Interview: Agnieszka Faracik-Leśniak, DMC Poland
In this interview, I present to you one of the owners of the DMC Poland agency and a long-time member of MPI Poland Chapter – Agnieszka Faracik-Leśniak!
Event agencies have had the greatest influence on the development of the CONREGO Event Management Software thanks to their experience. In 2011, we started working with one of them – a rather unique one, as it operates in the Polish market but focuses on international clients.
DMC Poland, the company in question, organizes events in Poland for clients from abroad. DMC Poland is one of our first and most loyal customers.
It all started seven years ago with a phone conversation with a widely respected and always smiling professional, whom I have the pleasure of hosting today. Let me introduce you to one of the owners of DMC Poland and a member of MPI Poland Chapter – Agnieszka Faracik-Leśniak.
The interview was originally recorded on video, but unfortunately, we do not have a version with English dubbing.
Interview Transcription
Let me introduce you to one of the owners of DMC Poland and a member of MPI Poland Chapter – Agnieszka Faracik-Leśniak.
Hi!
Agnieszka, how did your journey in the event industry begin?
It was so long ago that it’s hard to remember! It all started when RMF had its 10th anniversary and needed to be sent to Egypt. That much I remember. It was a fantastic trip, by plane, and at that moment, I thought, "This is amazing." People travel, have a great time, the company pays for it, we create wonderful experiences for them, they are happy, the company is happy, and everything has a happy ending.
At that time, the event industry in Poland was just beginning to develop. That was twenty-five years ago. That’s when I thought to myself, "This is a great industry." My career path led me to an agency specializing in incentive travel. The experience I gained in tourism over ten years was an excellent foundation for working in that field. The tourism industry is closely linked to incentive travel, which, in turn, is connected to events. I believe that was the moment when my journey began. So, it all started twenty-five years ago. Or actually, twenty-six.
What is your role at DMC Poland? What do you do daily in the company?
I am one of the co-owners of DMC Poland. Together with my business partner, Ola Pietras, we founded the company thirteen years ago. We started it because we had traveled the world. We worked with various DMC companies and learned a lot about how this type of business operates – how they deliver their services, how they execute events. We really liked it. As I mentioned, we traveled across half the world with different groups. That inspired us – if DMCs exist worldwide, why not establish one in Poland? And that’s how it began. Since then, our company has grown significantly. Back then, there were just two of us, and now we have a team of eight. We do incredible things, have a fantastic team, manage it well, and work together on everything. Of course, we divide responsibilities. My focus is more on sales, promotion, and marketing for our company because that’s where I feel most comfortable. However, I still have a soft spot for event execution. At least once a year, I need to organize an event myself.
What is the role of a DMC? How do you use destinations in Poland, and how do such companies operate?
A DMC is neither an event agency nor a travel agency. I emphasize this often. Destination Management Companies are frequently confused with incoming agencies, but they are entirely different. A DMC is, first and foremost, a local expert. It is a company that knows how to organize events, handle logistics, and arrange everything efficiently. It helps clients who want to hold any kind of event. And "event" is a broad term – it can be a conference, an incentive program, a gala dinner, or even a product launch. The role of a DMC is to support clients who want to organize events. It’s not just about managing hotels, transportation, tour guides, or sightseeing. It’s about consulting. I always say that the client knows their audience and what they want to deliver to them. But to make it happen successfully, they need someone on the ground who understands the local landscape. It’s not just about knowing hotels or restaurants but understanding local realities. This is crucial for the success of any event.
