Hi, I'm Maria!
Maria Waheed · Operations & Project Development
I work across Operations and Project Development at Little Founders — taking something that feels complicated, breaking it down, understanding how the pieces connect, and finding a way to make it work: from research and planning to content, campaigns, and turning an idea into something real.
Analytical & curious by training
Little Founders
Market studies & project planning
Turning ideas into something real
Curiosity that keeps asking why
I have always been someone who enjoys figuring things out — taking something that initially feels complicated, breaking it down, understanding how all the pieces connect, and finding a way to make it work.
My academic background is in Physics, which taught me to be analytical and curious, but more importantly, taught me to question things rather than simply accept them as they are — to look at a problem from different angles and find practical ways to reach a solution.
Turning ideas into something real
I particularly enjoy the creative side of the project — from helping shape the way the program is presented to developing content, researching ideas, organising projects, planning campaigns, and thinking about how children and parents will experience the brand.
What attracted me to Little Founders is that it is not simply about teaching children another subject. It is about giving them the opportunity to explore ideas and discover what they can do with them — and protecting the curiosity they already have.
Curiosity comes first
I believe children are naturally curious, imaginative, and willing to ask questions that adults sometimes stop asking. The right learning environment should protect that curiosity rather than take it away — and that shapes how I approach every part of my work:
Learning doesn't have to look like learning
A child can learn an enormous amount from a story, a game, a challenge, a conversation, or even a mistake. Sometimes the most valuable thing a child can learn is not the answer to a question, but how to approach the question in the first place.
Good work looks beyond the task
I believe being useful is about more than simply finishing what you were given — it's about understanding the bigger picture. Watch how a small shift in mindset changes everything:
Completing the assignment is only the start — the goal is understanding how it fits the bigger picture.
Breaking it down, understanding how the pieces connect, and finding a way to make it work.
Learning something unfamiliar and gradually becoming good at it is where the real growth happens.
I approach every project with the same curiosity, structure, and initiative I hope to help build in children — always looking for a better way. 💡
What shapes my work?
My academic background and professional experience directly influence how I approach every project at Little Founders — from research and planning to content, branding, and problem-solving.
Little Founders is a chance to combine learning, creating, organising, and solving problems — and to help turn an idea into something that can have a real impact.
Curious thinkers. Structured planners. Thoughtful researchers. Creative collaborators. Confident young people who feel their ideas are worth exploring.
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