As we are concluding the first season of "UniLodz. Tu zaczyna się przyszłość” [UniLodz. The Future Starts Here], we would like to go back to the key insights shared by our guests with students, graduates and everyone seeking their own path.
We spoke with people who today lead companies, institutions and projects with a global reach. They all have one thing in common: none of them followed a straight line. That was the central idea of the series: to show that a career rarely unfolds according to a plan written during the first year of studies.
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From Łódź to Global Business
The season opened with Bartosz Brzozowski, Member of the Management Board of the Polish Marketing Association SMB. He was followed by Szymon Midera, President of PKO Bank Polski, who spoke about combining business with values and about responsible leadership in practice. How to successfully conquer international markets from Łódź was the subject of our conversation with Tomasz Marciniak, Managing Partner at McKinsey & Company Poland. In his view, freedom from self-doubt, hunger for success and ambition are the driving forces behind achieving the highest goals.
The theme of data as the foundation of the modern economy returned in conversations with Marzena Kardas, Vice President Data Management at Barry Callebaut Group, and Agnieszka Belowska-Gosławska from ABSL Poland, who reminded us that in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, the most sought-after skill is the ability to learn. Michał Hertel, CEO of BrandLift and a University of Lodz mentor, in turn highlighted that relationships are a currency whose value continues to grow.
The Courage that Changes Direction
Several of our guests demonstrated that sometimes the most important decision is the decision to change course. Joanna Erdman, President of the Poland Cashless Foundation and co-creator of mBank, spoke about missing admission to her dream degree programme by just three points and how this seemingly disappointing beginning opened the door to the world of finance. Sergiusz Ryczel described his journey from English philology through commentating on UEFA Champions League finals to mentoring business leaders, repeating a simple principle: “Feel the fear and do it anyway.” Dr Paulina Frankiewicz, President of the Albert Camus Polish Association and co-creator of the Conrad Festival, showed that the humanities, often dismissed as “impractical”, are in fact exactly what the world needs today.
Passion That Becomes a Profession
Many of our guests transformed personal interests into tangible professional achievements. Magdalena Malisz, a film producer associated with productions including “Ida”, took us behind the scenes of Polish and international cinema. Sebastian Grochala, now Communication and Marketing Director at LS Airport Services, explained how scouting became his first training ground in crisis management. Małgorzata Żmijska, co-creator of "Niemapa” [Not-a-Map], demonstrated how the sociological knowledge she gained at the University of Lodz helps teach thousands of children to care for the planet. Joanna Ufnalska, a guide, urban game designer and novelist, proved that a love of Łódź can become the foundation of a multidimensional career.
Speaking about leadership, Michał Rydz, former President of Widzew Łódź, emphasised that a good leader knows how to surround themselves with people who are more capable than they are, offering a perspective on football focused on management rather than the stands. Dr Magdalena Kosiada-Sylburska, Head of the EC1 Science and Technology Centre, discussed the industrial doctoral programme and the practical cooperation between universities and cultural institutions.
All Episodes from the First Season
- Bartek Brzozowski — Member of the Management Board, Polish Marketing Association SMB
- Szymon Midera — President of PKO Bank Polski
- Michał Rydz — Former President of Widzew Łódź
- Magdalena Malisz — Film Producer
- dr Magdalena Kosiada-Sylburska — Head of the EC1 Science and Technology Centre, Łódź
- Joanna Erdman — President of the Poland Cashless Foundation, Co-Creator of mBank
- Sebastian Grochala — Communication and Marketing Director, LS Airport Services
- Sergiusz Ryczel — Sports Journalist, Mentor and Trainer
- Małgorzata Żmijska — President of the “Mamy Projekt” Foundation, Co-Creator of „Niemapa” [Not-a-Map]
- Joanna Ufnalska — Guide, Urban Game Designer and Writer
- Michał Hertel — CEO of BrandLift, University of Lodz Mentor
- Tomasz Marciniak — PManaging Partner, McKinsey & Company Poland
- dr Paulina Frankiewicz — President of the Albert Camus Polish Association
- Marzena Kardas — Vice President Data Management, Barry Callebaut Group
- Agnieszka Belowska-Gosławska — Vice President Digital & Technology, ABSL Poland
What Remains After the First Season
Although each of these stories is different, the conclusions are remarkably similar: it is worth trying, worth taking responsibility before we feel fully ready and worth remaining open to opportunities we cannot yet imagine. This is precisely why the series is called "UniLodz. Tu zaczyna się przyszłość” [UniLodz. The Future Starts Here]. For every one of our guests, the future began right here, at the University of Lodz.
All episodes of the first season will soon be available on our new Spotify channel.
Subscribe now, and we look forward to welcoming you back for the next season!