We have had many situations during events where, if we weren’t "locals," things wouldn’t have worked out. Because we are based here, we know the people, the relationships, and how to get things done. I think this is a huge advantage for our clients. The clients who come to us understand that without a company like ours, they wouldn’t be able to execute their event successfully. Of course, some clients manage everything themselves – and kudos to them for taking on such challenges. But to ensure their event runs smoothly, they should always consider that while they can handle hotel bookings, venue rentals, catering, and logistics, the local factor is extremely important for a successful event. That’s our role. And I love it because it’s amazing to see people come to Poland with preconceptions – sometimes they think of our country as a place with polar bears! Unfortunately, that’s how Poland is still perceived in some parts of the world. But for us, the greatest satisfaction is that after just one day, their perception changes completely thanks to the way we deliver our services and present Poland. Suddenly, they see a beautiful, amazing country with welcoming people. By the end of the event, they say, "Wow! That was an incredible trip." Our goal is to ensure that people who visit Poland leave with the memory that "It’s just another European country, but it was fantastic." With a company like ours, clients can achieve that. I don’t think they could accomplish it alone. If they tried to organize such events on their own, they would be working in a very mechanical way.
They wouldn’t have managed to handle everything on their own.
They wouldn’t have. And they wouldn’t have foreseen many things either. A good example is from last year’s major event we organized with a fantastic client from Germany. There was a deep mutual understanding of our roles. He knew why he wanted to work with us, and we knew exactly how to fulfill the tasks he assigned us. Some of the equipment was brought from Germany by the client, while we provided the rest. During the setup, it turned out that the carpet they had brought from Germany was the wrong color. We acted quickly, and soon the correct carpet was in place.
That same client, in the afternoon, just before the evening gala, opened a specially transported, secured box containing the award that participants had competed for throughout the year. It turned out that the award was broken. It was partially glass and partially metal. It was Saturday at 2:00 PM. By 9:30 PM, the award was fixed. Only because we found the right person, convinced him that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him to help us, and he did. The only thing he told us was that the glue needed six hours to dry, so we had to make sure the winner didn’t shake the award. But we made it. Our client wouldn’t have managed that alone. He wouldn’t have found that person, nor would he have come up with a solution. Most importantly, for the person who had come all this way to receive the award, this was a milestone in their professional life. If it hadn’t worked out, they would have been hugely disappointed. They would have been told, ‘You won first place, but you’ll receive your award once you get back home.’ The entire magic of the event, which was dedicated to this winner, would have been lost. This is why clients should work with companies like ours.
Back when I worked at an agency organizing international incentive events, I often thought: I know Italy and France very well, I speak both languages… I could organize an event in Paris myself. I could book a hotel, a restaurant, transfers, and guides… But it takes more than that. I never attempted it. I believe that, for the safety and flawless execution of an event, it’s essential to work with a DMC. That’s why we founded DMC Poland so many years ago. That’s the story.
Great story. You first used CONREGO when organizing IBFM in 2011. Do you remember the beginning of our cooperation?
Of course, I remember. First, I had to find you…
…which probably wasn’t easy at the time.
I’m actually wondering how I found you. Obviously, good old Google helped. And why did I choose you back then…?
Exactly, that’s a good question. I know you had specific needs, as they were primarily related to registration. It was a medical industry event that required structured registration…
There were hotels, there were participants…
We had a conference registration form as the first step, then the option to select agenda items with different values, and additionally, hotel reservations. I remember that currency conversion was essential.
Yes, that was my first contact with CONREGO.
And how do you remember it?
Sometimes I think that when I was searching for CONREGO, I was a very conscious client.
You were. You were a client who knew exactly what they wanted.
Exactly, that’s why I say – conscious.
That’s a higher level of awareness!
I wonder where that came from. Because that was really the first time we were creating a real system for our client. Everything before that was more like pseudo-registration systems: just entering a name and surname.
But you had used something before.
I had used various registration systems for conferences and congresses I attended myself. So, I had seen how they worked. And because I pay attention to things that might be useful in my work, that’s where this awareness came from. I knew what information I needed from participants and what I expected from them.
