Hi, I’m Mary.
I help multilingual professionals find their voice in English in a way that feels natural, steady, and fully their own.
My work sits at the intersection of language, identity, professional presence, and learning. I bring experience in coaching, mentoring, and learning strategy across global professional environments, along with a PhD in technology-enhanced learning, where my research focused on how voice, leadership, and community develop in everyday work.
Birdsong is a space where you do not have to become someone else to be effective. The work is about helping more of you come through in English, with steadiness, presence, and self-trust.
The early spark for Birdsong began in informal English practice around a table.
Birdsong began around a table.
Long before Birdsong, I spent six years volunteering at English Café, an informal gathering at my local library where multilingual adults came to practice English and build confidence.
People came from everywhere: Colombia, Germany, Peru, and beyond. Some had studied English for years. Others had rarely spoken it outside their homes. What many shared was a quiet fear: What if I say it wrong? What if they don’t understand me?
But week by week, something shifted. People who once sat silently began to speak. They found the courage to share stories, ask questions, and participate more fully.
I realized then that fluency is not about sounding native. It is about feeling authentic, capable, and understood.
That spark became Birdsong.
Coaching shaped by learning, leadership, and real work.
Birdsong brings together coaching, leadership development, language learning, and real-world professional experience.
The work is grounded in how people actually grow: through reflection, supported practice, trust, and meaningful communication over time.
Coaching and mentoring
Support shaped around your goals, your context, and the moments where English matters most.
Professional and cross-cultural experience
Experience working across global professional environments where communication, trust, and cultural nuance matter every day.
Learning science & research
A thoughtful, research-informed approach to how people build voice, confidence, and professional presence over time.
Your voice is already valuable.
Birdsong is built on the belief that meaningful communication does not come from performing perfectly.
It comes from feeling grounded enough to speak, connect, contribute, and be understood as yourself.
What learners notice.
People often come to Birdsong carrying more than language questions.
They may be carrying hesitation, pressure, self-consciousness, or the feeling that they are not fully coming through in English.
“Dr. Mary was brilliant in pointing safe ways forward. She cares for people’s concerns and wellbeing, and I would recommend her strongly to international students and others who need support with dissertations, theses, and writing.”— Rev. Dr. Couthino Moma, Coaching Client
Let’s start with a conversation.
We’ll talk about where you are, what matters most, and what kind of support would help your voice come through in English.