doing it my way by beata matras Beata Matras

Managing cultural differences is vital; true team alignment with your strategy determines its success.

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Guest:

Aleksandra Krajewska, Banking Strategy Head and founder of the Polish BusinessWomen Network in the UAE.

She has extensive experience in both conventional and Islamic banking, with a strong background in strategy development, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), and digital transformation across multiple countries.

Aleksandra is a modern leader and a role model for women in the financial industry.

Episode Focus:

This episode explores the financial sector in the Gulf, focusing on leadership, digital transformation, and women empowerment.

Aleksandra shares her journey and strategies for navigating this dynamic environment, emphasizing the importance of building professional networks.

Duration: Approx. 68 minutes

What you'll hear about:


How to create and execute successful strategies in the rapidly evolving financial sector in the Gulf region.


The impact of digital transformation on the future of banking.


Insights into Islamic banking and how it differs from conventional banking.


The role of women empowerment initiatives in driving change and innovation.

Links:


Aleksandra Krajewska on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-a-krajewska/
Podcast series: https://linktr.ee/doingitmywaybybeatamatras

"Understanding your current state and setting clear goals is key, whether in sports or in agile transformations"

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Guest:

Denis Salnikov is an independent Agile Consultant & LeSS Coach, dedicated to helping organizations manage change, overcome resistance, and foster continuous improvement.

With a background in significant roles such as Agile Trainer, Head of Agile Practices, and Scrum Master, Denis brings a perspective that merges sports discipline with agile tools and techniques.

Episode Focus:

The intersection of sports discipline and agile coaching, exploring how principles from athletic training can enhance agile practices. Denis shares insights on managing change, overcoming resistance, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement within organizations.

Duration: Approx. 70 minutes

What you'll hear about:


The benefits and challenges of Agile Coaching


How sports discipline translates into professional practices in Agile coaching


Strategies for managing change and overcoming resistance


The importance of fostering continuous improvement within organizations


Practical tips for balancing professional responsibilities with athletic training

Links:


Denis Salnikov on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dsalnikov23/
Denis's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agileexpat/
Denis's website: https://www.agileexpat.com/
Podcast series: https://linktr.ee/doingitmywaybybeatamatras

"Building relationships is crucial in MENA. It's not just about business transactions; it's about trust and long-term connections"

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Guest:

Agnieszka Klimczak is an international business development consultant with almost 25 years of experience abroad. Her expertise spans across various sectors, including architecture, interior design, and construction, with a focus on helping Polish companies expand into the MENA region.

Agnieszka excels in building bridges between cultures and has a profound understanding of navigating cultural differences to foster successful business relationships.

Episode Focus:

The complexities of doing business in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with an emphasis on the importance of cultural understanding, effective marketing strategies, and the significance of building strong, trust-based relationships.

Duration:

Approx. 50 minutes

What you'll hear about:


Why building relationships is crucial for business success in MENA


How to navigate cultural differences and business etiquette in MENA


Practical tips for networking and building business relationships in an international context


The unique challenges and opportunities of expanding your business into MENA territories

Links:


Agnieszka's book (in Polish): https://biznes-po-arabsku.iddeni.com/
Agnieszka on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agnieszkaklimczak/
All podcast episodes: https://linktr.ee/doingitmywaybybeatamatras

"Authentic storytelling requires vulnerability and understanding your own story first"

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Guest:

Robert Socha is an experienced investigative journalist, legal consultant, and corporate researcher. With a background in companies like Google and TVN, Robert has honed his storytelling skills across various domains. He provides practical tips and strategies to help businesses and professionals leverage storytelling to enhance their communication and achieve their goals.



Episode Focus:

The power of storytelling in business, mainly for project and product management professionals. Discover how storytelling can enhance communication, stakeholder engagement, and project success. Learn about main components of an effective story and how to apply it in a business context.



What you'll learn:


Why storytelling is a crucial skill for project and product managers
The core elements of an effective story and its application in business
How storytelling can improve communication and stakeholder engagement
Practical tips for mastering storytelling in a business or managerial context



Duration: Approx. 40 minutes



🔗 Links: ⁠⁠


Robert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-socha/
Podcast series: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/doingitmywaybybeatamatras⁠

"The most difficult part was admitting that something was wrong and stopping the denial."
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Guest:

Katarzyna Jurczak is an experienced Product Manager and IT leader with over 15 years of experience in product and people management. She has a wealth of expertise in developing digital products and managing agile transformations.

Episode Focus:

Burnout prevention for business professionals and Product Managers, featuring personal stories, insights, and strategies. Explore the causes of burnout, how to maintain a sustainable work-life relationship, and the importance of self-care and seeking professional support.

What you'll hear about:


Personal story of managing burnout as a Product Manager
Insights into maintaining sustainable work-life relationship in demanding IT roles
Understanding the importance of self-care and seeking professional support
How personal, social, and organizational expectations contribute to burnout
Effective strategies to manage expectations and maintain well-being

Duration: Approx. 75 minutes

🔗 Links:


"Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers: Stress and Health" by Dr. Robert Sapolsky - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9H9qTdserM
Podcast series: ⁠https://linktr.ee/doingitmywaybybeatamatras⁠
Katarzyna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katarzynajurczak/

"The most important insight from Evidence-Based Management is that it's not just about metrics; it's about value.

Be prepared for transparency and the revelation that some ideas might not be as valuable as we thought."



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Guest:

Magdalena Firlit⁠, an Agile Transformation Consultant and accredited Professional Scrum Trainer (Scrum.org), brings over 20 years of experience across various industries, including IT, banking, marketing, sales, and HR.

Magdalena has trained over 12,000 people and collaborated with organizations from small startups to large corporate environments.

Magdalena is also a mentor, business coach, and active participant in the Women in Technology organization.

Episode focus:

This episode delves into the power of Evidence-Based Management (EBM) in transforming Product Owner roles, the distinctions between Product Owners and Product Managers, and strategies for maximizing product value.

Duration: Approx. 40 minutes

What you’ll learn:


The fundamentals and benefits of Evidence-Based Management in product development.
Key differences and overlaps between Product Owner and Product Manager roles.
Strategies for Product Owners to enhance their impact and drive product value.
Common challenges in Agile roles and practical solutions to overcome them.
The importance of mentorship and community involvement, especially in Women in Technology.

Links:


Podcast series: ⁠https://linktr.ee/doingitmywaybybeatamatras⁠
Magdalena on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/magdalena-firlit/⁠
Magdalena's website: ⁠https://magdalenafirlit.com/⁠
Magdalena's YouTube channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/MagdalenaFirlitAgileInTheSpotlight⁠

If you found value in today’s discussion and are eager to deepen your professional skills and expertise, don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful episodes!

Until next time - keep doing it your way 🌸