I remember one situation when we started working on a project, and we already had the guidelines on what should be included in the registration system, what processes it should handle…
I even still have those emails, or at least the files…
I definitely have them because I’ve kept all these emails from the beginning, since 2010. But the story goes like this—you specifically told us what you wanted to change in the system. For example, there was a function that wasn’t fully developed. One case was the lack of a feature that allowed adding comments to registrations.
You remembered that! Because I thought it was a great feature. Often, multiple people work on the system. The secretariat of a large congress isn’t handled by just one person. Typically, three or four people access the system. If today someone named Kowalski contacts me and sends an email with specific information and I update it, another person who later generates a report might not notice the change. But if there’s a note saying that on May 5th, I made this update because the client had a specific request… for me, that’s fantastic. I can track what has been done with that participant. And remember, most people using CONREGO rely on the system for information, but they primarily use what they extract in reports. They process the data they see in Excel columns for their clients. The client doesn’t receive all eighty columns, only selected information. And that information is often crucial. A person working with such a system should also be able to associate a lot of things because sometimes the information I enter today won’t be useful until a few days later. So having a space where you can add comments… it’s great that it’s there!
But that’s thanks to you. What we do is a sum of the knowledge from different people, from various companies and industries, with very different needs. So far, neither you nor any of our clients have ever organized the exact same event twice, even if it was for the same client. That’s simply not possible.
The same client, the same venue…
There’s always an element of randomness and evolving needs. Because aside from things that can change independently of us, needs also shift over time. They evolve. And which feature of CONREGO do you value the most?
First and foremost, I like that in CONREGO, I have everything gathered in one place, clear, intuitive, and very easy to use. It’s well-organized into sections. I have a space where I can work on the conference website, reports, and the information that participants receive… It’s all very clean and transparent. I think that in today’s world, where people are bombarded with all sorts of applications and information, clarity is incredibly valuable. I’ve also worked with other systems, and I know that I will always gladly return to CONREGO. I say "worked" because, due to my job, I sometimes have to register through different systems. And here, I find the greatest level of clarity. The system is readable both for the event organizer and for the person registering. Do you remember when we were working on one conference, and I told you: “Tomek, it needs to be red, more visible! Because there are people who won’t notice it. They think that after filling in the last field, everything auto-completes, submits itself, and that they have their hotel booked and everything sorted.” I told you, “Make it more visible!” Then you added a great feature when deleting a registration—where before it gets deleted, you have to confirm it about fifteen times.
I think that clarity and intuitive operation are the most important things in a system. Because when an event manager has a thousand things on their mind, the system should help them. It shouldn’t be an obstacle; it should be a support tool. In MPI, we also use CONREGO. My colleague Sara, when she first logged into the system, said, “Oh my God, I don’t know how to use this!” I told her, “Look how simple it is.” And she got it instantly. Because it was very easy and intuitive. I think that’s a huge advantage of the system. It should be a tool that helps you, not complicates things. And for me, that’s the most valuable aspect.
All the other technical features—I believe they’re great, but I don’t focus on them. I want to see the final result. For me, the end result is a super-clear, transparent report that I can send to the client. The client is happy, I’m happy. I see all the numbers—who is attending which tour, who is going to which dinner, who is staying in which hotel. That’s the final result for me. As for how the system works behind the scenes, I rely on you as the experts. I just need a clear output for my work. And I think that’s the best part of it.
Agnieszka, you mentioned MPI. MPI uses CONREGO, and that makes me very happy.
For several years now!
In 2011, we established a partnership under which, for every event organized by MPI (formerly Poland Club, now Poland Chapter), we provided a customized event registration software. Participants actively use it to register for upcoming meetings. How has MPI in Poland evolved over the last seven or eight years?
I think MPI evolves in response to changes in the industry. And the industry is changing rapidly. It is developing and moving in various directions. MPI, which was a small association just a few years ago, has now become quite significant.
