Gender doesn’t matter. Women of Poznań that inspire

GENDER DOESN'T

MATTER. WOMEN OF POZNAŃ THAT INSPIRE

We live in a time when gender stereotypes are losing importance, especially in the context of professional development and career path. On the occasion of Women's Day, we present to you the real Poznań SuperWomen, who do not even think about these stereotypes (and have never thought about them). Thanks to hard work and ambitious development, they climbed very high.

When I think about my job at the fair, I don’t see it in terms of a career. Working in this place is a joy for me, the pride of being part of the legend and leader of the exhibition industry, it is a constant development. I started working at the Poznań Fair as a final-year student and, frankly speaking, I thought that I would spend a few months here. The fairs, however, are so absorbing that I have been here for over twenty-five years. During this time, I worked in various positions, observing the development and changes taking place not only inside the company, but also on the European meetings market. Today, we are not only the organizer of fairs and conferences, but we also have our own restaurants, we deal with outdoor advertising and interactive marketing. Paradoxically, the pandemic allowed us to focus on activities other than trade fairs, to effectively develop and display them. We focus on modern technologies and digital solutions. We implement extensive investment plans. We are opening the fairgrounds for residents, and soon we will begin the construction of modern office spaces in a great location, with access to conference and catering facilities, which are already popular with potential tenants.

In the fair industry or the broadly understood meetings industry, there are many competent women who often occupy high positions. Women have different skills, a different view of the world than men, but both genders are needed to run a good business. They complement each other, their points of view intersect. Diversity is always good for business, especially when it’s about relationships and communication – just like our industry. In my work, I always got a lot of support from my co-workers and bosses. I never

ELŻBIETA ROESKE,

VICE PRESIDENT OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD, GRUPA MTP

felt the glass ceiling. For people who want to be successful in business, regardless of gender, I advise you to have a lot of persistence and consistency; to constantly develop and educate, and also not to forget about how much you achieve with hard work.

I joined the Pekabex Group on behalf of one of the Group’s shareholders. It was 2009, the Group was going through a rather difficult time, the construction market was in crisis, and the then financial director and chief accountant resigned from working in the company. In fact, it was necessary to re-create the financial structure, build a team and restructure the Group not only in financial terms. I joined the management board of Pekabex and together we started to implement a strategy which, as you can see, has brought tangible results. We are the leader in our industry, achieving record financial results. We started with one production plant in Poznań, today we have 5 plants in Poland, and in December we made acquisitions on the German market – taking over the sixth plant. Since 2015, we have been a company listed on the Stock Exchange. My story has come full circle. I started my professional career in one of the companies of the Bilfinger Berger concern, then I was not associated with the construction industry, and finally joined the Pekabex Group 11 years ago. I am not an engineer and I have the impression that sometimes it even helps in the engineering company we are, I have a different view of many things, it is easy to ask questions – because I do not need to know the technical details. Yes, it is an industry dominated by men, but in our Group there are many women in managerial positions, and the CO is also a woman. work and substantive knowledge – regardless of whether you are a man or a woman. The key to success is certainly a good team, self-discipline and consistent implementation of the set goals. A little luck and confidence will also come in handy.

In my opinion, there is no single recipe for a successful career. I have achieved success in an industry dominated by men. It is worth emphasizing, however, that there is no achievement without hard

BEATA ŻACZEK, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD, PEKABEX S.A.

I started my first full-time job in the last year of my studies. As employment in consulting was on the top at that time, I came across a company with such a profile of activity. While already working, I completed postgraduate studies in real estate brokerage and their valuation. I knew that it was with this direction that I would connect my future. I started my career as a Junior Negotiator at Knight Frank. I remember my excitement at the possibility of working on the most modern office buildings in Poznań at

MAGDALENA MAKUCH, LEASING MANAGER, VASTINT POLAND

the time: PFC, Andersia Tower, Malta Office Park, Skalar. In retrospect, I can consider this period as very intense, with a predominance of professional over private life. The compensation was satisfaction in the form of signed contracts, won projects, and finally promotion. After a few years as an advisor and real estate agent, it is time for the next step and a professional change.

