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Alumni stories: Marlena Wróbel

Alumni stories: Marlena Wróbel

"Success is managing yourself in such a way as to strike a balance between work and private life every day, or at least try to do it. It is a very difficult task, especially nowadays at a time of permanent uncertainty, health concerns and worrying about the future. It is a success to set yourself up in life in such a way that you have a good life without needing to sacrifice your health (both mental and physical) or relations with your loved ones."

Name and surname: Marlena Wróbel

Position: aviation broker (General Aviation)

Degree subject: sociology


How do you remember your time at the Jagiellonian University? Was there any special event that you remember?

I remember my studies with great fondness. I lived in a dormitory, I didn't have a penny to my name, but it was an extremely happy time for me. First of all, I enjoyed the studies themselves and the constantly growing sense that I could see and understand more. Sociology provides a lot of interesting knowledge. Secondly, I met my husband during my studies (he graduated from in the same subject), and as you know, love turns your world upside down. 😊 Thirdly, we were both members of the Student Body, which involved working on a number of interesting projects, trips, events and meeting new people all the time. I always walked to the Institute, taking a trip across the Market Square which I think is the most beautiful in the early morning. It was my ritual to always walk to the university, regardless of the weather. I remember it as a time of happiness and freedom.

What did your education give you? How has it influenced your career development?

I graduated in sociology and I work in aviation. I learned my profession at work. But ... to get this job, I had to demonstrate extensive general knowledge and a wide range of soft skills to show that I had aptitude for the job. Sociology offers a broad humanistic education that allows you to understand the way in which the individual and society operate on many levels and in various contexts. Private aviation is a business based on relations, trust and networking. I collaborate with people from all over the world, from different cultures and with various business models. Education is the foundation of my life and business maturity.

What is your current job?

I am an aviation broker in General Aviation which is basically means private planes. I run a company under the Mocca Jet brand, which supports clients in the field of private jet, turbojet and helicopter flights. On the one hand, I have operators, that is, companies that own and manage a diverse fleet of aircraft. There are clients/passengers on the other side. My task is to find the aircraft for the client that is suitable for the nature of the journey, number of passengers, route, amount of luggage or other needs/requirements. I work with local/national, European and global clients. I collaborate with Polish and foreign operators. The main feature of private aviation is that we don’t have a rigid schedule unlike national airlines. Here, the passenger decides where, when and with whom to fly. Sky is the limit!

Therefore, the broker must be available 24/7 and have multiple operators as trusted partners in order to move quickly and flexibly. It is also important to cooperate with ground service agents at airports, catering companies and other businesses whose work contributes to air service quality. The advantage of my work is flexible hours and the possibility of servicing customers from virtually anywhere in the world. All you need is a high-speed Internet connection, a laptop and a phone. The downside is that we can’t predict when a flight request will come up. So you should be on high alert constantly and be responsive to your clients, including on weekends and bank holidays. It is important to be able to manage your time in a way as to strike a balance between flight management and private life. Working in private aviation is a lifestyle, but experience has taught me that you shouldn’t overstretch yourself. Tiredness or chronic stress will sooner or later take a toll on client relations. General Aviation, as I have already mentioned, is based precisely on relations, trust, safety, and recommendation and has a low error tolerance.

Private aviation is not only about exclusive flights for the most affluent clients. It is also about medical flights, tourism, topical flights, fast “door-to-door” transfers by helicopter or small aircraft, the so-called ‘air taxi’. It is also chartering for groups, e.g. a football team. Importantly, in the age of pandemic restrictions, there is no safer and more flexible way to get away from home. By flying a private plane you avoid hundreds of “points of contact” where the risk of coronavirus infection is greater, such as busy airport terminals and baggage check-in areas. Private plane passengers arrive at the VIP terminal 10 minutes before departure. A few moments later, the door to the plane closes and ... off we fly.

What is your definition of success?

Success is managing yourself in such a way as to strike a balance between work and private life every day, or at least try to do it. It is a very difficult task, especially nowadays at a time of permanent uncertainty, health concerns and worrying about the future. It is a success to set yourself up in life in such a way that you have a good life without needing to sacrifice your health (both mental and physical) or relations with your loved ones.

What are your biggest challenges now?

A lack of socio-economic stability and living in fear that we don’t what know what the next day will bring. What this means is that running a business is right now “project management in a crisis situation.” Currently, you should show great flexibility and adaptability, while at the same time be tough and keep it together. The world order has changed and, unfortunately, the fittest will survive. The challenge is not only to survive in this new reality, but most of all to stay on course. When I left my full-time job in the middle of the pandemic and started a business, my friends said ironically: “well, that’s a bold move”. It was a crazy decision in crazy times, but back then I felt it had to be this way. I believe that when you have a clearly defined goal that is worth striving for and you know the answer to “why do I do what I do?”, that's half the battle won. The other half is to hold on firmly to the controls even in high turbulence.

What advice could you give to young people who are only just entering the job market?

When you are a young person, you are reluctant to listen to advice ... Maybe I will say this, if I were to hire someone, I would pay attention to the following: How much did the person do in college besides studying? Did they do part-time work/internships/job placements? Were they involved in scientific/sports/artistic projects or did they otherwise develop their talents and passions? How do they manage ongoing projects (broadly understood)? What is the logic of their work? How do they build relationships? How do they relieve stress? My ideal candidate is someone who has developed a certain emotional maturity, has respect for work and a bit of humility. Everything else – industry, product, customer service, etc. – can be learnt on the job. 😊

What can the university do for graduates? In what areas do you think graduates could cooperate with the university?

In my opinion, in order for graduates to want to cooperate with the university after leaving it, they should, from the first day in college, develop pride in the fact of studying at the Jagiellonian University; build a sense of community and belonging to a very unique group of people. It is an honour to study at the Jagiellonian University! PR activities are needed both within the university and outside. Besides, business should go hand in hand with the university. Students should be familiarized with best business practices. Business supports and pays for scientific development, but the university provides the highest level of education. They have to be on the same page. A student who leaves such an environment and becomes professionally independent will certainly be much more willing to support his/her Alma Mater and show more kindness to business partners who have graduated from the same university. And the point is for us to support each other.

Meetings with people who graduated from the Jagiellonian University and doing something interesting are a fun idea. This always brings inspiration and helps with mentoring, of which I am a great advocate. My mentor is many times smarter and more experienced than me. I am very grateful that I can draw on her knowledge. Thanks to her, I am growing spiritually, developing professionally, and by following her guidelines, I’ve managed to avoid complications and make decisions that have changed my life for good – something I used to be afraid of before.

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