“For me, success is to create a brand that clients love so much that they become its ambassadors and cannot imagine living without your favourite product. Then, you realize that your business is there not just to earn money. Even when I am on holiday, on a sun-drenched exotic beach, I start to miss my business after a few days (...).”

What is your best memory from your time at the Jagiellonian University?

When I was in college, the Institute of Applied Psychology was located in a beautiful part of Cracow- Kazimierz. This gave me a change to explore this area, its architecture, history, charming cafes and restaurants.

How did your professional career start? What were the turning points?

I decided to learn Chinese by the time I am 30 and, by accident, I came across an advert for an Au Pair Programme – a Chinese family would pay for your flight, Chinese lessons and travelling expenses. I thought this would be perfect for me. When I arrived in Shanghai, I fell in love with the city and this is how it all started. A friend and I decided to set up a blog for expats in Shanghai. The blog became so popular that my friend went on to start an association called “Shanghai Gastronomy Club.” At that point, I was getting more and more interesting in the food industry, how it works, and that’s how I came to open my own restaurant “Pierogi Ladies.”

A photo from graduate’s private collection.

How did your education contribute to your career?

My education has had no direct impact on what I am doing at the moment, but I needed a university diploma to get a visa. China is becoming more and more selective about who they are letting in and I wouldn’t have got a job permit without college education.

Tell us about your current job. What do you do?

I am working to develop my brand – Pierogi Ladies, because it’s not just a restaurant. This year we opened a wholesale outlet of pierogi, catering for shops in Shanghai and right now we’re trying to expand our contact base into other cities.

My day-to-day duties include mainly PR and marketing – setting up events, organizing promotions and looking to start cooperation with other creative businesspeople in Shanghai. We create a lot of interesting projects together to help our businesses grow. I am also in charge of social media – WeChat (China’s largest and most popular social media website), Instagram and Facebook.

When it comes to more “light-hearted” stuff, I also make drinks with my co-worker, we bake cake together … I also prepare salted pickles, a Polish delicacy, and invent new recipes. Shanghai is a fiercely competitive gourmet paradise, so the standards are very high. Our menu has to evolve dynamically.

A photo from graduate’s private collection.

What are your biggest challenges at the moment?

Right now, the biggest challenge is to find new retail channels for our best-selling pierogi which we make under a contract with a local factory. Right now, we are in talks with shops in Beijing, but my goal is to bring our pierogi to other Chinese cities as well.

How does it feel to live and work in Shanghai?

Life and work are very intense. The pace is quick and client demands are high – Chinese clients are ready to pay a lot for products and services but they expect top quality in return. People here work 7 days a week. There’s no such thing here as quiet time at home – I could get a text from a client or supplier at 6 or 1 AM. However, life and work here are easier thanks to applications.

What I like most about Shanghai is that it is populated by people from around the world who are very open to and orientated towards working together. Even though our company focuses on food and drink, we still organize events and co-operate with jewellery designers and an organic pet food producer. A product of this relationship is a pet menu for dogs that people bring to our restaurants for a meal.

Shanghai attracts interesting and inspiring people from around the world. This mixture of cultures in the world’s fastest-developing city is an unforgettable school of life. An advantage of Shanghai is that it is close to many exotic destinations. Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia are all affordable year-round holiday spots where you can take a break when city life gets too stressful.

What is your definition of success?

For me, success is to create a brand that clients love so much that they become its ambassadors and cannot imagine living without your favourite product. Then, you realize that your business is there not just to earn money. Even when I am on holiday, on a sun-drenched exotic beach, I start to miss my business after a few days – that is success for me.

What tips can you give to students who are now entering the job market?

You should prepare for the job market when you’re still in college; use your long holiday for an internship or “Work&Travel” experience. When I was in college, I took part in such a programme in Alaska and this changed my entire attitude to life. This was my first contact with a non-European culture, with various native American tribes. That trip showed me that it is important to travel and step out of your comfort zone. I learned a lot about myself, about managing people and about how culture affects your work ethic. On the job market you need practice and you can’t get that from a book.

How do you think the Jagiellonian University should co-operate with its graduates?

The Jagiellonian University could set up associations of graduates abroad – in large cities like New York, London, Paris, Beijing and Shanghai, each with its own animator, operating on social media. Such associations could network and co-operate with local businesses.