Welcome to Paula Nijland Coaching

Life and career coaching for professionals in the food industry

Looking for change doesn’t mean something’s wrong. It might just mean you’re ready for more: more clarity, more ease, more direction. You’ve been circling the same questions or patterns for a while now, and you feel: it’s time for something to shift. But how? And where do you begin?

That’s where I come in.
Not because things are falling apart, but because you know they could be better.

I coach people who are exploring questions about their work and their life. Sometimes it's career-related like thinking about your next step, or finding better ways to handle pressure and expectations. Other times it's more personal as for example learning to set boundaries, letting go of perfectionism or figuring out how to stop clinging to control.

Sometimes all you need is a gentle nudge. Sometimes it takes more time, insight, and practice. Either way, I take a down-to-earth, solution-focused approach. No jargon or fluffy talk but just honest attention to what’s really going on. And a bit of humour, because it doesn’t all need to be so serious.

I know the world you’re in, because I’ve been there myself
I spent over 20 years in the food industry, including roles as a project manager and team leader. I know the way things work: the informal networks, the constant pressure, the expectations. I can help you think things through: your role, your place in a team and your next move, even if you don't have a clear picture of it yet.

A few real-life examples:
– A professional who had been thinking about changing roles for months, but kept getting stuck on the question "what exactly do I want?"and didn’t know where to begin, found a job that really suited her via career coaching.
– Someone who thought her issue was the unability of saying “no”, but through coaching discovered it was more about letting go and trusting others with control.
– A team manager who had been putting everyone else first, and through coaching learnt how to set clear boundaries without ending up in conflict.

At the heart of it all: gaining clarity, developing insight, and taking steps that fit you, so you can move forward with confidence and a clear sense of direction.

You don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
Whether you work in R&D, QA, operations or a completely different sector, you’re very welcome. Especially if you’re not quite sure where to begin, or feel a bit nervous about taking the first step.

Ready for a change?
Whether you want to steer your career in a new direction, set healthier boundaries, or simply feel more in control of your work and life again, I’ll help you move forward in a clear and practical way.

Send me a message using this contact form, and let’s start working on your next step.