I’m a business sustainability professional and impact journey guide with experience working for nonprofits and companies of all sizes, ranging from start-ups to multinationals. I have worked in countries including The Netherlands, Poland, Italy and Australia at organisations like Patagonia and B Lab, giving me the opportunity to truly understand how companies can create a positive impact on the world.
Born in Poland and raised by parents who dedicated their lives to healthcare, education and culture, it feels only natural that I would evolve into someone who seeks greater purpose and meaning at work. After completing a Master’s Degree in Arts, I started my professional life in a marketing and communications role for a business consulting firm. But it was only a few years later in 2010-2013, while I was running a small food business, that I realised both the positive and negative impact a business can have and what responsibility a company actually has to not only its shareholders but all of its stakeholders. This experience led me to a conclusion that I wanted to dedicate my career to helping other companies become better organisations and accelerate their positive impact. As a result, I had the privilege to work for various sustainability driven companies and nonprofits and deepen my knowledge of the roles a business can play in driving positive change and how it can balance purpose with profit. In more recent years, I played an important role in scaling the B Corp movement in Europe by: building long lasting partnerships with leading multinational companies through guidance on the B Lab’s routes to certification; coordinating European business development teams across 8 countries, while helping them establish meaningful relationships with the largest of the prospects and future movement builders; and managing Benelux B Corp community. In 2022, I also took on an interim role as a B Corp Certification Process Manager at B Lab Global. In my 6 years at B Lab, I had the opportunity to help many inspiring companies of all sizes on their B Corp journey.
After working for other organisations for over 10 years, I realized my dream of becoming an independent business sustainability consultant in early 2023. Matterhorn Strategies advises companies all over Europe on their impact journey from Valle d’Aosta in Italy, located 25 km from the Matterhorn, where “millennial silence is suspended between earth and sky, the secret of life on this planet is written”. As a business consultant, I offer a great level of availability and flexibility, and can easily tailor my work to your needs. To deliver larger pieces of work I collaborate with other consultants to achieve the best possible outcome.
"Ela carried out many roles with B Lab, all of them with the same sense of pleasure and purpose, skill and high quality. Latterly, Ela played a critical role in scaling the B Corp movement in Europe and latterly, globally, by creating the pathways for Multinational Companies that sought to certify as B Corps. Whilst Ela mastered the technicalities involved, she always started from the point of building relationships with individuals, that carried through the stages of the process of the certification journey. Ela’s experience was invaluable such that she was able to give strategic support, not just to companies, but also internally to B lab as we worked to create ever smoother pathways in complex situations. Her great sense of fun, humour and her good will to all people, was a delight to have in our team, and her quiet sense of self challenge was awesome to see. All that Ela does, she does well. She will be an asset to any organisation seeking help to be the best they can be for people and the planet."
"We engaged Ela to support us during our recent B Corp recertification process, and it was undeniably a fantastic decision. Ela's approach is admirable, and her expertise extends beyond mastering technical aspects, qualities that echoed throughout the path made together. Her calming presence, adeptness in handling challenges, and operational expertise made her an absolute pleasure to work with. Ela maintained a consistent and composed attitude during challenges, exhibiting remarkable problem-solving skills and exceptional interpersonal abilities. She undoubtedly brings great value to any organization; we highly recommend her as an expert professional. We are exceedingly satisfied with the support she provided during the recertification process. Her profound understanding of assessments, coupled with her ability to guide meticulously through complexities, enhanced our confidence in navigating the process. Her willingness to share insights made our collaboration exceptionally enriching. She didn't just provide answers, but she helped us comprehend intricate aspects and she empowered us with knowledge, benefiting our growth throughout the process. She embodies the ideal consultant – someone I'd readily choose to work with, always. Ela's consistent availability, expertise, clarity in explanations, patience, and kindness made the entire process smoother. Overall, our collaboration was invaluable, providing consistent support and fostering a learning environment that we greatly appreciated. We highly endorse partnering with her."
"I had the pleasure of working with Ela at the beginning of Bonduelle's B Corp certification journey. Ela stands out for her deep commitment to sustainable business practices and her ability to seamlessly integrate B Corp values into actionable strategies. Her expertise in driving purpose-driven initiatives was clear from the outset. Ela has an exceptional ability to navigate complex challenges while fostering a collaborative environment, always maintaining a focus on positive social and environmental impact. Her work ethic, combined with her passion for responsible business, made her an invaluable partner in our projects."
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