PODCASTS

Success for everyone means something different. It can be the realization of plans for professional development, a high position, the achievement of work-life balance or the fulfillment of personal dreams. But one thing is certain - in order to achieve success, each of us goes through a certain path, on which we meet people who influence our decisions.

During the CFO Success podcasts, I talk to CFOs who have walked this path, derive satisfaction from what they do, and are an inspiration to others. These meetings will help us understand the direction in which finance will develop and who we want to be in the world of finance. You are cordially invited!

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The guest of the episode in the new series, hosted by Bartosz Gayer, is Robert Czarniewski, CFO and Vice President of Polcom.

Since the very beginning of his career, he has combined two worlds - business and IT. For years, he has focused on increasing the efficiency of Polish and international IT projects, recognizing their impact on business capabilities and creating processes for successful digital transformations. As a graduate of Finance and Banking at Cracow University of Economics and Stockholm University School of Business, he specializes primarily in management accounting, especially in the area of project controlling. He has practical knowledge in acquiring and managing investment projects implemented under EU support, including innovative technologies. Due to his many years of experience in management positions in IT companies, including as Director of the Controlling Department at Comarch Group SA, he effectively supports strategic decision-making processes and realizes the broader role of financial director in the context of company development. He also undertakes numerous activities to develop the CFO community, aiming to build awareness of the role of the CFO, especially in the context of digital transformation.

The guests of the episode in the new series, hosted by Bartosz Gayer, are Robert Czarniewski, Vice President, CFO, Polcom, and Piotr Slanek, Board Member, Protech.

Piotr Slanek has managed production at PROTECH for more than twenty years, developing and adapting the production team to dynamically changing conditions. He sees the potential in people and is able to bring it out, creating space for creativity and mobilizing for action. He effectively implements both short-term plans and long-term management strategies, contributing to the company's growth and success.

Robert Czarniewski has been combining two worlds - business and IT - since the very beginning of his career. For years, he has focused on improving the efficiency of Polish and international IT projects, recognizing their impact on business capabilities and creating processes for successful digital transformations. As a graduate of Finance and Banking at Cracow University of Economics and Stockholm University School of Business, he specializes primarily in management accounting, especially in the area of project controlling. He has practical knowledge in acquiring and managing investment projects implemented under EU support, including innovative technologies. With many years of experience in management positions in IT companies, including as Director of the Controlling Department at Comarch Group SA, he effectively supports strategic decision-making processes and realizes the broader role of financial director in the context of corporate development. He also undertakes numerous activities to develop the CFO community, aiming to build awareness of the role of the CFO, especially in the context of digital transformation.

The guest for this episode is Joanna Zapolska, Finance Business Partner, Heavy Water Europe - ECOLAB.

Joanna Zapolska is focused on digital transformation. She has 18 years of international experience in Central Europe / CEEMEA in managing budgets up to $600 million and cross-functional and finance teams. She talks to Bartosz Gayer about the critical importance of developing one's skill set as a business partner by seeking new avenues of self-development, discovering one's innate talents, taking advantage of mentoring and coaching, and constantly practicing communication and developing networks.

The guest on the podcast episode is Wojciech Rosa, Member of the Board of Directors, Head of Corporate Finance at Polpharma Group.

He has several years of experience in finance in international capital groups. He specializes in consolidated reporting processes, corporate finance, and controlling production, research and development processes. He deals with the topic of organizational culture in financial reporting and the possibilities of applying machine learning solutions to accounting processes From 2011 to 2017, he served as Corporate Controlling Director, and since 2017 as Corporate Finance Director of Polpharma Group responsible for financial planning and consolidation. Since 2019, he has been a member of the Polpharma Group Management Board. Led projects to implement financial consolidation systems, managerial reporting. Implements and supervises accounting process optimization projects. Actively participates in restructuring and M&A projects conducted by the Group. Completed MBA-GFKM studies.

