Warsaw Business Journal

Kierunek GZM 2026: a first day full of discoveries The first day of the Kierunek GZM festival proved once again that remarkable places and fascinating stories can be found just around the corner. On Friday, participants set off on the first micro-adventures across the GZM. Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolia, exploring historic landmarks, industrial heritage, natural attractions and places usually closed to visitors. The programme ranged from historical walks and tours of post-industrial sites to visits to Katowice Airport and evening adventures, including a walk following Bytom’s historic neon signs and atmospheric tours with a touch of mystery. And this is only the beginning. Two more days of inspiring trips and special events lie ahead. Kierunek GZM is Poland’s largest micro-adventure festival. Its fifth anniversary edition, held on June 26–28, features 265 tours and four special events across all 41 GZM cities and municipalities, encouraging residents and visitors to discover the history, nature and heritage waiting close to home. WBJ's Ewa Szczesik-Franczak and Małgorzata Tyborowska were there to experience the festival first-hand and discover some of the Metropolis’s hidden stories and unexpected attractions.

Who controls Europe’s digital future? For years, the debate around digital autonomy focused on data protection, foreign surveillance and dependence on global technology companies. Today, the stakes are even higher: cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, semiconductors, AI and ownership of critical technologies. Poland has taken a distinctly security-first path. After building its digital public services and strengthening cybersecurity, the country is now investing in domestic technological capabilities and venture capital through initiatives such as Future Tech Poland. The goal is not isolation from foreign technology, but greater control: keeping strategic data local, reducing high-risk dependencies and building Polish and European alternatives. Because true digital autonomy requires more than regulation. It requires the ability to shape, finance and own the technologies of the future. Read Sean R.’s analysis of Poland’s place on Europe’s digital battlefield. https://lnkd.in/e42xHYYZ #DigitalAutonomy #Cybersecurity #Technology #Innovation #Poland #EuropeanUnion #DigitalSovereignty #VentureCapital

How much could AI add to Poland’s economy? According to a new The World Bank Group report, artificial intelligence could increase Poland’s real GDP by between 1.3% and 12.1% by 2035. But the gains are not automatic. They will depend on: • business investment in AI and infrastructure • workers’ ability to adapt and reskill • innovation-friendly regulation • labor market and social policies supporting the transition AI could begin boosting productivity within three years. Yet today, only 8% of Polish companies use it in at least one business process, leaving considerable room for growth. Business services are likely to feel the impact early, as routine work becomes automated and companies move toward higher-value activities. AI can strengthen Poland’s economy, but only when investment in technology is matched by investment in people. Read more about the World Bank Group report, Navigating the Age of AI: Implications for Poland’s Economy. https://lnkd.in/eFg2-eqX

Empathy is not weakness. But it cannot stand alone. The final panel at Women Leaders Forum 2026, held in Mennica Towers on May 27, 2026, explored emotional intelligence, well-being, confidence, and the leadership qualities that are often underestimated in business. Moderated by Agnieszka Matłoka, MBA, Associate Partner Sustainability at Civitta Poland, the discussion began with an important observation about bias in performance evaluation: “When employee performance is evaluated, 66% of women’s reviews include comments on personality traits and soft skills, while men are assessed primarily on business outcomes.” The panelists agreed that empathy, while a valuable trait, is not enough to make a good leader. Magdalena Zagrodnik, Co-owner & Board Member of Walter Herz stated: “Empathy is a strength, but it must be paired with confidence.” The sentiment was echoed by Marta Rzeszotarska, Executive Vice President at CLINMARK - CONTRACT RESEARCH AND CONSULTING ORGANIZATION: “I cannot imagine an effective leader who is empathetic but lacks decisiveness.” The panelists examined how leadership expectations are changing, especially as younger generations look for more human-centered workplaces. “The younger generation expects more space for emotions and human connection at work,” said Marta Rzeszotarska. Kamila Śniegoska, therapist and founder of Szczęśliwa Strona Życia, spoke about the emotional costs of leadership: “Many leaders were raised to be responsible, determined, and always in control.” She also warned that burnout often begins quietly: “Burnout rarely arrives overnight. It begins with poor sleep, loss of concentration, frustration, and the feeling that even success no longer brings joy.” Perhaps one of the most memorable reflections came when she spoke about the loneliness that can accompany achievement: “We collect applause, promotions, and achievements, yet those external successes can sometimes mask a deep sense of internal loneliness.” The panel made one thing clear: modern leadership needs empathy, but also boundaries, confidence, courage, and the ability to make decisions when they matter. Read the full account of the Women Leaders Forum 2026 in Warsaw Business Journal: https://lnkd.in/d3xwqzse

