Maria Couto

Bilingual Chief of Staff and Senior Executive Assistant with 12+ years partnering directly with C-suite executives, founders, and senior government officials across multinational corporations, regulatory bodies, and financial services. Proven track record of turning strategic priorities into executed projects: managing complex multi-executive calendars and inboxes, coordinating cross-functional teams, and building the systems — task tracking, reporting, documentation — that keep fast-moving organizations on schedule. A trusted gatekeeper for highly confidential and sensitive information, skilled at anticipating needs, resolving issues before they reach leadership, and representing executives in high-stakes meetings and events.

Extensive experience coordinating international travel, high-profile events, and executive communications in English and Spanish, with a fast-adopter mindset toward AI-powered productivity and workflow-automation tools that keep teams operating at maximum efficiency.

Executive Assistant to the Vice President at Cisco Systems (2017-02 – Present)

Act as strategic right hand and gatekeeper to the VP of Cisco Mexico, translating executive priorities into coordinated action across global, cross-functional teams while safeguarding confidential information.

• Manage complex, multi-stakeholder calendars, meetings, and inboxes for the VP and senior leadership, resolving conflicts and protecting time for strategic priorities.
• Convert executive priorities into actionable plans, coordinating cross-functional teams and tracking deliverables through to completion.
• Plan and execute large-scale corporate events and global initiatives (All Hands, CISCO LIVE), synchronizing logistics and telepresence across multiple countries.
• Own end-to-end travel and event logistics for visiting international executives, including flights, hotels, and security coordination.
• Oversee expense reporting, budgets, and purchase orders (SAP, Concur Expenses, Concur Travel, GeT); manage corporate card reconciliation and vendor relationships.
• Prepare research-backed briefings ahead of client and executive meetings; capture minutes and action items and drive follow-through on commitments.
• Serve as trusted point of contact between the VP, internal teams, and external stakeholders, upholding strict confidentiality and the company's Code of Conduct.

Bilingual Commercial Assistant to the Vice President at DHL (Deutsche Post) (2014 – 2017)

Supported the Vice President's schedule, travel, and event logistics while managing key stakeholder relationships and financial processes.

• Coordinated the VP's calendar, inbox, and domestic/international travel logistics, anticipating needs before they arose.
• Organized corporate events and produced reports and minutes for monthly cross-functional operational meetings.
• Managed expense reporting, reconciliations, and purchase orders (Concur Expenses, GET system) and administered corporate credit cards.
• Served as primary point of contact for domestic and international clients, tracking issues through to resolution and supporting key account follow-through.
• Delivered bilingual (English/Spanish) executive presentations and coordinated the media sales, driver, and security teams.

Senior Assistant Commissioner / Deputy Director of Communications at Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFETEL) (2009 – 2013)

Managed the Commissioner's agenda and stakeholder relations; promoted in 2011 to lead institutional communications and event logistics for the Presidency.

• Coordinated cross-departmental work to meet the Annual Work Program (AWP) and tracked management performance indicators.
• Managed the Commissioner's professional and personal agenda, staff directories, and stakeholder databases.
• Organized institutional events end-to-end, from invitations through logistics, for officials in Mexico and abroad.
• Promoted to Deputy Director of Communications of the Presidency (June 2011); led institutional and government relations and coordinated participation in industry forums and conferences.
• Proposed and implemented process improvements to administrative workflows and responded to written requests.

Assistant Director of Finance and Credit Risk, Mexico & Latin America at Daimler Chrysler Financial Services (2006 – 2009)

Supported the Finance Director's agenda and international operations while overseeing administrative coordination for senior leadership.

• Managed authorization and tracking of supplier payment requests, monitoring finance area activities and project deliverables.
• Coordinated international business travel, negotiating preferred vendor rates for flights and hotels through travel agencies.
• Maintained bilingual (English/Spanish) communications with global staff and organized Steering Committee meetings.
• Controlled confidential files and documentation, and administered the department's revolving expense fund.
• Coordinated cross-border phone conferences and tripartite meetings.

Private Secretary to the General Treasurer / Technical Secretary at Senate of the Republic & Treasury General, Legislative Assembly (1996 – 2006)

Managed the Treasurer's legislative and personal agenda and led institutional event planning and stakeholder relations with senators and officials.

• Directed the control and management of public and private correspondence for the Treasury.
• Authored institutional manuals and coordinated special institutional events, workshops, seminars, and conferences.
• Served as Technical Secretary to the General Director of Planning and Information, researching and preparing legislative materials.
• Coordinated special events and planned political campaign logistics for the Federal District Assembly.
• Built institutional communication strategies in direct contact with federal and local senators and representatives.

Reporter / Producer at Televisa, S.A. de C.V. (1992 – 1996)

Began career in journalism as a reporter for the newscast "Al Despertar," advancing into television production and editing.

• Prepared and drafted informative summaries covering political affairs and general and social interest topics.
• Produced, post-produced, and edited over 200 television programs, including entertainment and lifestyle segments.
• Researched, coordinated, and produced more than 380 news stories, contributing to corporate special-event programming for Televisa Group.

Communication Degree – Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (1992 – 1996)

Journalism, TV Production and Radio – Centro de Estudios Universitarios de Periodismo y Arte en Radio y Televisión (CEU-PART) (1989 – 1991)

Graduate Program in Managerial Skills – Universidad Anáhuac del Sur (2010 – 2011)