As of November 2024, Michał Stępniewski-Janowski joined Pwrteams as the company's new Country Manager in Poland. With a rich background in the tech industry, Michał has built his career by driving innovation and building strong, dynamic teams. His leadership experience spans a variety of roles, from operational management in travel tech to successfully guiding businesses through challenges and growth phases.
In this interview Michał offers us a glimpse into his journey, his leadership approach and his vision for Pwrteams in Poland. He shares how his emphasis on fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented culture aligns with Pwrteams’ mission. As someone passionate about empowering teams and creating meaningful connections, Michał is ready to lead the company into an exciting new chapter.
Read on to find out more about Michał’s experience and aspirations, and how his leadership will help shape the future of Pwrteams in Poland.
Welcome, Michał! To get started, could you tell us a bit about yourself and your professional background?
Thank you, I’m happy to join Pwrteams! I hold a Master’s Degree in International Business, having studied in Poland, Belgium and the UK.
My professional journey has been primarily in the tech industry, where I’ve worked with both rising startups and established corporations. In travel tech, I had the opportunity to collaborate with global clients like Booking.com, Expedia and Etihad.
Before joining Pwrteams, I was the Operational Director at a rapidly growing Swedish travel tech company, where I focused on building new teams and scaling operations. I also ran a software house in Kraków, including during the challenging times of the pandemic, ensuring project success despite the uncertainty and later successfully relocating the company to a larger office.
How do you expect your past experience will translate to your role at Pwrteams?
I’ve worked across various industries and learned that team success comes from combining a clear, ambitious strategy with actively listening to employees. People thrive in workplaces where they can continuously learn from their colleagues, feel heard and find meaning in what they do. It’s crucial for employees to feel that their time at work helps them grow both professionally and personally. I’ve had the opportunity to work with a variety of teams, including international and geographically distributed ones, and these principles apply universally - even the most distributed teams can feel connected when you create the right culture.
I’m excited to bring this experience to Pwrteams. My focus will be on fostering an environment where every team member feels engaged, valued and empowered to contribute to Pwrteams' success, while also finding genuine satisfaction in coming to work every day.
As a Country Manager, what are your initial goals and vision for Pwrteams' growth in Poland?
My primary goal as I step into this role is to immerse myself fully in the company, to get to know its people, processes and culture thoroughly. From there, my focus will be on enhancing communication channels to ensure that every employee feels like an integral part of Pwrteams’ culture, regardless of whether they work remotely or from the office.
I’ll aim to contribute to the continued development of the company in Poland, while also working closely with our colleagues in Ukraine and Bulgaria. Strengthening client relationships and ensuring consistent, high-quality delivery across locations will also be key priorities.
Through these efforts, I want to ensure Pwrteams Poland continues to thrive and grow as a strong part of our global organisation.
How would you describe your leadership style and how will you build a successful team in Poland?
I value a collaborative and approachable leadership style. I believe in learning from every team member and fostering an environment where everyone feels heard and empowered.
To build a successful team, I focus on creating opportunities for growth, ensuring clear communication and promoting mutual respect.
I also believe in leading by example and being accessible, which is why I maintain an open-door policy to encourage direct feedback and dialogue.
What excites you most about leading Pwrteams' operations in Poland?
I genuinely enjoy working in dynamic companies with plenty of opportunities for involvement across multiple areas, often wearing many hats.
Joining Pwrteams shortly after the merger and rebranding is an engaging challenge. With many solid elements already in place from Skelia and Questers, along with the strong support of Nortal, it’s exciting to further develop and refine what’s been built while also creating new opportunities. I thrive in environments where there’s room for shaping the future and driving growth, which makes this role particularly motivating for me.
What are you passionate about outside of work? How do you typically unwind?
Outside of work, I value spending quality time with my family the most. One of my favorite activities is building Lego with my daughter.
I also enjoy listening to a wide variety of music and playing football, which helps me stay active and recharge after a busy day.
Keen to work alongside inspiring leaders like Michał? We're on the lookout for talented professionals to join our team in Poland. Check out our current vacancies and make sure to apply.