In this episode of the podcast, we host Marcin Andziak, Head of Finance and Distribution at Servier Poland. Our expert has more than 20 years of experience in financial management in international organizations. He started his career at Arthur Andersen and continued in international organizations in the pharmaceutical industry. He has experience in financial management in organizations at different stages of development (from start - up to organizations with an established market position). He is a graduate of the University of Warsaw. He is qualified as a Certified Auditor and is a member of the international organization ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants).

The guest on the next episode of the "CFO Success" podcast is Cezary Seliga - Vice President and CFO at Exclusive Networks Poland.

He has been involved with finance in the IT industry for more than 30 years, when he and his colleagues founded the distribution company Veracomp (Exclusive Networks Poland since February 2022). At the newly established company, he took the position of chief financial officer. His practical experience grew as the company's dynamic growth and revenue increased.

At Exclusive Networks Poland, he is specifically responsible for managing working capital, securing all risks associated with the company's operations and financial reporting to the group.

Graduated in finance and banking from the Cracow University of Economics.

Privately a lover of road cycling, actively spending his free time on a bicycle most preferably in the mountains.

In this episode of the podcast, we host Justyna Zasowska, who serves as CFO and Member of the Management Board at OBI Poland.

Justyna has been CFO at OBI Poland for 9 years, and CFO at retail companies for 15 years. During that time she was responsible for Finance, IT and Legal & Compliance. Due to the evolution of the CFO role and the changing market and legal and tax environment, she is constantly excited to face new challenges. She takes pride in her Team's achievements and in maintaining the company's financial health.

In the next episode, we meet Beata Kepowicz, Chief Financial Officer at CMS.

Beata is an experienced project, finance and operations consultant with a proven track record of working in the legal industry in both CEE and Poland. She is skilled in management, budgeting, cost verification and optimization, contract, project and process negotiation, financial accounting, revenue forecasting and accounting.

The expert for the next installment of the "CFO Success" podcast is Piotr Miednik, Vice President, CFO, ZMORPH S.A.

He has 15 years of experience in finance. He serves as CFO and Vice President of the Management Board of Zmorph SA, a 3D printing technology company in the portfolio of the Warsaw Equity Group fund. He gained his experience in companies listed on the WSE and owned by private equity funds. He has worked with, among others, the CCC group, Prima Moda, IT Kontrakt, JP Weber or Karl Vögele AG in Switzerland.

He is also an expert in M&A transactions, and one of them received the FORBES No. 1 TOP BIGGEST FOREIGN TRANSACTIONS award in February 2020. He is certified as a Kaizen Facilitator and is in the process of completing CIMA.

In the third installment of the podcast, Wojciech Wieronski, a CFO with many years of international experience, shares his knowledge, not only in the professional field. He currently serves as Managing Director of Finance at Media Markt Saturn Poland.

The guest of the second podcast is Pawel Zielinski, who has been professionally involved in finance for more than twenty years. He serves as CFO of the Poland Region of the Bilfinger SE Group.

He is responsible for two organizations with a total of 4,200 employees who perform specialized services for industrial construction in more than twenty countries. Outside his professional field, he is passionate about uncomfortable backpacking trips, mountaineering and photography. A cautious optimist.

The guest of the premiere episode is Wieslawa Markiewicz, Senior Finance Executive at the headquarters of Mercedes-Benz AG. From 2012 to 2016, she was CFO, Vice President and Board Member of Mercedes-Benz Poland Sp. z o.o. and the first woman on the Board of Directors in the history of Mercedes-Benz in Poland.

Wieslawa is a professionally trained Executive Coach and helps clients in their profound transformation towards harmony, fulfillment and living their dreams. As a Business Advisor and Business Coach, she works with teams and organizations to unleash their power, purpose and potential and transform their ideas into successful business models.

Wieslawa is a graduate of the Global Trium Executive MBA - one of the top MBA business programs for global leaders - from three of the world's leading business schools New York University Stern School of Business, London School of Economics and Political Science and HEC Paris School of Management.