An interview with Sylwia Piątkowska – the owner of Golden Grant Law and EU Affairs Office in Poznań, on obtaining EU funds and her book, in which she shares experience in effective company management and business ethics. She has just been nominated for the title of Leader by Vocation.
When have your leadership qualities become visible?
I’ve always been consistent in my actions and made quick, usually accurate decisions. At school, I stood out for my activity, participated in SKS classes and lead many disciplines: from volleyball to running. I practiced dancing: 5 years of ballroom and subsequent 3 years of classical. We lived in difficult times, and dancing was an escape from the reality of living in a block of flats, especially since we practiced in the historic interiors of the Zamek Culture Center in Poznań. I also trained declamations and even won several competitions. As a child, I used to sing in church. Later I wanted to work as a teacher because I liked children. Deeply fond of history, I thoroughly prepared for my lessons. During high school years, I attended biology and chemistry classes, as I associated chemistry with creativity. I’m talkative, enjoy digging deep and analysis, so at some point my thoughts went towards law, particularly towards becoming a prosecutor, and the dreams’s still in me. I’mdisciplined, well-organised, and my brain is focused on thinking and finding solutions. When a problem arises, I intensely focus on solution and it’s difficult to throw me off balance. My ideas about future profession had one thing in common: leadership and a desire to work with people. I think I have innate leadership qualities.
How did your career evolve?
I took my first job at one of the largest food wholesalers in the country, holding an administrative position. Next, I became the deputy sales director at a manufacturing enterprise. Subsequently, I moved to a corporation, where I worked for 10 years, holding managerial and director positions. My last full-time job as sales director was at Vento company. I wrote applications for large subsidies for clients, took care of the organisational matters, hired 11 sales representatives, and conducted motivational workshops for employees. At last, I started my adventure with EU projects and founded Kancelaria Prawno-Unijna (Law and EU Affairs Office).
How do you help yľour clients?
I’m involved in government and EU fundraising at every stage of the process. I may upliftingly say I know exactly where and how to get them, by which I mean competence, well-interpreted competition documentation and legal regulations. In Poland, we have about 200 such places. I’m experienced in applying in all possible fields: investments, research, digitisation, (higher) education or agriculture, to name a few. However, not everything depends on me; even 18-year long experience and knowledge are impossible to completely prevent failures. Oftentimes, it’s all up to a client, whether they want or refuse cooperation.
I’ve recently heard an entrepreneur say: there’s a company with the know-how, ready to advise me how and where to apply for subsidies, but in reality, I handle everything myself. How could you respond to this?
Each client receives a list of 20 questions on the type of business they run, the services they already provide, and the services to be provided after their investment is completed. That’s an audit of the client’s eligibility for funding and the basis for our actions. If the documentation necessary for the application doesn’t require external expertise, we agree on a work schedule with the client and proceed. However, if the application requires documents from external institutions, both our and the client’s involvement must be deeper. We then say: we’re choosing this competition, but there are such and such guidelines, do you agree to this? If the client accepts the choice, we sign a contract with them, agree on the terms of cooperation, and assign a project supervisor who draws up a material and financial schedule. If the client decides to apply for a competition requiring a promissory note, an opinion on innovation, some research, energy and financial audits, their participation and involvement are mandatory. For example, we’re currently working on a project concerning closed facility management and we need an energy audit. The appraiser, project supervisor, and I are going to meet with the client and we need to spend three hours together to take photos and prepare an expert opinion. I always emphasise that gathering external documents doesn’t guarantee the final success, but it does guarantee a chance for it. We charge an initial fee for preparing the documents, and the second part of the payment, as a success bonus, is done when the decision to grant the subsidy is issued.
How do you win your clients?
From all over Poland, through recommendations and partnerships I’ve built up over all these years of professional activity.
What are the highest amounts you obtained?
48 million for a refinery and 37.9 million for the conversion of a hotel into a student dormitory in Poznań.
Are large companies your only customers?
No, the majority of our clients are micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, for whom we obtain very high subsidies for equipment, competence development, and investments. We cooperate with non-governmental organisations and universities.
I have agreements signed with local government units – municipalities and city offices. We prepare extensive competition documentation for these entities. I hold numerous meetings for entrepreneurs interested in subsidies through cooperation with municipalities.
How big is your team of employees or associates?
The team consists of 26 people. There are legal experts responsible for writing applications and specialists in research and development projects as well as in opinions on innovation among them.
What are your greatest strengths?
Autonomy, ambition, independent thinking. I’m a dreamer with a motto: I set myself a goal, I dream of its achievement and slowly make it happen. Calmness, I have a lot of calmness within me. I keep my feet on the ground and call a spade a spade, cause I can’t stand illusions, tampering, or reality distortion. I do what I’m able to and know how to. I can’t pretend to be someone else as many are capable of on social media! I’m a woman with assets such as money, knowledge in her mind, kindness in her heart, confidence on her face and responsibility in her soul. I do like myself.
Do you use coaching knowledge to achieve your goals?
I’ve never been a coach, I haven’t been educated in this field, but I’ve been invited as an expert and panellist to mentor numerous training courses for years. My personality, character and genuine knowledge allow me to wisely do this and live with dignity by doing my work. The fact that I know I don’t have to be behind the scenes is painful for some people. Sad but true. When they can’t keep up with me, they want to attack my reputation, because it’s the quickest solution.
What are you most proud of?
My ambitions and the professional direction I have chosen. I’m proud and grateful for doing what I truly enjoy. I’m also proud that I have the privilege and comfort of not participating in the dramas of people who turn their lives into a three-ring circus. Well, I sit and watch. Sometimes I even feel sorry for people. And I truly thank my life for who I am today.
What are your plans?
I’m thinking about a doctorate in EU law. For the past three years, I’ve been working on a book for women who want to start a business and run it more effectively. I won the Expert Laurel 2019/2020 competition, and was titled Woman of Success in 2018 and 2019 in Pomerania, as well as the Personality of the Year in 2019, thus many people ask me for educational and legal services, all kinds of recommendations and opinions. This book was an impulse resulting from the needs of others, but also a plan for myself. I set myself the following goals: education, a good business, a good team, and a book. The latter should be published this year.
What do you particularly recommend in this book?
The section on business ethics, as this subject matter is rarely discussed. I address issues such as appearance, respect for your work, and respect for your competitors. I’ve been still learning it myself, but I believe that I’m now at a level where I can already advise. I’ll be extremely happy if at least one woman starts a business thanks to this book and finds the courage to become independent through patience, building her own confidence and hard work.
What do you think makes a good leader?
Independence, creativity, authenticity and kindness to others. Work in silence, concentration within plans and golden thoughts. Good leaders achieve their goals step by step, without looking back. They do not partake intrigues or slander. They work well, wisely, sensibly – they strive towards their goals. Success is what you attract, not what you chase.
How do you recharge your batteries?
I’m a happy mother, loving the time spent with my closest family and animals, such as cats and dogs I enjoy walking, since I’m focused on contact with nature. Oftentimes, I happen to play tennis. But above all, I like my own company, and there is no lie or evil in it. I like my peace and quiet with a cup of coffee. Minimalism is a luxury, but an epicurean one, resulting from deriving joy from the beauty of each experienced moment, and from a sense of harmony. The luxury of no rush, meaningful choices, and no need to compromise with mediocrity.
Dorota Kolano
Beata Sekuła
