Episode 93: Multi Story Mentors - Maria Modigh on voicing values

Maria Modigh (MA Law and Business, 2002) joins Nilufer to discuss her action-packed career and reminisce on her time at Edinburgh as a Law and Business joint honours graduate! 

The extensive practical skills of this degree have helped Maria endlessly through her time as a finance lawyer to her non-profit work in sustainability and wellbeing, all the way to her current position as the Innovation Specialist in Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing at UNICEF. 

Join us as Maria describes her career since graduating in 2002 and her incredible journeys since - both growing and remaining true to her core. 

"Remember, you always have a choice—even a wrong choice teaches you something, and you can change course." - Maria

About Multi Story Edinburgh

Multi Story Edinburgh is a student-produced podcast that brings you the stories, experiences and wisdom of University of Edinburgh alumni. We hope they will inspire you, reassure you and remind you that you are part of the global University community that is here to support you as you make your own way in life.

The podcast is run by the Alumni Relations team at the University of Edinburgh. 

All opinions expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Edinburgh.
 
Music
Detective Begining Adventures by KonovalovMusic. Sourced from Tribe of Noise.

Transcript

[Theme music] 

Maria 00:05 
So I had to go against all my family’s wishes—everyone saying, “What on earth are you doing? You’re giving up a career!”—but it really was more in line with my values and my search for purpose. 

Nilufer 00:26 
Hello and welcome to Multi Story Edinburgh, the show where we sit down with some of Edinburgh’s alumni to talk all things post-graduation. I’m Nilufer Amureely, your new host, and this season’s theme is Multi Story Mentors—meaning that if you’ve just graduated and don’t know what comes next, don’t worry. Our alumni are here to offer advice, share insights from their careers, and reminisce. 

In this episode, I chat to Maria, a Law and Business joint-honours graduate who worked in the private sector as a financial lawyer before switching to nonprofit work—taking many organisations from strength to strength. Sitting down with Maria, we discuss growth, passion, maintaining your values, and how these things combined led her to her current position with UNICEF, leading the Global Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-being Team as an Innovation Specialist. 

Maria, it’s great to have you. Would you like to introduce yourself—your name, what you studied, and what you do now?

Maria 01:23 
My name is Maria Modigh. I studied at Edinburgh University from 1998 to 2002 and did a joint honours in Law and Business Studies. Today I’m the Global Lead for Mental Health Innovation at UNICEF, working with the Global Office of Innovation.  

Nilufer 01:46 
That’s incredible. I knew all those facts separately, but hearing them together is amazing. So, let’s kick off with our theme Multi Story Mentors. If you could be mentored by anyone at all, who would you choose? 

Maria 02:04 
That’s a good question. The person who comes to mind is Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia. For me, he embodies brave leadership and staying true to one’s values. He started in the 1970s as a climber, making environmentally friendly equipment, and from there built Patagonia. 

What inspires me most is that Patagonia became one of the most successful retail companies in the world, yet from the very beginning he asked, “How can my business align with my values and be socially and environmentally conscious?” He succeeded—setting aside 1% of profits for climate initiatives, growing responsibly, and ultimately transferring ownership of the company to an NGO and trust to continue that mission. He really shows how one company—or one person—can change the world through sustainable business and climate activism.  

Nilufer 04:05 
Would you say he’s influenced you personally—his business model, leadership style, or values? 

Maria 04:22 
Yes, hugely. I’ve often had to ask myself, “Is my work aligned with my values? Is it meaningful? Does it have purpose?” Having a role model like him, who moved consistently in line with his purpose, gave me a strong nudge. He’s someone I think of regularly whenever I feel I’m being pulled away from what matters most. 

Nilufer 05:05 
That’s such an emotional and concrete link—I love that. So, if you were to mentor yourself, what advice would you give your younger self at graduation? 

Maria 05:19 
I’d tell myself to stay true to my instincts. I was lucky to have gifted friends from different backgrounds, but often when you have a calling, people—including parents or mentors—say, “No, this is what’s best for you.” Sometimes that goes against what you feel inside. 

Listen to that inner voice and have the courage to say, “No, I want to try this instead,” knowing nothing is set in stone. You can always change direction. I’d also tell myself to test as many paths as possible—anything that sparks curiosity, even if unrelated to your degree. Use summers, part-time jobs, or short breaks to shadow people or take on small projects, even abroad. Those experiences expose you to different perspectives and help you understand yourself better. Ultimately, it’s about perspective-taking. 

