maría altamirano [she/her] is a facilitator, designer, and consultant who champions the transformative power of play to foster creativity, resilience, and connection. with over a decade of experience spanning latin america, the united states, east africa, and the middle east, she collaborates with organizations to design learning experiences that inspire meaningful change and inclusion.

maría spent eight years with the LEGO Foundation, leading programs that trained over 100,000 educators and developing playful learning strategies for diverse global contexts. her expertise lies in integrating learning through play, human-centered design, and edtech innovation to create safe and engaging environments where learning thrives.

maría’s work reflects her passion for bridging research and practice. she has authored 21 educational publications, developed hybrid learning solutions, and built teacher training networks to drive systemic change. certified in LEGO serious play, project management, and trained in scaling early childhood initiatives at harvard kennedy school, she continues to craft sustainable, empathetic solutions that empower communities and elevate learning as a tool for growth and connection.