MPI is, first and foremost, the only association in Poland dedicated to professionals who care about their professional development. To take advantage of what it offers (not just MPI Chapter, because that’s just one part of the MPI network), you need to know how to use it. And you have to want to use it. Many people become members just to have the logo… But that’s not the real added value. The real value is that MPI provides various training programs and certifications that increase our worth as event managers. It is the only association in Poland dedicated solely to professionals in this industry, helping them grow and advance. That’s what I find great about MPI.
I think that the industry now (having changed significantly and become much more aware) is catching up on the years when it didn’t exist in Poland while it was already well-developed in Europe. I believe that now, it’s no different from MPI chapters in other European countries.
MPI is also an association that sets the standards for the industry. We talk about trends, suggest new directions. This comes from our relationships with other MPI Chapters and from MPI itself, which provides insight on various issues. But for us, the most important thing is for people to want to engage, to take advantage of what MPI offers. Because today, when time flies so fast, people focus only on their projects and forget about themselves. And if we don’t take care of ourselves, our work, and our development, we eventually fall into a routine and lose our edge. And I think that’s something people eventually notice.
Only we don’t notice it ourselves.
Exactly. We think we’re just doing another event, another project, and everything is great. But in all of this, we can’t forget about ourselves.
That’s an important point because, in reality, most professionals in this industry lead a lifestyle where it’s hard to find time for themselves. We know very well that this is often not just an eight-hour job…
Unfortunately… Or maybe fortunately?
Fortunately or unfortunately, it’s all an adventure—it depends on how we approach it. But this is the moment to ask ourselves whether, in this constant rush between events and new challenges, we have fallen into the trap of thinking that because we’ve been doing this for so many years, so frequently, we must be great at it.
You could certainly think that. But in my opinion, that’s a mistake.
And very often, it is a mistake.
Sometimes people don’t understand what it truly means to "develop." It’s not just about enrolling in another university program or getting another certification… I mean, that’s great too, but that’s not the whole point. You also grow when you learn to separate work from your personal time. When you do something for yourself and clear your mind. You grow when you read a great book. You grow when you take a weekend off instead of working on yet another project. Of course, I understand that there’s pressure from deadlines and business obligations, but I think it’s important to find balance. In fact, we once had an MPI meeting on this topic—finding a balance between work and life. And I think that’s extremely important.
But this is a difficult topic. Personally, I don’t think I’ve mastered it.
It really is hard to achieve, but I think it’s very important for both our personal and professional lives. Because if we don’t take care of these things, we lose a certain balance—not just in work but in life overall. And we end up failing in either our private or professional life. Even the best event manager can make mistakes. MPI is a place where, if you take advantage of what it offers, you can truly gain something valuable. But you have to be willing to. Nowadays, we say—if you’re not active, you won’t get anything. You have to give something in order to get something in return. Just being a member of a group doesn’t mean anything. If you are in a group and you actively engage with it, even to a small degree, then you can truly benefit. And it’s not about financial benefits. These are benefits that might later translate into financial gains. You gain skills, new relationships—things like that.
But nothing will be handed to you on a silver platter. You can’t expect someone to present you with a ready-made solution and suddenly you become richer because of it. You have to take care of it yourself.
That’s exactly how I found CONREGO!
Finding solutions is something we must actively pursue. I believe that if someone doesn’t seek solutions, they are not growing—they are actually regressing.
Okay. So, what would you change about the event industry in Poland?
What would I change? I think I’m a bit of an idealist, and I would love for people who make promises to actually follow through on them. And for them to truly believe in what they do. It would be great if this industry wasn’t just about chasing money. That’s quite idealistic because, of course, we all run businesses and work to make a living. But I think money is just one part of it—there is also the satisfaction of what we do. I think ethics in our industry is something we should discuss more. People claim to be very ethical, but often their words don’t match their actions. Of course, no one is perfect, and I can’t expect everyone to be. But it would be great if the industry gave this more thought.
