Professional in International Affairs and Governance

Local Governance

• Marta works within local governance, foreign affairs and Sustainable Development
• Why this Path?  Marta’s chosen career path and particularly her work within the municipal governance of The Hague allows her to operate at the unique intersection of local and international impact.
• What’s in the Sector’s Future? When asked about challenges facing the sectors, Marta reflects on how many local NGOs and organisations are navigating budget cuts and decreased access to funding due to the fluctuating political and global climates. Yet, she has observed an increase in international cooperation and unity in the Hague in the last several years despite growing obstacles. This is representative of how, to Marta, the sectors within peace & justice are everchanging and require constant adaptation.

Skills

Want to find out how Marta landed the job she’s currently in? 

• Marta indicates flexibility as an essential quality above all else.

 “In 2 years [with The Municipality] I had 5 or 6 contracts; I never knew where I was going to be in 2 or 3 months. I had to be really flexible and adapt every single time to a new team with new tasks.” 

• Perseverance is another key skill Marta demonstrates in the wide array of job experiences and roles held. From studying abroad during university, to an embassy internship unexpectedly cut short by the Covid-19 outbreak, to ad-hoc work with the Municipality that offered little stability, each step shaped her adaptability and resilience. Through these experiences, Marta has grown increasingly confident in navigating uncertainty and embracing change.
• Marta also underscores the value of refining your skillset with every professional opportunity, whether directly related to your field or not. For Marta, the ability to frame, contextualise, and apply transferable skills is a timeless asset and one of the most important tools for long-term growth.

Advice & Tips

• In Marta’s view, the pursuit of a more peaceful and just world is a lifelong, and perhaps never-ending, endeavor. As sectors evolve, the challenges become increasingly pressing, often leading to frustration when the impact of one’s career doesn’t appear dramatic or immediate. However, Marta encourages young professionals in the field to maintain their focus on the broader vision, reminding them that impact often lies in the small, everyday actions and the ability to contextualise these within one’s means.
• To this note, Marta speaks of the importance of never fearing the pursuit of a position in which you may not fit every qualification.

“The knowledge you think you don’t have you can always learn on the job… they’re not expecting you to know everything. Any experience you have gotten through a job is useful and a life lesson learned.”  

• In Marta’s case, she knows for certain that this logic applies to her, as her unique compilation of jobs over time increased her employability, combined with the eagerness she demonstrated.
• Lastly, Marta eagerly shares that she would be more kind to herself and avoid comparison amongst peers as much as possible.

“There are multiple ways to get to where you want to go, maybe along the way you’ll find out you don’t even want to go there and that you’d like to take a different route… [but] you’ll get there. There are many ways to get there!” 

• Curriculum Vitae

  Municipality of The Hague, Policy Advisor International Affairs, 2023-present

   

  Municipality of The Hague, Project team for Emergency shelter for Ukrainian Refugees, 2022-2023

   

  Municipality of The Hague, Project Officer- Elections, 2020-2022

   

  Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Intern- Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in Lithuania, 2020

   

  JINC, Nonprofit project assistant, 2019-2020

   

  Leiden University Department of Diversity & Inclusion, Buddy Coordinator and cultural/social events organizer,  2018-2019

   

  International Student Network Leiden, Treasurer – board function, 2017-2018