Get Better Acquainted with
Maria van Hekken

Her Background

Maria’s path to coaching is different. Her professional journey includes extensive hands-on experience in varied industries and roles. Along the way, she has worn many hats as an executive, entrepreneur, board member, team leader, project manager, consultant and fundraiser. Maria draws upon her unique and multi-faceted background when helping clients to successfully navigate the challenges they face and achieve new levels of positive results.

Maria has spent over 20 years working in senior leadership roles with diverse organizations in the private, public and non-profit sectors. She has an established record of success in management positions developing programs, building partnerships, marketing institutions and serving organizations, individuals and communities. She clearly walks the talk.

Through determination and focus, Maria has consistently sought and achieved her dreams. In the early 90’s, Maria was Director of U.S. Programs for an organization and was managing a million dollar Kellogg Foundation grant. At the time, she had a newborn and plenty going on in her life. She decided to get focused and concentrate her energy on achieving the results she truly wanted. It worked for her time and time again. Based on her experiences, she took her success and passion for mentoring individuals and teams in the private and public sectors and founded Yes2Yes Leadership-for-Success Coaching.

Maria is a graduate of the Georgetown University Leadership Coaching Certificate Program. She is credentialed through the International Coach Federation and is an active member of the Philadelphia Area Coaches Association. She is also a Founding Member of the Leadership Coaching Association.

Based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Maria has a rich life as a professional coach, wife, and mother to four children, one dog and four cats. 

Her Philosophy on Life and Coaching

There is little difference between Maria’s work and her life. It all merges together in a comfortable synergy. “I often spread my work out on the dining room table at home so I can keep an eye on the numerous bird feeders outside our large picture window,” Maria describes. “It brings joy to be an observer of the wonderful birds who appear -- and their beauty never fails to inspire my coaching.” Maria says that her best times come when she is having fun and being passionate. She faithfully brings passion, fun and humor to coaching and to her life.

Her Unique Coaching Style

Maria believes in the power of possibility… being positive… and having the ability to see the gift in any situation. She supports each person to be his or her most powerful and authentic self. Maria’s unique approach helps people see their vision and not the challenge. She guides others out of their bad habits of looking at what is wrong and helps them see the possibilities for achieving the results they want. With skill and intuition, she provides the safe and supportive space to make this happen.

“My clients say I hold their agenda better than they do,” explains Maria. “It’s because my own special gift is being able to identify the patterns and show the possibilities to change mindsets. I tell clients not to be attached to a specific outcome because what they want will come, but maybe not in the exact way they expect.