Maria Montgomery

02/22/2026

Rain, red wine and really good friends 🌧🍷

Spent the day exploring the beautiful Yarra Valley and honestly, the moody skies made it even more magical. Rolling vineyards wrapped in mist, long lunches, slow sips and lots of laughter.

From the elegance of Yering Station to the stunning setting at Tarrawarra Estate, every stop felt warm and inviting despite the rain.

Days like this are a reminder that it’s never about the weather it’s about the company. And this crew made it unforgettable. ✨

02/17/2026

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀
𝗔𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗜’𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴

A client once said to me:

“We delivered everything… so why does it feel like we achieved nothing?”

Because delivery isn’t the same as value.

Most projects don’t fail.
They leak.

They leak when requirements disconnect from strategy.
They leak when scope quietly expands.
They leak when benefits are assumed but never truly measured.

The team works hard.
Deadlines are met.
Documents are signed off.

But somewhere between initiative and outcome… the impact fades.

This is the problem I care deeply about solving.

And it’s why I’m bringing my End-to-End Business Analysis workshop to Auckland.

🗓 Friday, 27 March 2026
⏰ 9:30am – 1:30pm
📍 Auckland CBD

This 4-hour strategic intensive is designed for:

• Business Analysts
• Project Managers
• Product Owners
• Delivery Professionals
• Business Owners leading change

We’ll focus on practical tools to help you:

✓ Uncover real stakeholder needs
✓ Strengthen requirements and traceability
✓ Manage scope confidently
✓ Connect delivery to measurable outcomes
✓ Deliver change that actually matters

Seats are limited to 20 participants to keep it interactive and meaningful.

If you’re in Auckland and this resonates, I’d love to see you there.

Link in bio for full details and registration.
Or send me a DM if you’d like more information.

Let’s stop delivering activity…
and start delivering value.

02/04/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗱-𝘁𝗼-𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻 — 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝘁

Over the past few weeks, one pattern has stood out clearly across conversations, projects, and reflections.

Most organisations believe they’re working end to end.
But in practice, they’re often working end to end in name only.

Work is handed over.
Requirements are documented.
Delivery moves forward.

Yet value gets diluted along the way.

Because the real gaps don’t sit in tasks or documents.
They sit between them.

Between teams.
Between decisions.
Between ownership and accountability.

When end-to-end thinking is missing, we see:
Misaligned outcomes
Late discoveries
Rework that feels unavoidable
Solutions that technically work — but don’t quite land

This is exactly why one of my key focuses for 2026 is End-to-End Business Analysis.

Not as a concept.
Not as a diagram.
But as a way of thinking that connects intent, flow, decisions, and outcomes from start to finish.

The upcoming End-to-End Business Analysis Masterclasses are built around this reality practical, grounded, and shaped by real complexity.

And the Sneak Peek session will walk through:
How to see the whole journey clearly
Where value is commonly lost
What to look for before problems surface downstream

If you’ve ever felt like you were fixing pieces instead of improving the whole, this work will resonate.

Comment “E2E” or DM me if you’d like early access to the Sneak Peek.

02/03/2026

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝘆 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀

The last few weeks reminded me how important it is to pause, notice, and stay present rspecially when something feels uncomfortable.

One moment stood out.

Sitting on the back of a Vespa with my husband, moving faster than I expected, I felt fear creep in.
Not dramatic.
Just enough to make me tense.

And it made me realise something.

Fear doesn’t usually stop us because it’s overwhelming.
It stops us because we don’t slow down long enough to understand it.

Not by avoiding it.
Not by pushing through blindly.
But by working through it deliberately.

That moment reflected the same pattern I see in leadership and business every day, and why the LEAD framework matters so much:

We learn what’s really happening internally and externally.
We engage with the situation instead of resisting it.
We analyse risk, context, and impact without letting fear take over.
And then we deliver calmly, clearly, and with intent.

When we rush past discomfort, we miss insight.
When we stay present, clarity emerges.
And clarity changes outcomes.