Another issue in our industry is that people don’t take the time to learn. To take advantage of opportunities, to do things differently, better. To seek out new solutions. You mentioned “routine” earlier. That’s something very dangerous for our industry.
I also think educating Polish clients is key. As a DMC, I don’t work with Polish clients, but when I observe my colleagues in other companies, I think client education would be a very important step. I feel like clients don’t fully see agencies as partners—they see them as a necessary evil. But in reality, both sides have the same goal—to deliver a perfect event for the audience. The client does it for one reason, the agency for another, but we all want to achieve the same thing. If a client treats you as a partner, you have a much better chance of success.
As I said—clients often see agencies as a necessary evil. “This agency has to come in and do the job, and on top of that, we have to pay them, but I could have done it myself.” Our clients sometimes don’t appreciate the work of people who have great, creative ideas and implement them. I think that’s a major issue in our industry.
But the great thing is that there are so many young people coming up with fresh ideas, sometimes crazy ones. When I read about projects that have been executed, I think: “Wow! It’s amazing that there are people with such ideas.” Sometimes I feel both proud and a little jealous of my competitors who have pulled off something fantastic. I feel proud because they’ve created something unique and presented it in my country, which I will always want to promote as the best destination in the world—even though we don’t have camels, the Eiffel Tower, or prosecco (or some other well-known drink). But I also feel jealous that they came up with that idea and not me.
I believe this industry has to keep learning. Just because I’ve done fifteen, twenty, forty events doesn’t mean I know everything and can stop learning. We have to keep growing. Does our industry realize that? That’s a very good question.
In reality, everyone should look for answers within themselves. I wouldn’t say that top-level professionalism is the standard. It varies a lot. It’s not even something that can be assessed from the company’s perspective; rather, it’s something that should be evaluated from the perspective of the individual event manager who is part of the team.
Yes, but that event manager represents the company.
Of course. They are the reason why a company is perceived in a certain way. But the point is, when working with different companies and different people, we meet some who are incredibly professional—truly top-level. But at the same time, within the same company, we come across people who don’t meet that standard.
If a company has a clear vision and communicates it well to its team—what they want to achieve, how they want to do it, how they want to work, and what quality means to them—then the team can pass that on.
In the rush to secure business, we often forget about these important aspects. But I believe that people always need to grow, whether by using different tools or absorbing information that enriches them. That’s what life is about—constantly searching for something new. I can’t imagine just sitting and doing nothing.
I think people need to develop, seek solutions, and that’s something associations like MPI should show them—the right path. Not deciding for them what they should learn next, but simply showing them that there are solutions available, and letting them make the choice.
And sometimes I hear: "Oh, sorry, I didn’t come to your event because I didn’t have time." But when we meet people and build new, valuable relationships, those relationships inevitably influence our work. Look at the great relationship we have. We first met over the phone, and I think we only met in person a year after you first launched our Event Management Software. And you noticed yourself—we enjoy chatting on the phone.
Gossiping…
But we don’t gossip—we discuss very important matters!
We gossip with substance!
But you know, these are the kinds of things that shape our experience.
What do you love most about your job?
Just the job itself… I love that I get to showcase an amazing Poland and constantly surprise people. I meet incredible people, and that’s something I truly value. I have the freedom to come up with crazy ideas. And the best part is that I meet clients who want to bring those ideas to life. What else do I love about my job? The fun. My work is genuinely enjoyable. I work with great people in my company. And besides the serious responsibilities we have, there’s also an element of fun that positively impacts our team. Actually, this applies to everyone I meet. Since childhood, I never liked saying “Mr.” or “Ms.” – I always addressed people informally, which made relationships much closer. I think that, because of who I am, I can quickly establish direct conversations with people. I don’t feel comfortable in situations where I have to formally say, “Good morning, Mr. President” or “Good morning, Madam Minister.” I think that only complicates communication. I believe communication should be simple and transparent. So, people, fun, the joy of what I do. The joy of presenting Poland. I just love it.
