“I see my work as a means to the end which is to be able to bring my loved ones’ and my own passions and dreams to fruition.” When I started my career, I promised myself that I would buy my dad a motorcycle one day. This was a dream of his that he gave up when he sent me to study abroad. I managed to make this dream come true. My dad’s joy every time he gets on the bike is for me a definition of my success.(...)”

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

The entire 5 years was a wonderful time. Studying in Cracow, at the royal university, was not only a time of learning and fun for me, but most of all a time to make friends for life and to bond emotionally with Cracow. Even though I moved out 13 years ago, my heart still skips a beat when I hear the hejnał call sounding from St. Mary’s Tower. I am trying to infect my son with this love ... So far successfully, because he keeps asking when we will go again to feed the pigeons on the market square in Cracow.

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

Completely accidentally, thanks to a rather unexpected offer of a monthly internship in Warsaw. I never wanted to study in the capital, let alone live and work there. After completing my studies at the Jagiellonian University, I was supposed to do postgraduate studies abroad, and afterwards either stay there or return to Cracow. This is why I treated the offer of a month-long internship in Warsaw as a summer adventure. As fate had it, after completing postgraduate legal studies abroad (LL.M.), the law firm where I was doing my internship offered me a job, which brought me to Warsaw. This month it has been exactly 12 years since I moved here. So in my case, the saying was true: “Change is the only constant, and plans change.” Nothing came out of my plans, and my life was decided by chance.

How has your education contributed to your career development?

The Jagiellonian University is undoubtedly a prestigious university that opens many doors to begin with. Postgraduate studies (LL.M. in the United States) abroad had a major impact on my career progress. There was also the fact that I passed the bar examination in New York and Virginia, for which an excellent knowledge of English was needed.

Studies at the Jagiellonian University also taught me humility, persistence and – above all – the ability to hold my own. To this day, I remember when someone in my year compared his studies to a rat race. You had to constantly fight for places at lectures and seminars. Although it was hard for me to understand it then, it helped me to come into my own and learn how to fight for what I care about, which is definitely useful in the corporate world of Warsaw lawyers.

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

I am a senior associate at the Warsaw office of Squire Patton Boggs, where I run the personal data protection and privacy section. My focus area is also intellectual property law and telecommunications law. In practice, however, I often work with issues from various other areas of law. Although it can be frustrating at times, it makes you grow as a person and does not let you fall into a routine.

What are your biggest challenges right now?

Each day is a new challenge for me. Both professionally and privately. Especially combining these two spheres of life is for me – as a lawyer and a working mother – a constant challenge. I would also like to find more time for my passions. Recently, I have taken up Turkish again, which I started learning while I was still a student in Cracow. Unfortunately, the biggest challenge is finding time for learning.

What is life and work like in the city/country where you live?

Fast. Too fast. I feel it every time I visit my hometown or Cracow. I have the impression that time in Warsaw goes much faster than anywhere else. But this is probably the price you pay for the opportunities that living in the capital offers.

What is your definition of success?

Do what you like, like how it’s well done and get good money for it. I see my work as a means to the end which is to be able to bring my loved ones’ and my own passions and dreams to fruition.”. When I started my career, I promised myself that I would buy my dad a motorcycle one day. This was a dream of his that he gave up when he sent me to study abroad. I managed to make this dream come true. My dad’s joy every time he gets on the bike is for me a definition of my success. Warren Buffet used to say that the measure of success is whether your loved ones are happy and whether they love you. And I absolutely endorse it.

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

Don't be afraid to take on challenges. Even if you make a mistake, it will be a valuable lesson for the future. And don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t know something. People learn all their lives. Experience is gained through years of practice. However, never become complacent. Above all, keep improving. Standing still is depressing. And don't limit yourself to just one area. Because you never know when the most unlikely skill can come in handy. I am learning Turkish for example. I have heard many times: but what do you need Turkish for? Well, at one of the international conferences I met lawyers from Istanbul ... it was nice to surprise Turks with the knowledge of their language.

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

I would love to see myself as a mentor. I remember when I was still a student, I appreciated the advice of my older colleagues who came to visit the faculty. These were valuable meetings, especially with law graduates who told stories about their professional life in Warsaw. For a student from Cracow, starting a career in the capital at that time was very difficult: while students from Warsaw universities were already working full time in law offices during their studies, we – students from Cracow – could only count on summer internships. That is why I am happy to talk about my experiences, twists of fortune and how I came to be where I am.