This year, we honour Szymon Dabrowski, who has dedicated 20 years to Mercuri Urval at our Warsaw office. Leading our Polish operation, Szymon specialises in Executive Search, Leadership Advisory, and Coaching, particularly within the energy, industry, and construction sectors.
His commitment to MU and clients, combined with deep business insight, has enabled him to successfully deliver consulting projects and support international companies in appointing top C-level executives. Szymon’s thorough approach and dedication to client success make him a highly valued advisor, partner, and colleague.
On the occasion of his anniversary, Szymon shares what has shaped his journey at MU.
When I look back on why I joined MU, and why I am still here 20 years later, the honest answer is that it never felt like I was joining just another company. It felt like I was joining a place with real substance.
From the beginning, I was struck by the seriousness of purpose. At MU, our work matters. We are not simply filling roles or delivering projects. We help organisations make decisions that shape their future, and we help leaders succeed in ways that affect businesses, people, and society more broadly. That gave the work meaning for me early on, and it still does today.
But purpose alone is not enough to make someone stay for two decades. What made the difference was the combination of challenge, trust, and long-term opportunity.
Over the years, I have had the chance to work with clients facing some of the most important decisions they will make: how to strengthen their leadership, navigate change, and build organisations that can truly perform over time. That is incredibly motivating. You are not working on something abstract. You are part of decisions that shape real outcomes for businesses and people. For me, that is one of the most powerful parts of MU: the work has weight, and it has meaning.
What has made the journey so rewarding is that MU combines this sense of purpose with extraordinary professional opportunity. I have never felt boxed in here. On the contrary, MU has consistently opened doors to new clients, new sectors, new leadership challenges, and new ways to grow. That is why For Opportunity Without Limits feels so true to my experience. If you are curious, committed, and ready to contribute, MU gives you space to keep evolving.
At the same time, MU is very much For the Extraordinary. Not because it is elitist, but because it believes that exceptional outcomes come from depth, discipline, and courage. Clients come to us when the stakes are high. That means the work is demanding, but it also means it is deeply energising. You are surrounded by colleagues who care about quality, think deeply, and genuinely want to make a difference. That kind of environment raises your game in the best possible way.
One assignment I often think back on was a search we led for a global energy and construction company. On paper, the brief sounded straightforward enough: recruit a Head of Business Development. But very quickly it became clear that this was not a conventional leadership hire.
This was a business at an important strategic inflection point. The company was looking to strengthen its market position through a more ambitious and structured M&A agenda. So, the person we were searching for was not simply expected to manage a function. They needed to help define where the company should play, identify acquisition opportunities, assess strategic fit, navigate a complex stakeholder environment, and ultimately help turn M&A into a real engine of growth.
What made the assignment so interesting was the level of complexity behind the title. We were not looking for a polished corporate profile with a standard transaction CV. The client needed someone with strategic sharpness, financial credibility, strong commercial instinct, and the ability to operate across a global business with multiple internal constituencies. This person had to be credible with the executive team, effective with business leaders, and able to move between long-term strategy and practical execution. In reality, we were helping define a leadership role that would influence the future direction of the company.
Are you curious about a global career at MU? Read more at our a career at MU page and reach out to Robin Karlestedt, EVP Global Talent Acquisition and Partner.