Karolina Szweda
leadership & confidence coach for introverts | previously pre-seed & seed marketing leader
FanTASTIC mentor! Karolina provided tactical suggestions, idea validation, and "emotional" validation. We all know work is half execution and half psychology, and Karolina made me feel truly heard as I talked through my presentation, and was able to help me take a step back, focus on having a positive mindset going into the presentation, and prepare myself for questions I know I'll get, and answer them confidently.
I recently had a mentorship session on getting the motivation to become a better leader with Karolina Szweda, and it was truly inspiring. Karolina's deep understanding of leadership dynamics, combined with her motivating and empathetic approach, made the session both insightful and empowering. She provided practical advice on enhancing leadership skills, building confidence, and motivating teams effectively. Her personalized guidance helped me identify areas for growth and gave me the tools and mindset to become a stronger, more effective leader. For anyone looking to elevate their leadership abilities, a session with Karolina is a must.
.png){kind=small}
The best experience I have had on growthmentor was to interact with the brilliant Karolina. Apart from the strategy and the hard skills, she was extremely present and compassionate in the call, more than anything else, you would definitely be going with a positively reinforced feeling about yourself and your work after the call.
Bio
👉 tl;dr What to expect in a session with me: - focused coaching tailored to your current leadership or workplace challenge - exploration of mindset, behaviours, and strategies that help you gain confidence and influence - practical, actionable insights you can implement immediately - without generic advice or “one-size-fits-all” solutions 👉 If that piqued your interest, here’s a bit more: In my marketing career, I experienced first-hand how tough it can be to make your voice heard in fast-paced, high-pressure environments - especially when you’re naturally more reflective or introverted, and the loudest person in the room isn’t always the one with the best ideas. That experience shaped the work I do today in my coaching practice. I coach ambitious introverts, highly sensitive people, and neurodiverse leaders to build Quiet Confidence at work - so they can lead, communicate, and make an impact without burning out or changing who they are. My approach blends deep mindset work with practical strategies. Together, we’ll uncover the patterns holding you back and build personalised tools to help you: - speak up with confidence in meetings and presentations - set healthy boundaries and manage overwhelm - build your visibility and influence in an authentic way - navigate team dynamics and lead with self-assurance These aren’t generic “how to be confident” sessions - because there’s no one-size-fits-all advice that actually works. Before our session, I’ll send you a few reflection questions so you can arrive fully prepared. By the end, you’ll have clear action points and the confidence to get started right away. If that sounds like what you need, let’s talk.
Expertise
Content marketing
Throughout my career, I’ve managed content creation and distribution of content such as white papers, reports, social media, video, email, blog, SEO, web copy and ad copy.
Growth marketing
I led low-budget growth marketing efforts, achieving a 3x customer base increase at Connect Earth and securing a 10M total social media reach at Antler. Enhanced brand recognition and conversion rates by 4x at Enactus.
Imposter syndrome
As a qualified coach, I can help you recognise imposter syndrome, and help you build self-belief and confidence. I provide tailored coaching so no two sessions are the same.
Leadership
As a qualified coach, I work with business professionals on enhancing leadership skills, particularly in confidence, communication, management and self-leadership. I love working with introverted and highly sensitive individuals for whom leadership is especially challenging.
Mindset coaching
Thanks to my training in transformational coaching, I help my clients develop a growth mindset by building resilience, confidence, and leadership skills, making the startup hustle less exhausting and more productive.
Personal branding
For over 2 years at Antler I managed the personal brand of Magnus Grimeland, the CEO of the global VC fund. Later on, I conducted workshops on personal branding for various orgs.
Venting frustration
I create a safe space if you need to let it all out. We will spend some time on brain-dumping all frustrations, and then, I will help you use these insights and take empowered action. It might be particularly relevant for first time managers, only marketers on the team, and introverted, neurodiverse or highly sensitive folks.
Toolkit
Canva
9 years of experienceCanva might be my favourite software ever. I've been using it to design and create visuals for various projects, including presentations, posters, social media graphics, white papers and long-form marketing materials. It’s been a super valuable tool for branding and content creation, helping me maintain a consistent visual style across different platforms.
Squarespace
3 years of experienceIn the past, I built websites on WordPress and Webflow, but my favourite platform must be Squarespace and this is where I built my current website: https://karolinaszweda.com/ I love the no-code simplicity of managing the design and copy on my page 💛
LinkedIn
10 years of experienceI spend way too much time on LinkedIn. In the past, I used it to manage company accounts at Connect Earth, Antler and AXA, and the CEO's profile at Antler. Currently, I use LinkedIn for personal brand building, regularly posting insights and content that reflect my expertise and interests, which has helped me grow my professional presence online.
Notion
5 years of experienceI've been using Notion for managing and organising all of my projects and ideas in one place, both at work and for personal stuff. I also use it for social media content planning, as well as collaborating with others on team projects, keeping everything streamlined and accessible.
Industries
Marketing
Spent 8 years in marketing across ClimateTech, venture capital, insurance, social impact, agency and coaching. As a Head of Marketing at Connect Earth, I built the marketing strategy from 0 to 1, implemented growth marketing strategies leading to a 3x increase in the customer base. I developed comprehensive marketing campaigns and ABM tactics to boost engagement and deal sizes.
B2B
As a Head of Growth Marketing, I focused on B2B marketing strategies, contributing to a 3x growth in the customer base. Implemented ABM and demand generation tactics, resulting in higher lead engagement and larger deal sizes.
Personal Development
Coached startup professionals to enhance leadership skills and career development, particularly supporting introverts and neurodiverse individuals. Specialised in building confidence, resilience and effective communication.
Career Planning
Qualified leadership and confidence coach for introverted, highly sensitive (HSP) and neurodiverse professionals. Provided career development coaching, focusing on leadership and personal branding, to 40+ private from the tech startup space.
Sustainability
First marketing hire at an early stage startup at the intersection of FinTech and ClimateTech. Developed and promoted Connect Earth's API solution for sustainable finance, leading marketing and research projects that drive environmental sustainability. Conducted market analysis and strategic planning for green technology adoption across finance and consumer banking. Developed marketing strategy from 0 to 1 and scaled the team from 0 to 4.
GreenTech
First marketing hire at an early stage startup at the intersection of FinTech and ClimateTech. Developed and promoted Connect Earth's API solution for sustainable finance, leading marketing and research projects that drive environmental sustainability. Conducted market analysis and strategic planning for green technology adoption across finance and consumer banking. Developed marketing strategy from 0 to 1 and scaled the team from 0 to 4.
Venture Capital
Spent 2.5 years in venture capital at Antler as a Global Growth Marketing Manger, supporting startup building and growth across 6 continents. Reported directly to the COO and managed the personal brand of the CEO. During my time, Antler grew from5 locations to 20+.
Impact Investing
Worked on marketing and promoting impact investing initiatives at Antler, aligning investments with social and environmental goals. Contributed to Antler's first Impact & ESG Report. Conducted research and wrote about pre-seed investing, fundraising, entrepreneurship, DEI and women empowerment in startups.
Insurance
Worked on brand and social media strategies at AXA, biggest insurance provider in Poland (later on merged with Uniqa), enhancing customer engagement and brand visibility. Managed social media campaigns and content development to support marketing goals.