Women Leaders - Maria Berra, Spoke Marketing
by Marianne Biangardi and Jennifer Bardot
When you began your career did you ever imagine you would have a leadership role like you have now? What advice would you give your younger self?
When I began my career, I don’t think I fully envisioned the exact leadership role I have now — but I did know I wanted to make an impact. I was focused on doing good work, learning as much as I could about marketing strategy, branding, and how to build genuine connections with people. I said “yes” to new challenges — like pitching ideas to clients, speaking in front of audiences, or stepping into sales conversations — even when they felt a little out of my depth. Looking back, every opportunity I leaned into helped shape the marketing and business development leader I eventually became.
If I could give my younger self some advice, it would be: trust your instincts, speak up more, and don’t wait until you feel 100% ready — just start. Growth often happens in uncomfortable spaces, and it’s okay not to have all the answers. Stay curious, stay kind, and keep your focus on solving real problems for real people. In this field, relationships and creativity are everything — and leadership isn’t about a title, it’s about showing up with purpose, consistency, and heart.
Who inspires you and why? What is your most valued attribute in the leaders you respect or mentors you have had?
Throughout my career and personal life, I’ve been fortunate to draw inspiration from many individuals. However, one person who stands out to me professionally is Ciara Brewer, EOS Integrator and MarTech Lead at Spoke Marketing. Ciara plays a pivotal role in our organization — her leadership, strategic vision, and unwavering support are fundamental to our team’s success and cohesion. She is truly the connective force that holds everything together. I deeply admire her ability to lead with clarity and empathy, and I find myself learning from her every single day.
When I think about the leaders and mentors who have had the greatest impact on me, the attribute I value most is their ability to lead with both strength and humility. The leaders I respect most inspire trust, foster collaboration, and elevate those around them — qualities Ciara exemplifies in every way.
What did it take in order to trust yourself to step into leadership?
For me, trusting myself to step into leadership wasn’t about having it all figured out — it was more about realizing that no one really does, and that’s okay. What helped the most was getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. I had to learn to trust my judgment, speak up even when I wasn’t 100% sure, and be okay with making mistakes as long as I was learning from them.
At Spoke, I’ve been lucky to work with people who lead by example and create space for others to grow. That environment gave me the confidence to step up, knowing I had support and room to find my own leadership style. It didn’t happen all at once — it was more like small moments over time that added up to a mindset shift.
Have you experienced any hardships and how did you overcome the obstacles. When did you know the business was going to make it?
Like most people in business development, I’ve definitely experienced my fair share of ups and downs. One of the biggest challenges was learning how to stay steady when things are uncertain — whether it’s a slow quarter, a deal that falls through at the last second, or having to shift strategies fast. Early on, I had to get comfortable with hearing “no” and not taking it personally. Instead, I started viewing obstacles as part of the process — each one taught me something that made me better the next time around.
As for knowing the business was going to make it — there wasn’t one dramatic turning point, but more of a consistent feeling that started to build. It was when I saw the way our team at Spoke pulled together during tough moments, stayed creative, and truly had each other’s backs. Watching our clients grow and come back to us for more partnership also showed me we were building something real and sustainable. That kind of momentum is what made me feel like, “Yeah, we’ve got this.”
What do you attribute your success to? Secret to your success…
Truly caring about people on a personal level. That is it!
What advice would you give other local women leaders?
Build your circle. Surround yourself with people who challenge you, support you, and remind you of your worth on the days you forget it. And when you get the chance — be that person for someone else.
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Jennifer Bardot (left) (ownyourgrit@gmail.com, or 314-630-1451) is CEO and Founder of G.R.I.T. Community For Women.
Marianne Biangardi (right)(mbiangardi@uhy-us.com or 314-322-4871) is Sr. Associate, Marketing and Business Development, at UHY LLP.