LaMatu

Some of the most meaningful moments in my professional life have started with a good conversation.

A challenging question asked at the right time.

A perspective outside of my paradigm.

A person willing to share not only what they know, but also how they think.

That’s why I’m happy to share that I’m now mentoring on ADPList— a global platform connecting people with mentors across industries, roles, and career stages.

In my work as a coach, mentor and facilitator at LaMatu, I support professionals and leaders as they navigate transitions, make important decisions, build confidence in their direction, and shape careers that feel both ambitious and authentic.
I deeply appreciate what ADPList is making possible: access to thoughtful, human, high-quality mentorship beyond the limits of one’s immediate network. Initiatives like this matter because guidance should not depend only on who you already know.

I’m looking forward to contributing to this community and supporting people who are reflecting on their next step, growing into leadership, changing direction, or seeking a clearer sense of purpose in their work.

If you’re on ADPList, I’d be happy to connect there.

I’m happy to share that I’ve been accepted as an Expert on TruthWorks — a curated marketplace for People & Culture challenges.

This feels like a very natural fit for LaMatu.

I’ve always cared deeply about expertise, and over the course of my career I’ve come to see it as a responsibility.

To me, it means doing the work behind the work: staying sharp, asking better questions, challenging assumptions with care, and bringing both rigour and humanity into the room.

And quality matters.

Especially in coaching, leadership development, and culture work, the impact depends on more than good intentions. It depends on sound judgement, real experience, ethical practice, and the ability to meet people and organisations where they are — especially when the questions are complex, messy, or not easily answered by a template.

That’s why TruthWorks stood out to me.

Their focus on verified experts, transparent quality, and people who can “speak truth to power” resonates strongly with how I want to work: with clarity, courage, and care.

I’m looking forward to contributing my expertise in career, leadership, and transition coaching — particularly for international professionals and leaders navigating change, visibility, confidence, and the realities of working across cultures.

Thank you, Rhiannon Stroud, Emily Firth and Sophie Drummond for the trust. I’m excited to be part of this community of expertise.

LaMatu Professional Certified Coach Life, mindset & career coaching services in English, Dutch or Polish. Offering online and face-to-face consultations, as well as an active session format during a walk in Westerpark in Amsterdam.

☕ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝟱𝟮 𝗰𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿?

In 2011, Megan Gebhart set herself a simple challenge: meet one new person for coffee every week for an entire year.

Those conversations with people from very different backgrounds, including Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and author Seth Godin eventually inspired her book titled “52 Cups of Coffee”.

Summer can be an excellent time to put this idea into practice. Calendars often have a little more breathing room, inboxes are quieter, and even the busiest professionals have a bit more time to meet for lunch or coffee.

That could mean reconnecting with:
✦ a mentor
✦ a business partner you have not seen for a while
✦ a recruiter who may have more space for an introductory conversation while recruitment processes move at a slower Summer pace

Every coffee does not need an immediate objective. A thoughtful conversation can lead to an idea, an introduction, a collaboration, or simply a stronger professional relationship.

This month I met Ronald Beltzer from Flott Advocaten who supported many of the LaMatu clients over the years. This week, I had another one of those coffees with Joanna P***k P***k-Goodman, with whom I recently got to reconnect at one of the Female Ventures events in Amsterdam ☕️

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 “𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲” 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁?

Perhaps this Summer is the moment to finally schedule it!

18,7% of the Dutch workforce had temporary contracts in 2025.

In 2025, 9.9% of employed people aged 20-64 in the EU had temporary contracts. 💼

Highest shares of temporary employment in:

🇳🇱 Netherlands (18.7%)
🇨🇾 Cyprus (13.2%)
🇪🇸 Spain and 🇵🇹 Portugal (12.8%)

Lowest in:

🇱🇹 Lithuania (1.5%)
🇷🇴 Romania (1.6%)
🇱🇻 Latvia (2.1%)

ℹ️ Temporary employment covers employees with fixed-term or otherwise limited-duration contracts.

ℹ️ Note that the map includes EU countries, EFTA and candidate countries with available data. The ranking in the caption is based on EU countries only.

Read more 👉 https://link.europa.eu/NP6gTQ

What does it really mean to design a meaningful life abroad?

I recently recorded a podcast conversation with Adis Sophie from Designing Your Life - Netherlands at the podcast studio of Equals Clubhouse in Amsterdam.

