Ep 27: Maria Stanley - Service and Purpose in the Police

<p>Maria Stanley is someone who has built her life around <strong>service, courage and a willingness to step into the unknown</strong>.</p><p>From an early childhood sense of justice, Maria went on to forge an extraordinary and unconventional career spanning the <strong>Merchant Navy, Fire Service and Police</strong>. Along the way, she repeatedly found herself navigating male-dominated environments, challenging expectations, taking risks and finding the courage to speak up.</p><p>But beneath the different uniforms, roles and experiences was one consistent thread: <strong>a desire to help others and make a difference.</strong></p><p>In Episode 27 of <strong>Build Your Purpose</strong>, Maria shares the experiences that shaped her journey and explores how values, self-awareness and a willingness to take risks can help us build lives of meaning and impact.</p><p>We discuss:</p><p>• Maria’s childhood and the origins of her strong sense of justice<br>• Her remarkable career across the Merchant Navy, Fire Service and Police<br>• Why service and helping others became such a central part of her purpose<br>• Overcoming gender barriers in traditionally male-dominated professions<br>• The importance of introspection, self-awareness and leadership development<br>• Her charity work supporting police families<br>• Why speaking up and taking risks can fundamentally change your life<br>• What international speaking engagements have taught her about leadership and purpose<br>• How we can all better understand our own values and use them to shape the lives we want to lead</p><p>Maria’s story is a powerful reminder that <strong>purpose isn’t always something we discover — sometimes it’s something we build through the choices we make, the risks we take and the people we choose to serve.</strong></p><p>Whether you’re questioning your direction, considering a change, developing as a leader, or simply looking for inspiration to live with greater purpose, this is a conversation worth listening to.</p><p>🎧 <strong>Listen to Episode 27 of Build Your Purpose with Maria Stanley.</strong></p>