"I think I have found a niche that has not yet been filled. Librarians and archivists are very stereotypically perceived professions. Thanks to my education, which allowed me to look at documents and archive management from the point of view of the process rather than the value of documents themselves, I’m proving that this profession not only has a place in the modern world, but that it also has a lot of potential for development."

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

Paradoxically, my best memory is of the exams I failed in a course called Readership. It was the only subject during my studies which I had to re-take. It was taught by professor Jacek Wojciechowski. At that time I didn’t really understand why I failed those exams as I was very well prepared for them. Then I heard the professor say: “I don't want you to know this. I want you to understand it”. This thought has stayed with me throughout my professional life.

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

In the fifth year of my studies, I got an unpaid internship at the filing office of BNP Paribas bank. It wasn’t a position directly related to my field of study, but it was related to documents. I think that the decisive event at the very beginning of my career was when I challenged the idea of the archive optimisation project. I presented my proposal to my superiors and some of the planned changes were made as I recommended. This event gave me self-confidence and drive. I was 25 years old and had about six months of work experience, and I became the expert leader on a long-term project with a high budget.

How has education contributed to your career development?

I think I have found a niche that has not yet been filled. Librarians and archivists are very stereotypically perceived professions. Thanks to my education, which allowed me to look at documents and archive management from the point of view of the process rather than the value of documents themselves, I’m proving that this profession not only has a place in the modern world, but that it also has a lot of potential for development.

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

Currently, I run a company called Archiważne, which supports entrepreneurs in modelling processes related to document circulation and archiving. I work closely with Pani Swojego Czasu sp. z o.o., where I deal with enterprise documentation and analysis of internal processes. In November 2020, I obtained the Six Sigma Green Belt certification and started postgraduate studies in Lean Management & Lean Office to expand my business with other business processes in services and work on their optimization. In April 2020, I also published a short e-book guide on organising the private documents that virtually everyone has in their home archives. (Title: “Get these papers sorted out, or how to put your documents in order in 5 easy steps”)

What are your biggest challenges now?

The biggest challenge for me is to stretch my day by a few extra hours. I have a lot of work that gives me a lot of satisfaction. I am developing and acquiring new skills. I want to be able to put them into practice in the best possible way.

What is your life like where you live?

I live near Cracow, my professional life is mainly connected with this city. I appreciate the rural tranquillity when I return home after the hustle and bustle of the city. Unfortunately, in winter, life is made difficult by the smog.

What is your definition of success?

For me, success is getting up every day and smiling at the thought of the work ahead of me.

What tips do you have for students who just are entering the job market?

Above all, don’t lock yourself into a rigid framework. Openness and readiness for change are, in my opinion, the most valuable skills in today’s world.

How do you envision the Jagiellonian University’s collaboration with graduates?

I am very pleased that the University is working with graduates. As a student, I really missed a tangible testimony from a person who is part of the job market and has travelled the same path as other students and I. My personal mission is to show students who study somewhat unpopular subjects (perhaps they enrolled because they had no idea what else to do or because of poor results in their final exams) that an unpopular degree subject doesn’t have to be a road to nowhere, it doesn’t have to be a quick fix that we want to change right away. Instead, it can be a fantastic field for development, a niche to explore. I am very willing to share my story with the students. Also, I don’t exclude the possibility of taking on students from degree subjects related to mine for an internship or apprenticeship, if I need support in developing my business.