Hello, I’m Maria!

Discover how I blend engineering and UX to create digital excellence.

Wanna get in touch? Let's connect on LinkedIn

Engineering Manager • UX Nerd • Full-Stack Firestarter

Based in the Twin Cities, I lead teams that turn complicated business problems into beautiful, functional digital experiences — with the right mix of code, design sense, and just enough stubbornness to get things done right.

Over the past decade, I’ve shipped everything from enterprise-scale WordPress overhauls to highly customized ServiceNow portals. I’ve worked across industries, teams, and tech stacks.

No matter the project, my focus stays the same: make the user experience seamless and build systems that don’t break under pressure (or turn into a dumpster fire 🔥).

I thrive in the in-between spaces where

UX meets engineering,
strategy meets execution,
and chaos needs a plan.

Whether I’m untangling technical debt, mentoring devs, or pushing for better design decisions, I bring the spark ⚡️ — and keep things moving forward with clarity, speed, and a bit of wit.

Featured Work

Crafting a Modern Digital Narrative for Best Buy
Crafting a Modern Digital Narrative for Best Buy

Led a full UX and WordPress rebuild of Best Buy’s corporate blog—enhancing performance, brand storytelling, and content publishing flexibility.

What it’s like to work with me

Don’t just take my word for it. Here’s what people I’ve worked with have shared about their experience partnering with me.

“Maria Valley is an exceptional leader who brings a unique blend of strategic thinking, positivity, and collaboration to any team. As a peer leader at Best Buy, she managed a small but highly efficient Talent Acquisition team that consistently delivered valuable results.

Beyond her leadership skills, Maria was a trusted confidant for me over the past year. She has a strong engineering mindset, always seeking ways to optimize processes and drive efficiency. Her ability to foster teamwork, embrace learning, and uplift those around her makes her a standout professional.

Any organization looking for a dedicated leader with a problem-solving approach and a passion for continuous improvement would be lucky to have Maria on their team. I highly recommend her!”
David LindbergSoftware Engineering Manager — Best Buy

“I had the privilege of working with Maria during her four years at Best Buy. She was an invaluable team member who played a key role in leading and executing remediation efforts for security-related issues with efficiency and precision. During our engagements she maintained clear expectations and provided detailed updates on her team’s action plans/roadmaps. In addition, Maria consistently demonstrated optimism and openness to feedback to ensure fixes were holistic and aimed to improve Best Buy’s security posture. Her dedication, great work ethic, and collaborative spirit will be a wonderful addition to any team. I highly recommend her for any future opportunities!”
Kiera WalshAttack Surface Management Senior Analyst — Best Buy

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Maria, and her leadership truly stands out. She blends technical knowledge with emotional intelligence, creating a work environment where everyone feels supported and motivated. Maria takes a hands-on approach to mentoring, always ready to offer advice that helps others grow.

Her ability to solve complex problems with innovative solutions is a testament to her skills. Maria is an invaluable team member, and I highly recommend her for her leadership, mentoring, and technical expertise.”
Sujata ShrivastavaServiceNow Certified Administrator/ Developer

“I had the pleasure to work with Maria in BestBuy within people technology domain. She is a wonderful person and a hard working resource. She comes with a strong knowledge in service now and keen to learn new things, technology and skills based on projects. She is a great listener. She understands the vision of a product as a user and as well engineer.

It was great working with Maria for 2+ years. All the best!”
Himanshu SharmaEngineering Manager — Best Buy