With great enthusiasm and hope for new challenges, I started working for Vastint, an international developer implementing a large Business Garden office complex in Poznań. It was a perfect opportunity to learn from the other side of the investment preparation and implementation process, and then, step by step, participate in the commercialization of the facility. At the same time, I got a chance to join a well-coordinated team that cares about maintaining harmony between work and private life, which was important at that time of my life.

Neither gender dominates the real estate market and the parity is maintained. I don’t remember a situation where whether you are a man or a woman would be of any importance in negotiating with clients. The recipe for success in this industry is commitment, willingness to learn and the ability to build trust both in the team in which you work and among people with whom you establish business contacts. What, in my opinion, hinders the development of women in this industry is only self-limitation and our complexes that what is feminine is less perfect, less important. Against the internal brakes, you have to act and face challenges. This is a sure key to success.

The definition of professional success is already an individual matter and depends on the values that a given person considers to be superior. After all, it is not synonymous with prestige and money for everyone. Even more so, I do not see any grounds for differentiating success into female and male although undoubtedly, due to our social role, it is harder for us women to achieve this success. What could I advise people at the start of their career? Believe in your strength and possibilities and trust intuition. Parallel to your professional life, focus on having a passion (in the plural), or at least a hobby or even a pleasant ritual. Finally, be open to change. The last year has shown in particular that life can provoke us to change, and only those who can live up to it will survive in business.

DOROTA KOWALIK, GLOBAL RECRUITMENT MANAGER, NORDCLOUD

I have been living in Poznań for almost 5 years. I moved here mainly because of my job. I was also considering moving to Kraków, Tricity or Wrocław, but it was Poznań that finally attracted me and kept me. I joined one of the recruitment agencies, where I carried out international projects for NATO and public institutions. The world of IT recruitment drew me enough to join Nordcloud, build IT teams in Poland and develop and strengthen the company’s position – first in Central Europe and now also globally.

The IT industry is a world dominated by men. This is, among other things, the effect of stereotypes, but today it is more and more difficult to understand, seeing how competent female employees are. There are plenty of inspiring examples of debunking myths in the IT industry. Ultimately, it’s talent, personality and quality of work that count. I often hear from my colleagues an open appeal: “more women in the industry!”.

I believe that the most important thing is to develop your competences, build good and honest relationships, be interested in the industry in which we want to operate. Passion pays off! I love my job, I put a lot of energy and heart into it. I am looking for ideas on what and how I can do even better, I am looking for people from whom I can learn. I also love the company I work for. Sometimes it is not the occupation itself and the environment that is of great importance to our development.

There are many opportunities in the IT sector to learn about new technologies and fashionable tools. Apart from traditional education, meetups, webinars, thematic groups, courses and certifications are also popular. Openness, curiosity and determination to cross one’s own boundaries are also important, which may suggest somewhere in the back of your head that IT is a “male” field. Fortunately, we don’t need to hear this. We all have the opportunity to observe changes in the labor market, where quality and competences are of the greatest importance – not gender.

Marketing has been my passion and since graduating from the University of Adam Mickiewicz, I knew that this would be my career path. I was very lucky to work for international brands from the beginning. I gained experience in the FMCG industry working for the Hochland brand and then developed my competences at NIVEA. I experienced working in all areas, from portfolio building to product price positioning. I got to know the product life cycle in practice, from concept to market launch. I worked with the product development department and external institutes to investigate the potential of new products before launching them on the market. I created packaging design and marketing communication. It was satisfying to watch a TV advertisement created from scratch. I am now taking over new responsibilities within the Beiersdorf group and I am already looking forward to the challenges in my new role.

The cosmetics industry is very feminine and easy to find. Initially, however, I managed the categories of cosmetics for men, but it was not a problem, because purchasing decisions in this category are made mainly by women. The cosmetics industry is a friendly environment, in which many men also find themselves, mainly in sales and logistics.