In a traditionally male-dominated industries, access is not enough. Advancement matters. That was one of the key conclusions from the second panel at Women Leaders Forum 2026 on May 27, 2026 at Mennica Towers, Warsaw, titled: “Outside the stereotype: women in traditionally male industries,” moderated by Wioletta Fabrycka, owner of A Propos, which focused on women in industries still often seen as male-dominated. Fabrycka opened with a telling statistic: “Women make up 58.5% of university students, yet only 32.4% of those studying technology-related fields and just 15.4% in emerging technologies.” The panel looked at what this means in practice across construction, logistics, transport, real estate, and technology. Agnieszka Głowacka, Vice President of ERBUD GROUP, pointed to visible progress: “I am encouraged to see more women succeeding in roles traditionally seen as male, from construction site managers to project leaders.” She also challenged one of the most damaging assumptions around diversity: “The suggestion that women reach leadership positions because they are pushed into them rather than because they are qualified is simply untrue.” Jolanta Sawińska, Regional Director at Raben Logistics Polska, emphasized that representation often declines as careers progress: “Women account for half of all new hires, yet their representation decreases at every higher level of the organization.” Krystyna Swojak, Managing Director of Top Woman in Real Estate, Construction & Logistics, shared a striking example of invisible expertise: “I witnessed a situation where a female director prepared a male CEO for a high-profile panel discussion, even though she herself could have been sitting on that stage.” And Monika Woźniak-Zawioła, CCIM, Partner & CEO Poland at THE CONCEPT, brought the issue back to business value: “Women in leadership are not just a matter of representation or political correctness. They are a business imperative.” The message was clear: the question is no longer whether women belong in these industries. The real question is whether organizations are doing enough to help talent rise. Read the full account of the Women Leaders Forum 2026 in Warsaw Business Journal: https://lnkd.in/dv2mRkqw

There is no single path to leadership. That was the central message of the first panel at Women Leaders Forum 2026, “Glass corridors, broken rungs or your own path? How does the road to leadership really look for women?” that took place on May 27 in Mennica Towers in Warsaw. Moderated by Beata Socha, Editor at Warsaw Business Journal, the discussion brought together women leaders from business, education, finance, technology, and public institutions. Katarzyna Kowalska, Vice President of the Management Board at KUKE, captured the spirit of the conversation clearly: “I always tried to embrace every opportunity life presented me with and then prove, through hard work, that I deserved it.” Joanna Erdman, President of the Cashless Poland Foundation, pointed to courage and reminded the audience how powerful early support can be: “When someone believes in you, invests in your potential, and gives you that first opportunity, extraordinary things can happen.” Visibility was another key theme. Agnieszka Radwan, Director of Human Capital Management and Diversity Officer at Totalizator Sportowy, said: “We need to take ownership of our own visibility, step outside our comfort zones and tell others who we are and what we do in an honest and authentic way.” Ewelina Woldan, Communication Manager at Lenovo Polska, added: “Sometimes a single decision can change how the market sees us. It can transform our visibility and open doors we didn’t know existed.” And Dr Katarzyna Borzym-Grzesik, Deputy Head at Akademeia High School, offered a powerful reminder about risk: “There are no bad decisions. There are only decisions we might make differently in hindsight.” The panelists showed that leadership is rarely linear. It is built through courage, visibility, opportunity, and the willingness to keep moving before the path is fully clear. Read the full account of the Women Leaders Forum 2026 in Warsaw Business Journal: https://lnkd.in/dv2mRkqw

