"The only thing I'm absolutely certain of is that there's a puzzle waiting for me at work every day that hasn't yet been solved. So the biggest challenge is the constant struggle with the unknown. The need to face it is extremely motivating for me. Besides, the challenge for everyone who works in IT is that the technology we help create should be neutral and have a positive impact on us, our cultures and societies. (...)"

What is your best memory of studying at the Jagiellonian University?

I have many good memories of my studies but the best ones are related to the School of American Law at the Faculty of Law and Administration, and above all to the group I attended there. With these fantastic people, we took over the running of the Students' Intellectual Property Law Society and started participating in the meetings of the Intellectual Property Law Department. The cooperation and creation of new structures with these incredibly talented people was extremely stimulating. The academic staff not only accepted our initiatives but also actively supported us. Sometimes they told us: "There is this problem, look at it and tell us what you think about it, because it is something completely new for us, too". Now I make sure that groups I work with are always a place of free debate and discussion. I also remember when the School of American Law principal invited Palestine's chief negotiator for water supply access in Gaza. We had a two-hour debate with him. It was a fantastic experience for a student who had only recently moved to Cracow. It showed me that the world is at my fingertips.

How did your career start? What were the decisive events in it?

Before the School of American Law, I was able to get an internship in the European Parliament in Brussels. It was about a year before the Olympics in China... Since it was only a month's internship, I decided to try to broaden my horizons as much as possible. I spent the month researching and studying China, and it passed quickly. It turned out that my work was so good that my host invited me to cooperate as a consultant on matters concerning China, as well as intellectual property and personal data. This experience taught me that, with a passionate interest in something and hard work, you can achieve things that would seem beyond your reach. The experience also showed that you should not be afraid to change your own plans. We need to take advantage of the opportunities that professional, academic or personal life offers us. This job took me later to China where I lived and studied at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. These experiences also showed me that it is worth showing initiative and not being afraid of experimentation. It is worth trying to combine your passions and interests with professional activities. I think that without these experiences, I would never have written a monograph on Socialist Brands in the context of trade mark law, or had the opportunity to hold a seminar for the European Union's Office for Intellectual Property in Alicante.

How has your education contributed to your career development?

Logic. Methodology. Philosophical approach. Theoretical foundations. These are the most valuable assets that my studies at the Jagiellonian University gave me. I also found fantastic mentors who always supported me with advice and were very understanding towards me, despite the fact that working with me was not always the easiest. In particular, I am grateful to Prof. Wojcieszko-Glushko.

Tell us about your current job. What are you doing now?

I am a lawyer specializing in the processing of personal data in the context of artificial intelligence. In other words, I deal more broadly with how the law regulates exclusive rights in the field of information. It is important in the technological context, as currently the quality of technological solutions is absolutely dependent on the data that was used to create them. Such data should be obtained not only in accordance with the law, but also in accordance with ethical principles and values, and should be robust both from a technical and social point of view, because, for example, AI systems can have unintended effects even when used in good faith. Technology must be developed in such a way that we can trust it. These issues are crucial at Intel, which is my main workplace, where I advise and create global strategies.

Photo from the graduate's own collection

I have also been an associate professor at George Washington University in Washington for several years. I teach comparative personal data law in the context of new technologies for students of this university and students from the international program Munich Intellectual Property Center co-created by the Max Planck Institute. In addition, as part of my free time, I am currently doing research on the impact of processing personal data on our emotions, culture and society in the context of AI. All this fascinates me very much, but I do not think that I am a particularly overworked person. I think I would be very interested in these issues, even if they were not related to my job. In my opinion, each of us should be knowledgeable about new technologies and personal data. You could say you should be interested in Big Data... because Big Data is keenly interested in you!

Jakie są teraz Twoje największe wyzwania?

My field is new and is developing at a dizzying pace. We are talking about technology that does not stand still, so each day at work brings completely new challenges. The only thing I'm absolutely sure about is that there is a puzzle waiting for me at work every day that has no solution yet. So the biggest challenge is the constant struggle with the unknown. Having to face it is extremely motivating for me. Besides, the challenge of everyone who works in IT is that the technology we help create is neutral and that it can positively influence us, our cultures and societies.

What is your definition of success?

If we look at Silicon Valley, the people behind the fantastic successes of the past decades have at least one thing in common: a lot of mistakes and failures. What sets these people apart, however, is that they did not yield to their weight. They drew conclusions and learnt lessons that then became their successes. Therefore, for me, learning something new, preferably from my own mistakes, is a success. Some failures turn out to be gifts from fate!

What advice / guidance do you have for current students entering the job market?

It is not worth getting carried away by the "I'm alone here and all the other students are my rivals" attitude. The foundation of success is the ability for constructive conversation and teamwork. For example, in our study group, it never happened that someone secretly ran to the library to borrow all the books to make it difficult for others to learn. On the contrary, when one of us came across something new and interesting, we photocopied such sources for everyone. Since the dawn of history, universities have been a forum for exchanging information, insights and jointly creating new paths that we can then follow.

It's also important not to be afraid to ask questions, even if they seem silly to you. As a lecturer, I greatly appreciate students who are committed and ready to take an active part, even if they do not feel confident about the subject. Again: failures or mistakes are natural and are the foundations of any success.
I also think that it is always worth having some alternative plans and not being too attached to them. You have to be ready to change them, because life can surprise you.

How do you imagine the cooperation between the Jagiellonian University and its graduates?

It seems to me that the key here is the brand, i.e. how the employer perceives the graduate of a given faculty at the Jagiellonian University. In this context, does the brand of the Jagiellonian University guarantee that the student has the skills and theoretical foundations that employers need?
Here comes my own reflection that partnership can be key. Graduates could be invited to help the academic staff review what is in the study plan. They could think together about adjustments, what the business is currently paying attention to and what it needs. After all, the Jagiellonian University has a fantastic, extensive network of alumni that would be envied by many international institutions!

Interviewer: Halina Czubała