You actually have a great habit. Every time we talk on the phone, your first question is always: ‘How are you?’ It’s a sign that you genuinely care.
Because it’s nice! I don’t hear from you for three months, and we’re supposed to start talking about CONREGO right away? No, first tell me how you’re doing, and then we’ll talk about CONREGO! Sometimes I feel like I’m being too pushy with that. Not many people ask how you’re feeling. That’s more of an English or American habit.
Maybe, but I personally find it very positive. You are generally a very positive, open person who has no trouble communicating at any level. That’s always an advantage. And it’s clear that you genuinely like people.
Yes, I do. Although sometimes they annoy me. But it’s more about human behavior than the people themselves. I think I’m willing to give everyone a chance. The list of people I wouldn’t give a second chance to is very short, and not even worth mentioning. But I always try to give everyone a chance to earn my trust. Some people just don’t know how to present themselves at first—like, “Wow, let’s go for a beer” or “Let’s do business together.” I think I need a moment to assess someone, but overall, I try to see the good in everyone. That makes life easier, right? And it helps you get things done. In my job, making things happen and finding solutions is key.
If I called a nice lady at a venue I wanted to rent—a place that’s usually not available for events—and just said, “HELLO, I WANT TO RENT YOUR VENUE!” I think she would hang up before I even finished my sentence. But if I call her, have a friendly conversation, joke around a little, I increase my chances of making it happen.
More than once, this approach has helped me achieve a lot more. And we both know—when we’re kind to each other, and it’s genuine rather than forced, we can accomplish much more. You give something, and someone gives back. I haven’t rented Wawel Castle yet, but there’s still time! That’s my industry challenge.
Okay. Besides CONREGO, what other tools and applications do you use in your daily work?
Google Drive is my best friend. It helps me a lot in organizing various things while working with my team. Wunderlist, which even does grocery shopping with my husband—it's amazing. Although sometimes I think I use it too much. Basecamp, because that's what I work on, and Highrise, which is part of Basecamp, because I use it to work with partners abroad. During conferences, I always have the conference app open. Sometimes I use social media. Recently, an industry colleague—I'll mention his name: Dominik Górka-Manta—said that I am everywhere on social media. Not true! I also use Dropbox, but more out of necessity because my clients use it. WeTransfer is great for sending large files. While traveling, I use TripCase, which I consider a brilliant tool. When I book a flight through my agent, all my tickets, gate changes, and delay notifications appear there—it’s really fantastic. I try to stay open to new things.
You definitely are, and above all, you’re experienced. Speaking of experience—if a beginner event manager, a rookie, comes to you asking for advice and guidance, what would a veteran of the industry say to a young professional?
Search, search, search. Find things out yourself. I can tell you everything, but you won’t truly learn from it unless you figure it out on your own. I believe that a young professional needs to make a few mistakes. I would encourage them to jump into the deep end. I’d take them to events with me—let them watch, let them learn how I do things. I would quickly be able to assess whether that person is suited to being an event manager at a DMC. Because that’s a slightly different approach than being an event manager at an event agency. I’d encourage them to seek information, look for solutions, and observe those who have experience. That’s the best way to learn. And they shouldn’t be afraid to step up and take on challenges. Some young people tend to stay on the sidelines and just observe. They don’t really learn anything that way. And as a boss, I wouldn’t hesitate to give a young employee serious responsibilities. Of course, I need to have control over it—I can’t afford for them to make a mistake or a major blunder that I won’t be able to fix. But controlled mistakes are fine. When we make mistakes, we learn very quickly.
Because we remember our failures. They leave a much bigger impression than someone just telling us, "Oh, you did great."
