Mette Gonggrijp
Former Dutch Ambassador and Founder of IMind2Lead
“Go for it, but don’t lose yourself”
Meet Mette
- Mette Gonggrijp, a Dutch diplomat and ambassador with over two decades of experience, has transitioned her career to the human-centered field as a trauma-informed coach and founder of IMind2Lead.
- Her approach is rooted in the belief that when individuals achieve a state of calm, they can unlock greater effectiveness: “then you are able to have much more meaningful impact”.
Sector
International Diplomacy, Development, and Mental Well-Being
Mette’s path into diplomacy was deeply shaped by her grandfather’s WWII experiences in the Netherlands. Targeted by the German occupation for protesting a Nazi initiative, he survived imprisonment thanks to the Geneva Conventions and Red Cross aid. From him, she learned to “always see the good in people, never generalise, avoid grudges, and learn from history.” His story also opened her eyes to intergenerational trauma.
Guided by these values, Mette studied European Public Administration with a focus on peace and conflict, interned at the Swedish Peace Research Institute, and volunteered with “Move Your World” at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — a step that led to nearly 25 years in the diplomatic service. “Within diplomacy, I’ve always followed my heart and my own values,” she says, serving in Costa Rica, Zimbabwe, and as Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, and speaking at a UN Security Council special meeting on women’s rights.
A severe burnout became a turning point. “One morning I literally woke up and I couldn’t get out of bed… on paper I had the most interesting job, but somehow the head and the heart and the body got disconnected.” The experience shifted her focus toward leaders’ mental health, guiding her to found IMind2Lead.
What’s in the sector’s future?
While acknowledging the sector’s traditional nature and slow pace of change, she notes the “massive” workload and “high pressure constantly” as persistent challenges. Looking ahead, Mette has seen a shift in how diplomacy addresses mental well-being, with “much more openness and more conversation” in the workplace. However, she remains skeptical, feeling that support is still too often “a human resource add-on… another box that has to be ticked.” She believes mental health should be a true “strategic priority” led by example from senior management, requiring them to change their own habits and the working environment. Even so, she finds “a lot of hope” in the younger generation, who show a stronger commitment to taking mental health seriously.
Top Skills
Want to find out how Mette landed the job she’s currently in?
- One important skill, according to Mette, is to be found in the kind of strategic and value-driven leadership one has. She consistently aligns her work with her principles, saying she has “always followed my heart and my own values” and chosen topics that gave her “a feeling of fulfilment.” This integrity has guided her through senior diplomatic roles and into founding her own social enterprise.
- Outspoken Advocacy is also important. In her case, being a strong voice for making mental health “a strategic priority… shown by example, by the top management,” is now imperative. Her ability to link personal well-being with organisational impact demonstrates vision and influence.
- Mette also believes that understanding and empathising with your counterpart is vital. With extensive experience in the diplomatic sector, she emphasises finding “common ground somewhere” and addressing issues like secondary trauma and compassion fatigue. Her approach blends resilience with a focus on human connection, ensuring progress even in challenging contexts.
Advice & Tips
- When it comes to advice for the next generation, Mette’s message is grounded in self-awareness and sustainability. She encourages young professionals to “stay curious… in who you are as a person, what matters to you, and what makes you feel, safe, alive and calm.” She cautions against letting external definitions of success dictate career choices, admitting, “I think I wished that I had not had the expectations of other, or the societal definitions of success lead me in those later years.”
- Her guidance also carries a clear warning about burnout. “Don’t take it that far because once your battery is depleted, it will take you much more energy, effort, and time to recharge it,” she says, reflecting on her own experience. She advises evaluating the environments you work in with honesty, stressing that “if you’re working in an environment that is not willing to change this, then it is not worth your energy.”
- Finally, she reminds emerging professionals that impact is best achieved when you are centred and thriving. “Once you manage to get yourself back to that state of calm, then you are able to have much more meaningful impact,” she notes, urging the next generation to balance ambition with well-being to sustain their contributions over the long term.
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Curriculum Vitae
IMind2Lead, Founder & Leadership Coach [2022-present]
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands, Director Social Development/Ambassador Women’s Rights & Gender Equality [2018-2020]
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands, Coordinator Evaluation Regional Positions Embassy Network [2017-2018]
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands, Director of Sub-Saharan Africa Department [2016-2017]
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Costa Rica, Ambassador [2012-2016]
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands, Deputy Director Effectiveness and Coherence Department [2010-2012]
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands, Head of Aid Modalities and Instrument Development Division [2009-2010]
Young Africa, Board Member [2009-2012]
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands, Deputy Head of the Governance Division [2005-2009]
Netherlands Embassy to Zimbabwe, Head Development Cooperation & Policy Officer [2002-2005]
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands, Project Manager “Move Your World”, [1997-1998]
Earlier this year, Mette joined students and young professionals at The Hague Humanity Hub to discuss the above in an edition of The Handshake. You can read more about what was discussed during the session here!
Connection to the Hub
Mette periodically works within the Humanity Hub’s ecosystem, maintaining close relationships with several of the Hub’s partners. Beyond her collaboration for this special edition of the Handshake, Mette is currently working alongside the Hub on upcoming projects for this fall.