What happens when a successful career stops feeling aligned with the person you are becoming? For coach and leadership mentor Monika Matuszewska, that question opened the door to a new chapter. One shaped by values, cultural awareness, and purpose.
From Curiosity to Corporate Leadership
Monika’s journey begins in Warsaw, where her fascination with people and culture guided her academic path. “I studied Applied Linguistics and Economics, and later International Management,” she recalls. “That was the moment when culture and business clicked for me.”
Her career unfolded across major multinational companies, including IBM, Philips, IKEA, Nikon, and L’Oréal, each with distinct cultural identities. “American corporate environments feel very different from Dutch ones; Swedish management is not the same as French leadership style. Japanese corporate structures, especially, come with deep-rooted hierarchy. Culture shapes everything from how decisions are made to how women are perceived in leadership.”
Navigating these environments sharpened her awareness of how cultural background shapes not only organizations, but also the women working within them.
When Success Stops Feeling Like Success
Monika’s final corporate chapter was at L’Oréal, where she led teams and managed well-known brands. On paper, it was a story of achievement.
But internally, something felt off.
“The higher I progressed, the less time I had for people, their development, their growth. That was the moral conflict for me. I couldn’t ignore that misalignment anymore.”
Even when offered a promotion, she chose to step away.
“It surprised many people. But I knew I needed to build something that reflected who I was and what I valued.”
The Birth of LaMatu
The name LaMatu traces back to Monika’s student years in Spain, where her housemates affectionately shortened her surname. “I always joked that if I ever started my own company, that’s what I’d call it. And when I registered the business, and the domain was still available, it felt meant to be.”
Monika approached coaching with seriousness and depth.
“I take the responsibility of working with people very seriously. Clients come to me with big real-life decisions. I wanted accredited training: rigorous and well-structured, no shortcuts.”
She invested years in self-development and certified coaching programs building LaMatu into a space where women navigating transition can find clarity and grounded support.
Why Cultural Identity Matters More Than We Think
Monika emphasizes that even as expats working in international workplaces, we all bring our cultural programming to work with us, often unconsciously.
“At Philips in Hamburg, hierarchy was very present. At Philips in Amsterdam, the atmosphere was flatter and more informal. Germany values precision, clarity, and boundaries. The Netherlands values openness and directness. These differences shape how we show up and how we are perceived.”
Recognizing those layers, i.e., personal values, cultural imprints of their country of origin, and corporate culture, helps women navigate transitions with more self-awareness and confidence.
Finding and Living Your Values
Monika highlights that values are often invisible until they are challenged.
“One of my core values is equality. If I see inequality, I speak up even when it’s uncomfortable. Another is mastery and appreciation for beauty and quality. I thrive in environments where standards are high and excellence matters.”
She sees values conflicts as a common thread in burnout, career dissatisfaction, or feeling “lost” professionally.
“It’s rarely about the company being wrong. It’s usually a misalignment between the organization’s values and your own. When the alignment is there, work feels meaningful.”
Practical Tools for Reinvention
Monika offers clear, grounded advice for women navigating transitions:
- Clarify your values before making a change.
- Network before you need to when there is no pressure.
- Practice cultural humility, language fluency doesn’t equal cultural fluency.
- Seek mentors who understand both your industry and your cultural context.
A networking tip she shares often:
“If you feel nervous, find someone who looks even more nervous. Approach them with kindness, strike a friendly conversation to make them feel more at ease. Focusing on someone else softens your own self-consciousness.”
A Mindset Shift to Hold Onto
“See reinvention as a privilege,” Monika says. “Previous generations often did not have this freedom to stop, take some time for reflection and make conscious choices about their new direction. If you have found yourself a space where you can redesign your life, be intentional about your choices. When you make big life decisions aligned with your values, clarity and confidence follow.”
Monika’s message to women in transition:
“Understand your values and make choices that honor them. That is how you build a career that feels meaningful and sustainable.”
Get in touch with Monika and visit her website as well as her Linkedin profile.