I think I’d also recommend some tried-and-tested solutions to that young professional, but I wouldn’t impose them. Let them decide for themselves whether they like it or not. A lot depends on the person. Sometimes we get interns—kids. I say "kids" because they’re young, they’re just starting out. And sometimes I have high expectations of them. Since they see how we work, they should just jump right in… But I forget that I’ve been doing this for quite a few years. And sometimes, young people come in with no enthusiasm, no motivation, and they’d rather just go home. I don’t even want to give those people a chance. It’s better to give a chance to someone who has real drive, someone I can see is genuinely interested in this industry. That’s the kind of person I’d definitely invest my time in. And I’ve often dedicated time to young professionals to show them the ropes, to teach them. Because I believe that if experienced people share knowledge and provide guidance, young professionals will learn. It’s all about sharing experiences—showing them the way and pushing them to seek solutions on their own. Let them make mistakes. I sometimes think of myself as a mother hen, but I believe that parents are there to help their child stand up when they fall—not to scatter rose petals to make their path easier. And I think the same applies to young professionals. Let them make mistakes. As long as we don’t end up in jail for it, no one gets hurt, and it doesn’t result in huge financial losses…
You have to gradually give them more and more responsibility. I think that’s how they will truly learn. That’s how I learned. I was thrown into the deep end. I consider it an incredible stroke of luck that I started my career as a tour guide for international trips. That was an amazing time. I remember my first trip with a group to Spain. I didn’t know where I was going. I didn’t know the name of the location. I just knew it was Spain… Turns out it wasn’t a hotel but a campsite. The agency hadn’t given me specific information. Between Poland and Spain, on the Costa Brava, I learned a lot. But I had to figure everything out on my own. I remember the day of departure, I found out I had to guide the group through Zurich. Oh my God, I had never been to Zurich in my life! And now I had to buy train tickets from Zurich to Geneva… Oh God, how do you buy a ticket in German? I don’t speak German! But being thrown into the deep end forced me to look for solutions. I had to rely on myself. Today, young people often seem helpless. They say, "It’s not possible." Well, then find a solution! "But it’s not possible…" Then look here, look there, search in different places, and you’ll surely find something. Nothing is impossible. It’s just a matter of finding the right solution. And if you can’t find the exact one, maybe you’ll find something close enough to get you to your goal. But you have to look. And they don’t like doing that. That worries me—today’s youth really just want the easy way out. And that’s the parents’ fault.
Do you see this as a generational shift?
Yes, a generational shift. These kids are good kids. This younger generation. They are good people, and they have certainly been taught many valuable things by their parents or through life experiences. However, many of them think about themselves as individuals rather than as part of a group. They think about moving forward, but not necessarily in the sense that if they learn something, it could also benefit those around them. I belong to a generation that wants to take, but also wants to give a lot in return. I feel like people born in the seventies were like that.
The seventies generation was like that, and we were raised with the idea that we don’t just take, we also give. And maybe that culture even originated on playgrounds. Because back then, if you didn’t have something to offer at the playground, you didn’t get anything in return. You had to bring something first to be able to play with the other kids. Now, acceptance happens on a different level.
At the school level, where the teacher, the tutor, the mom, the grandma—everyone is involved. These kids are very protected. I believe that young people at the beginning of their careers need to stumble. The most important thing is that they have someone they can call a mentor. Someone who will extend a hand and say: “Okay, you tripped, now get up. This is your direction.” I think that’s really important for them. And there you go, I just said something very wise!
Agnieszka, thank you very much for your time. For making it possible for us to meet today. And for the fact that we could have such an honest conversation. Because I hope that it’s not just beneficial for us but for others as well. Readers will learn some interesting things. And hopefully, they will remember this conversation just as I will remember it—with warmth and in the best way possible.
I’m very happy too, because I really enjoy our conversations. And I’m glad that we are increasingly managing to have them in person rather than just over the phone.
Exactly, that’s key.
But I still remember that CONREGO promised to come to Kraków and stay an extra day!
They will come!
I can even set up a great registration system for your private event in Kraków.
Then we will definitely register! Thanks a lot, Agnieszka.
Thank you!