Real leadership is the courage to stay authentic — even in complexity

About Catharina Monster

Executive Coach & Current Group CHRO

Founder of Monster Leadership Coaching

I´m Catharina Monster — Executive Coach, leadership partner, and current Global CHRO with over 25 years of international leadership experience. My work is dedicated to helping leaders grow into the strongest, clearest, and most authentic version of themselves.

Leadership today is complex. It demands emotional intelligence, courage, clarity, and the ability to stay grounded when everything around you is moving fast.
I understand these challenges deeply — not from theory, but from living them every day inside global organizations.

Coaching is where experience meets presence.
Where clarity emerges.
Where leaders reconnect with who they truly are.

A Human Beginning: Music, Emotion & Presence

Before entering the corporate world, I studied classical music and performed as a professional musician for many years.

Music taught me:

  • presence

  • emotional expression

  • discipline

  • deep listening

  • intuition

  • the courage to perform under pressure

These foundations shape the way I coach: attuned, grounded, and connected to the emotional dimension of leadership.

My Story and Leadership Journey

For more than two decades, I have served in senior leadership roles across multiple industries and countries. Today, I continue to work as a Group CHRO and Executive Committee Member, leading global people strategy, culture transformation, ESG topics, human rights, leadership development, and organizational design.

I have supported leaders through:

  • major transformations and restructurings

  • rapid international expansion

  • complex stakeholder environments

  • mergers & integrations

  • high-stakes executive transitions

  • leadership team alignment

  • culture evolution and identity work

I know the pressure, expectations, uncertainty, and responsibility leaders carry, because I carry them too.

Monster Leadership Coaching grew from a desire to offer leaders a space where they can think clearly, feel supported, and reconnect with their authentic leadership identity.

Who I Work With

I coach leaders who want to grow, personally and professionally.

This includes:

  • Senior executives

  • Managers

  • HR leaders

  • Leadership teams

  • High-potential talent

  • Leaders navigating transitions

  • Founders and business owners

My clients often come to coaching wanting more clarity, confidence, emotional strength, self-awareness, or a shift in leadership identity.

My Coaching Philosophy

Leadership is not about perfection.
It is about alignment between who you are, how you lead, and the impact you want to have.

I believe:

  • people are stronger than they think

  • insight comes when we slow down

  • emotions are powerful sources of intelligence

  • clarity creates confidence

  • what we practice internally shapes everything externally

Coaching is not about fixing.
It is about unlocking what is already there.

Beyond Coaching

Beyond organizational leadership and coaching, I care deeply about:

  • developing people

  • human rights & ESG

  • supporting organizational wellbeing

  • creating cultures where people can thrive

  • guiding leaders to make values-based decisions

I bring all of this into the coaching space when helpful. Always in service of the client.