Mona Pfaffmann
Mona Pfaffmann is the Founder of Best@Service Consulting Group, a human capital coaching and consulting practice she launched in mid-2025 after a distinguished 27-year career at Mercedes‑Benz. She is a strategic people leader dedicated to transforming workplaces into ecosystems of inclusion, innovation, and impact. Mona centers her work on the human aspects of accelerated change—offering individual and executive coaching, leadership development, executive communication and storytelling, change and transformation programs, and upskilling. A core focus of her practice is female empowerment, addressing limiting beliefs and elevating voices so women can reach their full potential.
Mona’s professional journey began with an associate-level credential at a Fachschule in Germany, where she specialized in social ethics and social work, complemented by a vocational apprenticeship under Germany’s dual education system. She further honed her expertise through extensive on-the-job development at Mercedes‑Benz, gaining deep experience in communications, change management, systemic consulting, and project management. Her career advanced through service-center and headquarters roles across Germany, the U.S., the U.K., and China, culminating in a role attached to the global CIO organization where she led transformational and cultural initiatives. She is especially proud of founding a global female leadership community at Mercedes‑Benz, which continues as a legacy of her commitment to empowerment and inclusion.
Mona’s leadership philosophy integrates both human and systemic dimensions of organizational challenges. By combining analytical thinking with emotional intelligence, she creates sustainable change at individual, team, and structural levels. She thrives when challenging the status quo and fostering genuine collaboration. Through her coaching, consulting, and leadership, Mona inspires organizations and individuals to unlock their full potential, fostering cultures where diverse perspectives are valued, voices are amplified, and meaningful impact is achieved.
• Systemic Compact
• IPMA Level D - Project Management Certification
• Prosci Certified Change Practitioner
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my authenticity. Staying true to who I am, both personally and professionally, has allowed me to build genuine relationships, earn trust, and lead with integrity. By embracing my values and consistently showing up as myself, I have been able to navigate challenges, inspire others, and achieve meaningful results in my work.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is that while sponsors and champions are important, ultimately, we are responsible for our own destiny. This guidance has reminded me to seek support and mentorship, but also to take ownership of my decisions, actions, and growth, ensuring that I actively shape the trajectory of my career rather than waiting for opportunities to come to me.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Find sponsors and champions, but take ownership of your career; don’t be too hard on yourselves; build community—women advance farther together.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is the responsibility we have to shape the systems around us. We must proactively influence processes, policies, and structures to ensure they serve people effectively and ethically. At the same time, the rise of AI presents both a challenge and an opportunity—while it can disrupt traditional workflows, it also offers powerful tools to innovate, improve efficiency, and drive meaningful impact when leveraged thoughtfully.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are community, justice, and love. I strive to foster connections that strengthen and support those around me, advocate for fairness and equity in every environment I engage with, and approach all interactions with compassion and care. These principles guide my decisions, shape my relationships, and define the impact I aim to make.