As part of the development, my responsibilities included: public relations, issues related to sustainable development and corporate social responsibility. These activities are now the basis for building a friendly image of the company. Going beyond the core business of a corporation has become a necessity. Consumers expect care for the environment and real pro-social activities. In this field, I was able to develop a lot by creating social campaigns that give real benefits and at the same time strengthen the perception of the brand.

My advice to career starters? Be consistent in following your goals and ... set the bar higher and higher. You can’t get stuck in

KATARZYNA SINGH, COMMUNICATION MANAGER, BEIERSDORF MANUFACTURING POZNAŃ

your comfort zone. As a mother of two children and a wife with a very active husband, I was tempted to stop. However, I know well that professional development is just a matter of planning and good organization. With this in mind, we can fulfill ourselves without losing the pleasure of having a family.

My adventure with Poznań began thanks to my new job – in 2016 I took the position of Managing Director at MAN SSC and it was for this company that I moved to Poznań. After almost three years full of challenges and great cooperation, I decided to join the emerging GBS – Miele Global Services, in which we have already employed over 100 people and we continue to develop.

I believe that the modern services industry is friendly to women. Definitely. I would say even more: this sector is generally employee-friendly. We represent a modern approach to management, we understand and address the needs of employees and through, among others, flexible working hours, work life balance, remote work, medical care, we make it possible to combine professional work with private life. I experienced it myself and despite working in a high position, for many years I have been and am able to combine work with the role of mother and wife.

If I were to advise women who are just starting their careers, I would quote Sheryl Sandberg* and say, “sit down at the table.” Women often underestimate their skills, and in business hardly anyone will convince you “you can do it, try it, take the chance”. First of all, you must know it yourself. Raise your hand and take the chance, even take a risk knowing that you don’t know something yet. So what? If you have a solid foundation and sufficient competence, you will learn. Sitting on the side, away from the “table”, not taking up challenges – you will not be promoted. * Facebook’s COO, quote from her book, “Lean In. Join the game“.

ANNA MEDUNA, MANAGING DIRECTOR, MIELE GLOBAL SERVICES

The City of Poznań supports the diversity and professional development of women. In the Investor Relations Department, women have been in managerial positions for over three years: director Katja Lożina and deputy director Katarzyna Sobocińska. This is not an exceptional situation, because dozens of women develop their careers in the Poznań City Hall and other municipal units, including: Barbara Sajnaj – City Treasurer, Justyna Litka – President of Poznań Municipal Investments Company, Spokeswoman for the Mayor of the City – Joanna Żabierek, but also Directors of individual Departments of the City of Poznan – the Health Department, the Financial Department, the Real Estate Department, or the Corporate Supervision Department. Glass ceiling? In Poznań, we forgot about this notion a long time ago!

More information:

Investor Relations Department City of Poznań

Za Bramką 1 Street, 61-842 Poznan Phone: +48 61 878 54 28 e-mail: inwestor@um.poznan.pl www.poznan.pl/invest

New investment

in the city

Name of the investor: Transition Technologies PSC

Country of origin: Poland Number of workplaces: 50 Sector: IT/ITO/BPO Company's residence in the city: Omega, ul. Dąbrowskiego 79A Occupied place: ~370 sq m

We support business in digital transformation! We know this best, and we use our knowledge and experience to spread the idea of continuous technological development. We bring our business partners to a higher level through comprehensive activities and professional consultancy on many levels in the field of Augmented Reality, Internet of Things, Product Lifecycle Management, R&D Augmentation, Cloud solutions or Atlassian products. We work with the largest suppliers in the IT industry, including: Microsoft, Google, PTC, Atlassian, AWS, Azure. Transition Technologies PSC belongs to the Transition Technologies Capital Group, which has been operating since 1991, constantly expanding its structures. Today it emoploys 2000 specialists who develop and create modern solutions for business. We are on three continents – in Europe, the North America and Asia. We know and understand the needs of many industries, and we support our partners from around the world not only in introducing new technologies, but also in defining challenges and effectively managing the digital transformation process.

Ewa Łuczak, Head of Poznan Department, Transition Technologies PSC