Nilufer 07:28 
That’s great advice, not only for students with so many opportunities around them, but for life in general. You mentioned your younger self should focus on listening to that inner voice. Would you say you’re still similar to your student self in your values, even if your execution has changed? 

Maria 08:22 
At my core, yes—very similar. I’ve always been curious and bold, unafraid to ask questions, even if they seem naïve, and willing to try—or fail. There’s nothing wrong with failure as long as you learn from it. That growth-mindset curiosity is still there. The difference now is that I have the confidence to keep doing it. 

Nilufer 09:06 
Could you paint a picture of your day-to-day life as a student? Were you in societies? What did you get up to? 

Maria 09:15 
Aside from lots of classes for my joint honours, I was on the Law Society’s social committee, organising events for our year and faculty. I also did photography and tried different sports—rowing was one I gave a go! And of course, plenty of exploring and nights out with friends. 

Nilufer 10:03 
Reflecting back, how did studying at Edinburgh influence you? How did you change and grow? 

Maria 10:14 
I’m Greek, born and raised in Glasgow, but most of my family is still in Greece. Coming to Edinburgh was the first time I felt truly at home in a multicultural environment. Being surrounded by people from all over the world allowed me to blossom as a person. 

I made incredible friends from many backgrounds—we’re still in touch, scattered around the world, all doing amazing things. That diversity taught me that everyone brings their own “flavour.” I used to worry, “Am I interesting enough? Cool enough?” But at university I learned that everyone adds something unique. Embracing my own flavour gave me the confidence to feel grounded and assured wherever I go. 

[Theme music]  

Nilufer 12:49 
You worked in law after graduation, but now you’re in social, nonprofit, and global work. Could you walk us through that journey? 

Maria 13:00 
After graduating, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do but knew a law degree offered useful skills. Toward the end of uni, I found an internship in Brussels through a friend’s father who worked for the European Commission. I spent eight months there, working on legal links between former Soviet and Western European countries. It was eye-opening—arriving not knowing anyone, adapting, and building confidence. 

After that, I did the English law conversion course in London and applied for traineeships. It was competitive and nerve-wracking, but I eventually secured one with Allen & Overy, one of the world’s top firms. My start date was a year later, so I travelled for ten months before beginning work. 

I crewed a tall ship from Southampton to Bilbao, learned to snowboard in Whistler, Canada, lived with a family in Guatemala to learn Spanish, and volunteered in Costa Rica protecting leatherback sea turtles. Those experiences—immersing myself in nature and new cultures—shaped who I am today. 

When I returned to London, I was ready to start my legal career. I stayed at Allen & Overy for six-and-a-half years, specialising in project finance law—exciting, high-impact work on infrastructure projects across the Middle East and Africa. I loved it, but realised I wanted a more direct link to social impact and more creativity. 

While at the firm, I helped run a CSR programme supporting entrepreneurship in disadvantaged London schools. It was incredibly meaningful, and it convinced me I wanted to work in international development. 

I’d done a secondment to UNESCO in Paris during my training and reached out to return. They took me back, and I left law to work for UNESCO—initially unpaid, later as a consultant. It meant going against my family’s advice, but it was absolutely the right move for me. 

I worked there for over a year, met my now-husband, and lived in Paris for three years. My work focused on sustainable development policy in culture. I became fascinated by microfinance and social entrepreneurship—business for social good. 

After marrying, we moved to Sweden in 2014. I learned Swedish intensively, determined not to let language limit me. I joined Reach for Change, a foundation supporting social entrepreneurs. When I started, they worked in three countries; by the time I left, in 18 across Europe and Africa. I grew from Programme Manager to COO. 

After that, wanting to keep learning, I joined the 29k Foundation, a nonprofit tech startup providing free digital tools for mental health and inner development. I became Co-CEO, and now I sit on their board. 

That led to UNICEF. I’d seen how difficult it was for social startups to scale and wanted to support innovation at a systems level. UNICEF’s Global Office of Innovation moved to Stockholm, so I reached out and joined a year and a half ago as Global Lead for Mental Health Innovation. 

Nilufer 29:21 
That’s incredible—and very, very cool! What does your role at UNICEF involve?  

Maria 29:49 
UNICEF’s Office of Innovation focuses on how innovation can accelerate impact for children. We work with country offices, governments, civil society, and the private sector to develop and scale new solutions. 

