Growth Through Embracing Opportunities

Sometimes, life presents us with unexpected chances and opportunities. My experience this year makes it clear that they are worth taking advantage of.

One day in April 2023, I received a very intriguing phone call between reading and writing new emails. The conversation was about an event due to occur as early as June. A few days later, I learned more about the event and received an email entitled "Symposium Invitation."

As it turned out, I had been invited to be a panelist at the US-Poland Science and Technology Symposium. The event was to be held at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. This opportunity stood out to me, but it also seemed intimidating. Speaking at one of the most prestigious universities in the world alongside Poland's renowned academics and entrepreneurs is like playing in the big leagues. Ultimately, I decided to take a chance, knowing I have full support from my company and colleagues who will root for me.

Stepping outside of my comfort zone was a fantastic opportunity for growth!‍

Redefining Work in a Post-Pandemic World

In this year's edition of the US-Poland Science and Technology Symposium, the conference organizers focused on four areas: Security, Stability, Sustainability, and Resilience. Due to my many years of professional experience in Human Resources, I was part of a panel where we discussed the challenges that organizations face today after the pandemic period has ended. Recent years have contributed to the availability of different working arrangements. Many companies are trying to answer how their teams should work - whether remotely or in a hybrid mode. Knowing how essential relationships with co-workers are in day-to-day work and believing that most influential relationships are established through personal contact, I am a great advocate of hybrid working.

During the discussion, we also answered the question of whether organizations today are more diverse, which means being able to hire employees from different parts of the world and different time zones. We have plenty of IT tools that make it easier for us to recruit employees from all over the world, and thanks to these same tools, collaboration is also possible.

However, we must consider effectively assimilating new employees into the organization and establishing a solid relationship. All this shows how the onboarding process is becoming even more critical. 

During the four-day conference, I learned a lot of exciting things. My top takeaways from the symposium are:

- Digitalizing your business processes is a must.

- Data management has become crucial.

- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR) in the workplace are and will continue to be very useful.

During these four days, I met many amazing people, both from the world of science and business. Stanford University is a place with incredible energy and beautiful, inspiring architecture. To be able to attend such a prestigious event was a professional adventure and pleasure.‍

Visiting Egnyte’s Headquarters

While in the US, I also had the opportunity to visit the Mountain View office of Egnyte. I’ve been working for over a year as a Senior HR Manager in Poland, and during this time, I have met many people working in different Egnyte offices through online meetings. To be able to meet the same people in person, to spend some time with them, to visit the company's headquarters, and to feel the excellent energy was a terrific time for me.

I used the last days of my trip to taste and experience the beautiful place that is California. I was delighted by the friendliness of the people I met and the amazing nature.

I returned to Poland inspired by the professional insights I'd gained and felt energized by meeting my colleagues in person. A few weeks after my speaking opportunity, I realized that embracing this challenge was a great call. The memories of these days will stay with me for years to come.