He’s 40 years old, has an imposing figure, a long red beard, and overall looks like a Viking. But that’s just appearances because his heart, like his hair color, is pure gold. His career path has taken him through journalism, the best football club in Poland, and production companies. Meet Wacław, the marketing manager at Bertrand.
Klaudia: Why did you choose this career path? Why marketing, HR, and employer branding in particular?
Wacek: It was a process of elimination and necessity. Elimination because it quickly became clear that I had no affinity for science subjects, and in math, I was literally the worst student in the history of that subject. The necessity came from the fact that since I didn’t become a professional footballer or later a programmer, I had to finally make some decision about what I wanted to do in life. I first ended up at Real (not Madrid, but the supermarket, where I was stocking shelves). Then I became a promising “player” in sports media, and finally, I found myself in fields based on soft skills. I think I have huge reserves of empathy and creativity, which have been a big help in my career, whether in marketing, HR, or EB.
K: Describe Bertrand’s products in three words.
W: Born from passion.
K: You mentioned that you have an interesting professional background. Is there any memorable situation that stands out?
W: There were plenty because my career has been quite a rollercoaster—I traveled to the Champions League with Zagłębie Lubin, and three years later, I was taking bowling to kindergartens and senior homes. I have a lot of memories, so it’s hard to choose the most interesting one. I had the chance to meet Franciszek Smuda, and with a friend, we accidentally tore his new jacket. I also met Robert Lewandowski, and we had a nice chat after a match between Zagłębie and Lech. I’ve met Leo Beenhakker, Czesław Michniewicz, and Jakub Błaszczykowski. But I also met the charming Ms. Magda from a primary school in Gdynia, Pogórze. I remember when I went there with bowling equipment for the kids, she asked if we had any special requests. She meant coffee, tea, or water. As I tend to do, I blurted out without thinking, “Strawberries will do.” Now, imagine my face five minutes later when I’m in the middle of a session, the door opens, and Ms. Magda walks in with a bowl of strawberries. I’ve never felt so embarrassed before or since.
K: Has there been a situation that changed your life?
W: I was a pretty quiet “player” in primary school. But in second grade, I bought a tape of Guns N’ Roses’ “Appetite for Destruction” at the Lubin bazaar. And things changed a bit after that.
K: What are three things you can’t imagine living without?
W: My wonderful children, my amazing cats, and, well, doing 500 push-ups every morning.
K: Tell us something not many people know about you but that you’re very proud of.
W: When I was in second or third grade, I went to a summer camp in Pogorzelica. There, they organized a contest for “Mister of the Camp,” and I think I entered kind of as a joke. And I won. It was one of the few moments in my childhood where no one cared that I was a redhead 😊.
K: What do you dislike most about yourself?
W: Myself behind the wheel. I get angry very easily, and it’s often not a pleasant experience. You’ve seen me in action, so you know what I mean. I really don’t like that about myself.
K: If you could become any person for just one day, who would it be and why?
W: Lemmy Kilmister, the late singer of Motörhead. The guy had a truly colorful, rock ‘n’ roll life. I’d love to see what that’s like because my life is pretty calm in comparison.