She holds an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Babson College and is a Visiting Fellow of Practice at the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University.

[1] Since taking on the role at Nike, Eitel has become a recognized voice on gender equality, featuring in Fast Company's League of Extraordinary Women.

[16] To support the Girl Effect, actress Anne Hathaway traveled to Africa with Eitel in 2011[17] and co-authored an article for The Daily Beast in 2017.

Mayor Cruz said that she has taken inspiration from this quote from Maria Eitel, "Coming from a position of fear, of not succeeding, losing your job or not being admired handicaps the potential of your career.

"[19] On December 15, 2017, Eitel joined with Kathleen Kennedy, Nina Shaw, and Freada Kapor Klein to create the creation of Commission on Sexual Harassment and Advancing Equality in the Workplace.

[20] On January 1, 2018, Time's Up unveiled an action plan supported by 300 prominent actresses, female agents, writers, directors, producers and entertainment executives.

The initiative includes a legal defense fund backed by $16 million in donations,[21] a plan to introduce legislation to penalize companies that tolerate harassment and discourage the use of non-disclosure agreements, and a drive to reach gender parity at studios.

Her previous board affiliations have included the Eastern Congo Initiative, for which she served as Treasurer, along with the American Hospital of Paris, the Millennium Promise, the World Economic Forum Global Governance Initiative, World Economic Forum HIVAIDS Council, the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Advisory Council, Department for International Development Gender Advisory Group, Lakeside School Board of Trustees, Member of the World President's Association, Millennium Promise Board of Directors, National Academy of Sciences Commission on Labor Standards, SAFECO Insurance, The Acumen Fund Advisory Council, University of Washington Foundation, USAID Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid, and the National Academy of Sciences Commission on Labor Standards, Global Alliance for Workers and Communities Operating Board, Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) Board of Directors, Girl Hub Board of Trustees, Initiative for Global Development Leadership Council, Clinton Global Initiative Education Working Group, World Bank Gender Action Group.