In this episode of The Polish Business Podcast, I sit down with Maciej Klinowski, a prominent Polish entrepreneur in the UK, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his consultancy, Practipol. Maciej shares his inspiring journey from arriving in London with just £200 to becoming a leading figure in health and safety. We delve into the challenges he faced as an immigrant entrepreneur and the lessons learned over a decade in business. Maciej also discusses the evolving landscape of health and safety, the importance of leadership in shaping organizational culture, and the critical role of education in changing perceptions about safety. Join us for insights and inspiration from Maciej's remarkable story.

In this episode of The Polish Business Podcast, I sit down with Alex Landowski, a serial entrepreneur turned YouTuber, to explore the intriguing question: What does £1M feel like? Alex shares his journey from arriving in the UK with just £200 to achieving a £12 million-plus exit. We delve into the emotional highs and lows of entrepreneurship, the challenges of scaling a business, and the mental resilience needed to overcome failures. Alex candidly discusses his experiences with hiring, the importance of motivation, and his transition from business to YouTube. Join us for an inspiring conversation about ambition, perseverance, and the true value of financial success.

In this episode of The Polish Business Podcast, join me, Bart, as I sit down with Adam Pilans, Director of Step by Step Financial Solutions. We delve into Adam's entrepreneurial journey, exploring the challenges and triumphs he faced while building his business. Discover how mindset, trust, and lifelong learning have played pivotal roles in his success. Adam shares his insights on balancing personal and professional life, the importance of family, and the practices that keep him energized and focused. We also discuss the exciting future of his business, including innovative educational courses for first-time homebuyers. Tune in for an inspiring conversation filled with valuable lessons for entrepreneurs at any stage of their journey.

Join me on the H2H Sales Automation Podcast as I sit down with Karl Koniecz, CEO of Circle UK Group Limited, to explore the art of scaling a business beyond geographic boundaries. In this episode, we delve into Karl's journey of revolutionizing the facility management industry with a groundbreaking subscription-based security solution. Discover how Circle UK Group is redefining asset protection with their innovative signal alarm system, combining cutting-edge technology and human expertise. Karl shares insights on the importance of aiming high, embracing change, and understanding client needs to drive business success. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, this episode offers valuable lessons on transforming challenges into opportunities. Tune in to learn how to do it better and make your mark in the business world.

Join me, Bart, on The Polish Business Podcast for an exciting episode as we dive into what's in store for PBLink in 2025. In this episode, I chat with Janeta about our upcoming events designed to enhance your networking skills and support diverse entrepreneurs. Discover details about our February Networking Skills Masterclass with renowned networker Colin McKint, and the innovative Pizza Networking event in London. We also discuss the Construction Forum in April, aimed at connecting professionals in the construction industry. Learn how PBLink is evolving to offer flexible membership options and regular webinars to foster community and growth. Tune in to explore how you can expand your network and gain valuable insights for your business journey.

How did Karl Konicz progress from rough-sleeping in a London park with only three words of English to become COO of a multi-million pound UK company? And he went on to save Christmas in the UK! He attributes an important part of his success to watching Blackadder on TV.

Wojciech (Wojtek) Kołodziejczak’s parents were rich once. But when the economy transitioned to capitalism in the early 90s, their business crashed and the family lost everything. By the age of 6, Wojciech was living with his parents in a wooden cabin on the outskirts of Łódź, a kilometre’s walk to the nearest fresh water pump.

That is where his story begins.

Sławek Strzykowski is a visionary and a polymath. He left a high-flying career with Microsoft, driven by an especially personal passion to use the power of technology to improve people’s lives in very tangible ways.

He was a captain in the Polish Prison Service, a Business Analyst with SAS Institute and 10 years in Business Analytics with Microsoft. He has always been ahead of his time: back in the 90’s, when computer science was in its infancy, he developed the first Polish national database of offenders.

He left a high-flying career with Microsoft, driven by an especially personal passion to use the power of technology to improve people’s lives in very tangible ways.

He now runs UnderAnt in Warsaw, Poland, which designs and produces prototype Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – UAVs or drones, customised to each customer’s requirements, and a sister company, Anteya in England, which provides software and algorithms for the drones and takes care of sales and marketing.

Peter Kuncewicz, CA is Associate Finance Director with EFM, Finance Directors and Business Advisors with a difference. He has a long career in senior FD (Finance Director) and CFO (Chief Financial Officer) posts in countries across the world, but he calls England home.

He spoke to Bill Mair of PrecisionPresentation.com for PBLINK Stories.

What’s the Difference?

EFM fields a team of over 70 Chartered Accountants UK-wide to act as business advisers or accountants to SMEs who may not yet have grown to the stage where they can hire or contract someone full time. EFM will come in and work as little as one day a month to accelerate the growth of the business, making them both flexible and affordable.

In fact, EFM even offer the option to sign up for Finance Director or Business Adviser services on demand! EFM advisors often grow with their client businesses, contributing more time as the business expands, accompanying the company on its journey.

EFM advisors are not only all Chartered Accountants but also they have each weathered the storms of running businesses and demonstrate real leadership and practical management advice.

Duccio left the corporate world in 2011 and today runs a number of businesses, including: Life Coaching, Career Development Coaching, Executive Coaching and Leadership Development. But in this interview, we’re looking at another part of his portfolio of businesses: his networking groups. Duccio runs the UK Confederation, London Connector, Italian Connector and Property Connector. He also has a property management concern, and a new business, which we will discover in a minute. (UK Confederation is the British branch of Confassociazioni, the Italian networking mega-organisation, with 1.3 million+ members).