WORK EXPERIENCE

I love working. That gives me a sense of purpose. I am a hard-working young professional. I earned my first money when I was 14. The job was easy: I curled window gaskets and packed them into boxes. In two months I earned enough to buy a first ski jacket. That gave me an idea about the real value of money.

I am passionate about stories and values. This is why I studied social sciences. Whether there are narrations about human beings, about products, about consumers or company revenue - there is always a story behind it. It is just waiting to pick it up.

New challenges in Swisslog AG

 At the very beginning of the year I started working for Swisslog. This great company does really cool stuff, like robots and automated storage system, of which my grandpa (an engineer) only dreamed. Here I developed myself on an every facit. Culturally - as my first work in a foreign country I faced a completely new business culture; in communication therms - my English was always stronger than German language skills; professionally - I managed to develop some projects only by myself.

I was given a great trust and power over my time-management and task-management. Thanks to that, I composed a great database on Automated Material Handling, which is used for strategic plans of Swisslog. I introduced a new system of market intelligence, that consists of eg. competitors monitoring. 

Besides, I developed my new skills in vector design. Infographics, that I made, are valued and published at the social media. That is the part of it:

GfK experience 

I worked as a Research Assistant in GfK Polonia. This was a wonderful time. I was lucky to work in my field. Learning the commercial reality of our life, I analyzed consumers, their shopping behaviors, their willingness to purchase new products, their familiarity with brands. Consumers use to attach to brands. They work out the attitude and relationship with products they like or dislike. They also have different characters: some of them are more traditional buyers, some are technological savvies, some are trialists or realists. Behind every brand and every consumer is a story hidden in numbers. I was lucky to tell those histories to Brand Managers or even to Market Directors.

I was active in a sales process. That was extremely challenging. But I believed what I was offering. My positive attitude and client-oriented personality were my strengths. After some time I could act independently and take the initiative. Selling analyses is strongly associated with consulting, because the client is not always sure what need to be analyzed. I was there, asking appropriate questions, tailoring research studies and showing directions for brands' development. It brought enormous satisfaction: especially when my analysis was then used to change brand communication or reorganize the assortment.

Selling process demands some special qualities like negotiation skills, confidence and listening abilities. I developed those three not only during sales activities, but mainly in internal communication. My work and its first shape depended on other departments. Sometimes our interests contradicted, there was never enough time, never enough workforce. But I managed to overcome those hurdles and not only I always got what I wanted, but also I was remembered as a peaceful colleague. I just call it efficiency.

My colleagues enjoyed working with me. I have a sharp eye for details and a percipient mind. They asked me for expertise and could always rely on me. As an assistant I was designed to support my colleagues. I was good at sharing the knowledge - several times I conducted methodological trainings, I was confident to show my ideas during team meetings. I felt our business is growing thanks to the team spirit.

I was also managing some administrative activities. Scheduling meetings, organizing appointments, managing the CRM and carrying the detailed documentation was my daily task. My main tools were Microsoft Office programs: Power Point, Excel, Outlook and Word. 

SW Research

Thanks to the experience with this small social research company I met great analysts. Those guys really know what they are doing. I was assigned to three projects with them:

1. The desk research for Children's Ombudsman. The analysis was sent to the Polish government.

2. The desk research for a private real estate developer about student dormitories in Poland.

After those two assignments I was regarded as a trustworthy and dependable employee. That is why I was invited to conduct far more difficult task:

3. SPSS analysis and report on financial situation and migration of students in Poland for the project 'Eurostudent V'. This was an international - European research. The recipient was also Polish government. All data used originated from huge databases of SW Research. Was carefully analyzed by me and shown on graphs presenting one clear story.

Internships

Like many students, I joined some companies as an intern. But what distinguishes me is what I carried them out completely for free and during summertime breaks, while other students were having fun by the seaside. I find interships highly educative. They unveiled the secret about the business reality. Thanks to them, for the first time could I speak directly to clients, learn by mistakes, excel in multitasking and prioritizing. Business is so much different than safe and warm academic field. It is more vivid, challenging, fast, demanding but cruel at times.

My first three internships were to explore different fields. I was in the radio, at theater and in research company.

I particularly appreciate internships in Exacto. (PR company) and Inventi Consulting (events, workshops, conferences, trainings, HR). The first one was highly creative and fast-paced. I was asked to take part in a yearly operational program for the key client. It was not only enlightening but also kind of fun. The latter was more product-focused. I was the person to build the clients database, then to sell products of the company. I invented marketing materials for the company and took part in promotional activities.

Non-profit

All my internships were done voluntarily. I invested my time in order to learn something. But one of my longest achievements is writing for Teatralia.com.pl. I am from the begining of Teatrala's existance. 8 years together. I write about theatre. I conduct interviews with theatre personas. I create news-sheets during festivals. This activity nurtures my desire for creativity. I not only see a theatre play at least twice a month, but also create the reviews, writing stories about theatre. Due to my migration to Switzerland I was asked to lead the foreign office of Teatralia: I am in the middle of gathering new team and managing them internationally.