It’s a lesson that applies far beyond a Vespa ride to leadership, decision-making, and navigating complexity.

💬 I’m curious when was the last time leaning into discomfort taught you something valuable?

01/28/2026

One of my 2026 focuses: End-to-End Business Analysis 🎯

After reflecting on recent projects, conversations, and lessons learned, one thing became clear:

Most challenges don’t happen because people aren’t trying hard enough.
They happen because we don’t see the full journey.

Not just tasks.
Not just documents.
But how everything connects — end to end.

This year, I’m launching End-to-End Business Analysis Masterclasses — practical, real, and designed for impact.

If this resonates, comment E2E and I’ll share updates.

01/21/2026

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗼.

I’ve been quiet on LinkedIn lately—intentionally so.

I just returned from an extended trip across the USA, and for the first time in years, I truly switched off. No work, no emails, no “just one quick reply.”

Here’s what each place quietly taught me:

𝗠𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗶
Sun, beaches, American football, and slow, joyful days. Miami reminded me: slowing down is enough.

𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗲
With my daughter and husband, no schedules, just laughs and shared moments. Memories come from presence, not plans.

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆
Broadway, Central Park, snow, Christmas lights, food, and seeing the city through my daughter’s eyes. NYC reminded me: energy, creativity, and connection can coexist.

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗢𝗿𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀
Jazz, food, culture, and curiosity. Depth and joy live where we allow ourselves to explore.

𝗦𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼 & 𝗡𝗮𝗽𝗮
Trains, wineries, memories, and gratitude. Seven years ago I dreamed of writing a book. Today, The Art of Getting Business Analysis Right is published, guiding my Q1 2026 planning.

This trip reminded me: reflection fuels clarity, and clarity fuels better decisions—at work and in life.

💭 What holiday moment made you feel truly present? Share a photo and what it reminded you of!

IntentionalLeadership

01/11/2026

And just like that we are on our away home, beck from holidays and hoping to get lots of rest in time for new chapter in Melbourne- 2026 here we come.


#2026

01/10/2026

✨ Last day in San Francisco ✨
What an incredible way to wrap up our trip. From beautiful food and famous clam chowder and fresh seafood, to colourful flowers and unforgettable flavours everywhere we went.

One of the best experiences was hopping on the iconic cable car no driver rows, just standing on the side as it crunched and climbed the hills on its own. It was absolutely amazing and such a classic San Francisco moment.

Another perfect day enjoying the tram ride, indulging in an amazing steak and pasta, and sipping relaxing drinks while taking in those breathtaking San Francisco views. There’s something truly special about this city — the charm, the energy, and the way it makes you slow down and simply enjoy.

Most importantly, it felt so good to fully relax in the final days of our trip before heading home. No rushing, just being present and soaking it all in. San Francisco really leaves a lasting impression unforgettable and timeless .

Grateful for every moment 🤍

01/07/2026

Now in San Francisco and enjoying the very last leg of our holiday ✨
Today was one of those pinch-me days… an incredible winery tour through Napa Valley.

The best decision we made? Having a driver take us around. No rushing, no worrying just sitting back, soaking in the scenery, and truly enjoying every moment. From stunning wineries to an unforgettable lunch, everything felt effortless and special.

Napa Valley is absolutely magical. The rolling vineyards, the atmosphere, the flavours, the calm it’s the perfect way to slow down and celebrate the journey we’ve been on.

Ending this holiday feeling grateful, relaxed, and full of beautiful memories. What an amazing way to finish ❤️

01/05/2026

01/02/2026

✨ New York, you were truly magical!
Such an amazing holiday filled with relaxing moments, delicious food, cute little spots, and of course… a lot of shopping!

Feeling so grateful for this experience and all the memories made.

MagicalMoments

01/01/2026

New Year’s Eve in New York ✨
Freezing cold, the longest fireworks, and so much fun.
What a way to welcome 2026 🎆
Happy New Year!