treatments, health struggles, and then, finally, the collapse of my marriage. Yet, I found strength as a mother and built a successful career in real estate, even designing and building my dream home.
Today, I’m more than an entrepreneur. I mentor others, organize retreats, create community, and am a proud mother to two amazing daughters. My passions for reading, dancing, beekeeping, and gardening keep me grounded and remind me of the simple joys that shaped my life. Now, as a life coach, I aim to help others design fulfilling, resilient lives just as I did.
Let me guide you in seeing what’s possible.
Your life is not about what you get but who you become.
What Makes Me A Different Kind of Life Design Coach
As a seeker, I’ve immersed myself in studying human behavior, psychology, nutrition, biology, physics, and philosophy to better understand the world and the people around me.
My journey has taken me across the globe, from exploring floating villages on Lake Titicaca to engaging in spiritual conversations with Buddhist monks in Laos.
As a parent and teacher, I’ve learned the importance of compassion and resilience, while my experiences in Romania shaped my values and drive.
Despite being born with a heart defect and living with a heart implant, I became a triathlete, proving that the human spirit can surpass physical limitations. Life is not about what you get but who you become.
I’m here to help you own your future and become the person you’re meant to be.
Maria with her daughters. Maria trained and completed the Annapolis Sailors Triathlon and traveled to Lake Titicaca.
Certifications and Education
I have broad work experience, including roles at Chase Manhattan Bank and Oracle and running a business that supported nonprofits serving the less fortunate. This knowledge and awareness has helped me connect with and understand people and their emotions.
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Life Coach Certificate
Mindvalley
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Real Estate License
Graduate REALTOR® Institute - GRI
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Database Application Development and Design
Columbia University
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Economics/Marketing
Bucharest University of Economic Studies
Your energy is the single greatest untapped resource for personal and emotional growth.
My Mission
To be a guide.
To help people see the possibilities, transform, and live their best lives.
I do not teach from a distance or speak from a pedestal. I walk beside those I serve, as a companion in transformation.
I don’t just transfer information; I help awaken what is already alive within each person.
My work is to create a safe and sacred space where the inner fire can awaken, to burn away what no longer serves, and to illuminate what is waiting to be born.
Transformation is not a lecture.
It is a lived journey.
And together, we walk it,
Living by design and not by default.
FAQS
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I have varied life experiences, having lived and traveled worldwide. I have worked in different organizational structures, including corporate, education, nonprofit, and entrepreneurship. I have studied human behavior, psychology, nutrition, biology, physics, and philosophy. Finally, in my personal life, I've experienced a lot of highs and lows, as outlined in my About page. I will bring all this to our sessions to inform and strategize for you.
My work goes beyond traditional life coaching. As a Life Design Coach, I help you look at your life as a whole, understand where you are, clarify where you want to go, and recognize possibilities you may not yet see for yourself.
My approach is grounded in both lived experience and a structured methodology. I use the Transformation Formula and Life Inventory to help you explore the different areas of your life, recognize what is working and what needs to change, and intentionally design what comes next.
I don’t believe there is one right way to live a good life. My role is to help you discover what a good life means to you and build it by design, not by default. -
My coaching approach is based on a simple belief: meaningful transformation does not happen by accident. It happens by design.
I use the Transformation Formula as a framework to help you move from where you are to where you want to be. We begin by looking at your life as a whole through the Life Inventory, exploring the areas that shape your well-being, relationships, work, finances, growth, joy, and environment.
From there, we identify what is working, what needs attention, and what you want to create. Through reflection, awareness, clarity, alignment, action, and rhythm, we turn insight into intentional change.
I do not tell you what your life should look like. I help you understand yourself, see the possibilities, make conscious choices, and design a life that feels authentically yours. -
Therapy and coaching serve different purposes, and both can play valuable roles in a person’s life. Therapy can help you understand and heal from past experiences, address emotional or psychological challenges, and improve your mental well-being.
Life Design coaching focuses on where you are now, where you want to go, and how you can intentionally create what comes next. My approach is forward looking and action oriented, helping you gain clarity, see possibilities, make conscious choices, and turn those choices into meaningful change.
Coaching does not diagnose or treat mental health conditions. When therapy is needed, it should be provided by a qualified mental health professional. Coaching can complement that work by helping you design and move toward the life you want to live. -
Life Design coaching is for you if you are ready to take a thoughtful look at your life and explore what is possible.
You may be navigating a transition, questioning what comes next, wanting to improve an important area of your life, or simply feeling that the life you are living no longer fully reflects who you are or who you want to become.
You do not need to have everything figured out. You need to be curious about what is possible and willing to participate in creating it.
Together, we will explore where you are, clarify what matters to you, and design a path toward a life that feels meaningful, intentional, and authentically yours. -
I have worked with many people who have limited means. I do not want cost to be a barrier to achieving your goals. If you need special pricing arrangements, please contact me, and we can work something out.
What my clients are saying
★★★★★
“Working with Maria has been a total game-changer for me. She has this incredible toolkit of strategies and approaches, and she knows just how to introduce them in ways that really resonate. When she introduced me to PQ reps and Positive Intelligence, it opened up new ways of thinking and handling challenges that I hadn’t considered before. Maria’s support goes beyond just coaching; she’s genuinely invested in helping you succeed and find confidence in your path. Every session with her feels tailored to what I need at that moment, and I’ve come away with practical tools and insights that I use daily. If you’re looking for someone who brings both heart and serious expertise to the table, Maria is absolutely the coach you want by your side.”
CARLOS, IGNITE MOTIVATION CLIENT
Imagine waking up each day feeling confident and excited about your life.
Decide your value and design your life. When you know your value, the world stops offering you discounts.
You do not have forever. Stop acting like you have forever. Go and do.
Being ready is a myth. You start. You fail. You figure it out. You get better. You keep going.