Learning beyond the classroom: Katarzyna Poplawska’s Full-time MBA mentorship experience

In this mentorship blog series, we spotlight these meaningful partnerships by giving voice to both sides of the relationship. Through reflections from mentees and mentors alike, the blogs explore motivations, expectations, lessons learned, and the impact mentorship can have on personal development, leadership skills, and career readiness.

Whether you are considering joining the MSM Mentorship Programme as part of your Full-time MBA journey or simply curious about the experiences it fosters, we invite you to explore these conversations and discover how mentorship can shape futures, on both sides of the table.

In this blog, we highlight the Mentorship experience of recent Full-time MBA graduate Katarzyna Poplawska who was mentored by Marc Borghans, Director at ING Bank.

A new environment, a new direction

For Full-time MBA alumna Katarzyna (Kasia) Poplawska and her mentor Marc Borghans, Director at ING Bank, the MSM Mentorship Programme offered an opportunity to exchange perspectives, explore the Dutch business community and build a friendship that continues beyond graduation. Their story highlights how openness, initiative and a personal connection can help students develop greater clarity about their future.

Having graduated on 10 September 2026, Kasia has chosen to remain in Maastricht and is now looking for full-time employment. Her ambition is to work in finance within a global company, contributing as an intrapreneur who helps develop ideas and drive change from within an organisation.

Kasia joined MSM’s Full-time MBA to make a career change and strengthen her skills in a rapidly evolving business environment. Developing her digital skills, working alongside an international cohort and applying theory to practical projects were all part of that ambition.

She also wanted to take greater ownership of her learning and future career. Joining the Mentorship Programme offered a way to complement her MBA studies with insights from professionals familiar with the Netherlands and other European markets.

“I wanted to build a connection with mentors and learn from their work experiences in the Netherlands and European markets.”

Through Marc, she gained access to the perspective of someone with a long career at ING Bank and an understanding of the local business community.

Seeing growth within an organisation

One of the most valuable lessons Kasia took from Marc’s experience was that career development can take many forms. Remaining with one company while moving between different roles can offer opportunities to learn, build relationships and grow.

His career helped her recognise the value of developing strong connections within an organisation and how those relationships can support professional progress over time.

For someone considering her next career step, this provided a useful perspective on what a fulfilling career within a global company could look like.

Confidence through clear intentions

The mentorship also helped Kasia recognise a strength in her own approach: taking initiative and being direct about her goals.

“I learnt that taking initiative and being direct and clear in my goals and intentions is a valuable quality to have, as it helped me to select a suitable mentor.”

She now sees this clarity as an asset in her job search. Understanding what she wants from her career helps her assess opportunities, prepare applications and explain her ambitions during interviews.

Alongside this personal insight, learning more about Dutch sectors, industries and working culture gave her a broader understanding of the environment in which she hopes to build her career.

A connection built on openness

Their relationship developed through friendly, informal conversations, including meeting for food or drinks in Maastricht. WhatsApp made it easy to stay in touch and arrange meetings, while email provided a way to exchange documents, reports and ideas.

Marc also supported Kasia’s MBA thesis research. Drawing on his knowledge of sustainability and the textile industry, he shared industry reports that became useful sources for her work.

This combination of practical support and informal conversation helped Kasia feel comfortable discussing both her research and her career ambitions. More recently, she shared her CV with Marc as she began exploring employment opportunities.

“We developed a very friendly connection which made the relationship feel natural and honest.”

The mentor’s perspective: an exchange of experiences

For Marc, becoming a mentor was an opportunity to connect international students with the local business community while learning from their backgrounds, cultures and ambitions.

From the outset, Kasia’s motivation, positive mindset and interest in economics and finance stood out to him. As the mentorship progressed, he was impressed by her ability to respond to what she learned while remaining focused on her goals.

“I was impressed by how quickly she adapted her goals and ambitions to what she encountered in exploring the local business community, while keeping her standards high and steering a steady course to delivering a solid thesis.”

Mentoring also creates space for Marc to reflect on his own experience. A mentee’s questions can act as a mirror, encouraging him to consider his career and perspectives in a different light.

For him, a successful relationship starts with openness, curiosity and feeling comfortable enough to share both positive experiences and struggles.

Taking ownership of the mentorship

Kasia advises future students to look beyond a mentor’s industry or job title. Finding someone who takes an interest in them as a person and is willing to support their learning and ambitions is equally valuable.

She also encourages students to approach mentorship with realistic expectations. A mentor can offer guidance and perspective, but the responsibility for finding a job remains with the mentee.

Taking time to understand the mentor’s career, motivations and experiences helps make the relationship a meaningful exchange.

Marc’s advice complements hers:

“Be explicit in what you expect from the mentorship, be pro-active in keeping in touch with the mentor and do not hesitate to make it personal!”

A friendship beyond graduation

As Kasia prepares for her next professional chapter, her main takeaway is to remain true to herself, stay motivated and develop a clear understanding of what she wants from a fulfilling career.

Their connection continues beyond the MBA, with both valuing the friendship they have developed.

“I am super proud of Kasia and I hope that we can keep the open friendship that we developed and continue to exchange thoughts and ideas!” says Marc.

For Kasia, the advice is simple: take time to build a real friendship with your mentor. Their experience shows how a relationship grounded in trust and mutual interest can support learning during the MBA and remain valuable as the next chapter begins.