Known as the expert to the experts, Maria Reyes-McDavis, is regarded as one of the foremost thought leaders in new media. As an award-winning digital strategist and co-founder of Peas&Carrots Media, Maria has guided businesses, high-performing entrepreneurs, ministries, and non-profits to grow and measure success in the digital world.
As an acclaimed mentor to successful business owners and entrepreneurs, Maria has spent her career empowering and guiding others to entrepreneurial success. Maria is the co-author of Impactology: The Art & Science of Living an Extraordinary Life (March 2012). She is also author of the upcoming books: Business That Matters: Pinpoint Your Impact Factor, Unleash Your Genius and Finally Build a Profitable Business that Matters! (April 2012) and A Bruised Reed (March 2012).
As a result of her success, Maria has been named:
- one of 50 Social Media Phenoms
- 50 Influential Women in Social Media
- Nominated Top B2B Twitterer Award
- Internet’s Most Valuable Female Brands
- IT Industry’s Most Influential Women
- Top 20 Must Follow Social Media Divas
- HubSpot Certified Professional (Honors)
- a Churchill Honors Scholar
Maria is well-known as a colossal brainiac with a certified genius IQ. As a life-long learner, Maria has received a BS in Business, BA in Ethics, Certificate in Applied Finance and Economics, and graduated as a Churchill Honors Scholar. She is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity, with the ultimate goal of receiving her PhD in Theology.
Maria’s current research and study efforts focus on understanding the effects of new media on business, religion and the human experience–as individuals and collectively. These efforts include continual exploration within the fields of sociology, social psychology, theology, neuroscience, psychology and digital technology from a futurist perspective.
A Bruised Reed
From Single, Welfare Mom to Entrepreneurial Visionary
Maria’s entrepreneurial vision did not begin to develop until she found herself in poverty, stuck in the welfare system with three children (one severely disabled)–living a destructive lifestyle. After giving her life to Christ, Maria began to see her own limited beliefs and the future of poverty her children would experience, as a result. Unable to work outside of her home, due to the demands of her son’s medical needs, Maria realized she would have to think outside of the box and take a road less traveled, one to entrepreneurship.
After graduating with her first degree, in 1998, Maria began her career as a web designer, convincing local companies in her hometown to build a website as part of their marketing efforts. During this time, Yahoo and AOL were the dominate players, websites consisted of images, text and basic forms–with dialup as the only means of connection. Maria published her first ezine in the summer of 1999, which has since grown to over 50k+ subscribers.
Maria’s 13 year, “overnight” success story was never glamorous and included many periods of trial and error along the way. With perseverance and an unrelenting pursuit of a better life for her family, Maria ultimately discovered her passion–helping others experience the joy and freedom of entrepreneurial success.
Today, Maria’s books, educational resources and programs reach thousands worldwide. In addition, Maria has began to develop her ministry, to pursue her God-given purpose–helping women realize their own significance in Him, to live a phenomenal life and reach their true potential.