Women Leaders Forum 2026 was not only a space for thoughtful conversations about leadership, influence, career growth, and well-being. It was also an opportunity to bring together partners who understand the value of creating meaningful experiences. A special thank you to Orivène | Autorska marka luksusowej pielęgnacji, a Polish premium skincare brand specializing in advanced skin bio-regeneration. Developed and manufactured entirely in Poland, Orivène provided the gifts included in participants’ press packs and helped make this year’s forum a little more memorable. Orivène is a luxury skincare brand manufactured entirely in Poland, with proprietary formulas based on the synergy of native collagen and 24K 999 gold. It is modern skincare designed to meet the needs of contemporary skin living at an intense pace. Thank you for being part of Women Leaders Forum 2026. Read a detailed summary of the event. https://lnkd.in/d3xwqzse

CD-Action celebrated its 30th anniversary last weekend, and Warsaw Business Journal was there to join the festivities. Over two days in Łódź, we interviewed creators and industry experts, listened to fascinating panel discussions, explored the latest indie titles, tested upcoming games, learned Rubik’s Cube tricks from a champion, browsed retro treasures, and came home with a few souvenirs along the way. What impressed us most was the community. From longtime readers who grew up with CD-Action to younger gamers discovering it for the first time, the event brought together generations united by a passion for games, creativity, and pop culture. Congratulations to the entire CD-Action team on 30 years of building one of Poland’s most enduring gaming communities. Stay tuned: we'll be sharing interviews and insights from the event.

📈 When investors start asking for leverage, it may be time to pay attention to market sentiment. At WallStreet 30, Tomasz Gessner of Tavex Sp. z o.o. explored the forces shaping today's precious metals market, and why the story of gold and silver may be far from over. Key takeaways: • Every bull market follows a familiar emotional cycle, moving from optimism to greed and, eventually, extreme greed. • As investors seek leveraged exposure through futures, CFDs, and leveraged ETFs, demand itself becomes a useful indicator of market psychology. • Gold and silver producers are generating record cash flows and industry-leading margins, with many companies returning excess capital through unprecedented share buyback programs. • Yet high prices do not automatically translate into higher supply. Developing a new mine is a complex process that can take well over a decade from discovery to production. The result? Even at record prices, the market cannot be flooded with new gold and silver overnight, a structural constraint that continues to support the long-term investment case for precious metals. As WallStreet 30, organized by Klub Przedsiębiorczości, comes to a close, one thing is clear: the best investors never stop learning, questioning, and preparing for what comes next.

"Failure does not define us." What does it take to come back after missing a world championship title by just three seconds? At WallStreet 30, organized by Klub Przedsiębiorczości, rally driver Kajetan Kajetanowicz shared lessons that extend far beyond motorsport. His message was clear: failure does not define us. Our response to it does. The discussion also highlighted several principles that apply equally to business and sport: 🏁 Success is rarely the result of one breakthrough moment. It is built through years of consistent effort. 🤝 Behind every great achievement stands a team. Trust, communication, and shared responsibility matter more than individual stars. 🎯 Risk is essential—but it should be calculated, not reckless. 🏡 A stable personal life creates the foundation needed to perform under pressure. 💪 The winning mindset is not about never failing. It is about finding the strength to get up and try again. One of the most powerful themes of the conversation was resilience. A defeat that could have ended a dream instead became fuel for future success. Rather than allowing disappointment to define him, Kajetan treated it as a lesson, and two years later achieved the goal he had narrowly missed. The biggest goals often seem out of reach. Until persistence, preparation, and the right people around us make them possible.