For example, I might help a government design a national mental-health strategy, provide guidelines for implementation, or connect them with innovations that have worked elsewhere. I also manage an innovation framework and repository of vetted tools so countries don’t reinvent the wheel. 

Essentially, my role is about accelerating impact for children’s mental health and well-being through innovation. 

Nilufer 32:11 
You’ve gone from the corporate world to international development and nonprofits. Was it your desire for impact that drove that change, and what do you enjoy most about your work now? 

Maria 32:38 
Yes—impact and creativity. My legal work was meaningful, but I wanted to be closer to the ground, to see change firsthand. Innovation work requires a growth mindset and brave, conscious leadership—it embraces iteration and learning from failure. That approach feels much more aligned with my values and how I like to work: adaptive and agile. 

Nilufer 33:50 
You’ve made big transitions and lived in many countries. What advice would you give new graduates entering the world of work—especially about building a growth mindset and protecting mental health?  

Maria 34:16 
There’s a quote I love: “Success is being excited to go to work and excited to come home.” Try not to compartmentalise life—see it as a whole. The more your work, social circle, community, and family life align, the more meaning you’ll find. 

Ask yourself: What are my core values? Where will I compromise, and where won’t I? Remember, you always have a choice—even a wrong choice teaches you something, and you can change course. Many people don’t have that freedom, so use it well, for yourself and others. 

Nilufer 35:53 
You’ve seen incredible impact throughout your career. Could you share a story that really brought that to life for you? 

Maria 36:22
At Reach for Change, we coached social entrepreneurs. One was Kofi Annan—a former child slave who started a nonprofit helping children escape child slavery and develop skills for employment. Supporting him to scale his organisation meant hundreds more children being rehabilitated and given the chance to thrive. That kind of impact stays with you. 

There’s always more I want to do, but each stage teaches me something new and helps me find where I can contribute most.  

Nilufer 38:24 
That’s astounding. But the work must be emotionally heavy. What advice would you give about protecting your own wellbeing in demanding, impact-driven work? 

Maria 39:03 
It’s essential to carve out time for self-regeneration and find what works for you—whether that’s podcasts, reading fiction, or being in nature. For me, it’s running in the forest with my English Setter, Hudson, and singing in a choir. Those things recharge me and help me switch off. 

As a parent, too, I’ve learned to be present in the moment. Mindfulness helps quiet that constant “there’s more to do” voice. Disconnect from comparison culture and social media, and instead connect with yourself and others. 

Nilufer 41:11 
If you could share one key lesson for people entering the world of work, what would it be? 

Maria 41:21 
Be true to your values. Dare to fail. Have faith that you are the master—or mistress—of your own destiny. Within the limits life gives you, you always have choices. Stay true to what you feel called to do, who you want to be, and how you want to live. 

[Theme music] 

Nilufer 42:21 
Lastly, our quick-fire quiz! Arthur’s Seat or Calton Hill? 

Maria 42:46 
Arthur’s Seat. 

Nilufer 42:47 
Edinburgh Castle or Holyrood Palace? 

Maria 
Holyrood Palace. 

Nilufer 
Greyfriars Bobby or the Scott Monument?  

Maria 
Greyfriars Bobby. 

Nilufer 
Princes Street or the Royal Mile? 

Maria 42:46 
That’s tough—but the Royal Mile. 

Nilufer 43:07 
Arthur’s Seat or Greyfriars Bobby? 

Maria 
I’ll go with nature—Arthur’s Seat. 

Nilufer 43:11 
You nearly had it! Greyfriars Bobby is always my pick. Best restaurant or café in Edinburgh? 

Maria 43:22 
It’s been a long time, but the one that did amazing wraps—Nile Valley. 

Nilufer 43:34 
Excellent choice. And finally, sum up your Edinburgh experience in three words. 

Maria 43:44 
Inspirational. Exceptional. Transformational. 

[Theme music]

Nilufer 43:53 
So there you have it, folks. Our conversation with Maria revealed that holding onto your values keeps you on track; that you’ll keep changing and growing for the better; and that saying “yes” to everything—including protecting baby sea turtles and learning Spanish in a month—can lead to incredible adventures. 

I hope today’s episode shed some light on post-graduation fears and offered advice on the many paths life can take—expected and unexpected, but never wrong. 

Thank you for tuning in to Multi Story Edinburgh. We’ll see you on the next one. 

[Theme music]