Together, we explored relocation, reinvention, career transitions, and the intentional choices that help us build a life with more clarity, confidence, and purpose.

I shared parts of my own journey: moving from Poland to Spain, Germany, and eventually the Netherlands; building an international corporate career; and later transitioning into founding LaMatu, my coaching practice for international professionals navigating career and life transitions in the Netherlands.

We explored questions many expats and international professionals will recognise:
↳ How do you create a meaningful life in a new country?
↳ How do you navigate uncertainty when your career path no longer feels aligned?
↳ How can job crafting, coaching, and small experiments help you prototype the next chapter of your life?
↳ And how do you move forward when you are ready for change, but not yet sure what that change should look like?

Thank you, Adis Sophie, for co-creating such a thoughtful and grounded conversation, and or bringing this work to life.

The episode is called "Designing a Meaningful Life Abroad: How to Intentionally Design a Life Aligned with Purpose."

🎙️ Podcast link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi0lSYNIsfU

🎯 A proud moment for , who has been recognised by .nl with a 9.9 score and ranked among the Top 10 coaches in Amsterdam and surrounding areas. 

This recognition reflects the trust and feedback of the incredible professionals I’ve had the privilege to work with over the years.

Thank you to every client who has allowed me to be part of their journey—your growth, courage, and transformation are what make this work so meaningful.

If you’re exploring your next career move, seeking clarity, or ready to step into your full potential, I'll be happy to help you reach your goals and celebrate your successes!

Earlier this year, I had the honour of being featured in the Entrepreneurs’ Diaries series by equals.nl, highlighting the journeys of female entrepreneurs and role models in the Netherlands.

Building LaMatu has been one of the most meaningful chapters of my professional life.

After 16 years in international corporate environments and more than 20 years of professional experience overall, entrepreneurship gave me the opportunity to create something fully aligned with my values: a coaching practice dedicated to helping people design careers and lives that feel both meaningful and authentic.

In the feature, I shared parts of my own journey—from Warsaw to Amsterdam, from multinational boardrooms and corporate leadership to entrepreneurship.

What I appreciate about initiatives like this is the visibility they create for women building businesses with purpose, especially in spaces where representation still matters.

A heartfelt thank you to the team at equals.nl for the feature and for the important work you do in championing women in technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

If you’ve been following my journey for a while: thank you for being here.

And if entrepreneurship is a path you’re currently considering, LaMatu would be happy to help you make that dream a reality.

LaMatu has recently been featured in the list of trusted professionals at Womanship, a platform bringing together women and health & wellness professionals, coaches and therapists. Share more. Worry less. Thrive together.

🇳🇱 The Netherlands has just been ranked among the top 10 richest countries in the world—and the numbers behind the prosperity index are worth a closer look.

According to the Richest Countries in the World 2026 by HelloSafe:
• The Netherlands ranks 7th globally
• GDP per capita exceeds $57,000
• It reached a Prosperity Index of 55,17 out of 100

As a relatively small country, it stands among the strongest-performing economies in Europe. What stands out is the consistency, as the Netherlands continues to show stability in a rapidly changing economic landscape across key indicators: productivity, innovation, and international competitiveness.

For international professionals, this creates a very specific environment:
A market that is dynamic, opportunity-rich, and highly competitive at the same time.

In the work with my clients at LaMatu, I bring structure to complex career decisions, support them in positioning themselves in an international context, and help translate ambition into their next strategic move in highly competitive, fast-moving market.

Thanks to IamExpat Media for highlighting this study.

If you’re currently building or rethinking your career in the Netherlands, this context matters. Because understanding the market is one thing. Effectively positioning yourself within it is where the real work begins.

—

👩🏼‍💻 I’m Monika Matuszewska, a Certified Professional Coach at LaMatu
🆓 Do you need some help positioning yourself on the Dutch job market? Schedule a free Discovery Call!
https://lamatu.com/discovery-call

🔗 Link to the original study and related article in comments.

Discovery Call | LaMatu Coaching Amsterdam FREE Discovery Call. LaMatu offers a complimentary intake session to all of its new clients. Find out if coaching is right for you during a free online session.

According to CPB, the median annual salary in the Netherlands for 2026 is €48,000 gross per year, while the monthly average is €3,800 gross per month.

Money talks 🤑
READ MORE: https://links.dutchreview.com/uVh6