Candidate for the Senate of the Republic of Poland, “Non-Party Local Governments to the Senate” from District No. 40 in Warsaw. President of the Academy of Effective Women Foundation.
Danuta Hanna Jakubowska: What is the modern woman like?
Urszula Barbara Krawczyk: Diverse. We encounter various opinions. Some see the modern woman as independent, confident, educated, well-read, loving, kind, polite, and caring for her home. Others claim that the modern woman destroys, breaks, and rebels against all social norms. And we modern women are in the middle, trying to find our own way, have our own opinions, and not be intimidated by louder expressions of opinion. We know how to demand our rights and defend our positions. Personally, I think that modern women are open to life, effective in their actions, and persistent in pursuing their goals.
D.H.J.: What do you consider most important regarding the situation of women in Poland?
U.B.K.: Over the past 30 years, there has been a change in the perception of traditional values that assigned women a special role as a mother, wife, and homemaker, to which Poland was strongly attached. Women who were previously seen as the foundation of family stability, invisible in social and political life, and evaluated by their husband’s successes, have “left home.” The number of women in influential positions has increased, and women’s participation in the economy, political life, and national security has grown.
When we talk about the situation of Polish women and the resulting needs and problems, we are actually talking about the complexity of life in Poland as a whole. We discuss it from the perspective of women because women are the ones primarily affected by inflation, high prices, legal uncertainty, the unavailability of doctors and basic medical services, low education standards, and all the consequences of the systemic chaos we have in the country.
There are no provisions in the law that openly discriminate against women or men, but stereotypes and the perception of social order that stigmatizes women with motherhood still persist and affect their position in the job market.
When hiring, women are usually taken into account. Women have the potential that is needed by the Polish economy. It’s enough to follow the simple principle that competencies have no gender, so that everyone can benefit from this potential.
Motherhood is a privilege of women, not their sole defining characteristic and the sole reason for their existence. Yet no employer is concerned about whether a hired man has children or wants to have them. Employers assume with full confidence that childcare or other family responsibilities will not affect their availability or commitment to work.
The problem of domestic violence, especially against children and women, is hidden under a veil of silence. We forgot that Poland opposed the adoption of the Istanbul Convention on combating domestic violence and violence against women. It’s a good thing that the Council of Europe approved it.
The sense of security and the right to respect for personal rights and dignity are often violated in Poland. Just look at recent events concerning women in difficult pregnancies.
D.H.J.: Are you a successful woman? How do you balance your business responsibilities and family life?
U.B.K.: I think I am a woman who effectively pursues her dreams. There was a time in my life when, on the one hand, my professional work opened up unique opportunities requiring significant commitment, and on the other hand, my family and children needed me at home. Balancing a career with family life is very difficult. What gave me energy was the sense that what I was doing made sense and was needed. I wanted my work to have meaning, to inspire and contribute something new to the world around us. But I never felt that my children hindered my career. Did my career hinder my role as a mother? You would have to ask my adult children about that.
Currently, I am in a very comfortable situation; my family consists of just my husband and me. We work together and take care of our dog and cat. We have time to pursue our passions and take on challenges. Right now, I don’t have to make difficult choices.
D.H.J: When and with what thought did you establish the Academy of Effective Women? What was your immediate motivation?
U.B.K.: I spent most of my life in what is often referred to as the “male world.” I studied physics at Jagiellonian University, where there were semesters when I was the only woman in my class. I spent over 25 years in the IT industry, where most of my colleagues were men.
I didn’t experience blatant discrimination, but I often felt that I was treated differently. Instead of participating in decision-making due to my position, I was merely informed about it. Often, especially in technical matters, things were explained to me in an infantile way, as my male colleagues put it, “I’ll explain it to you like to a woman.” I managed it, but I saw female friends who took this very personally and emotionally.
What touches me the most is that Polish women do not appreciate themselves, do not praise themselves, and do not promote their successes. I believe that Polish women have great potential that is needed by the Polish economy, science, and culture. The idea of the Foundation arose from the recognition of the need for mutual inspiration, showing that it is possible, and not conforming to stereotypes.
D.H.J.: How does the Academy of Effective Women Foundation achieve its goals?
U.B.K.: After several years of operation, the Academy of Effective Women has gathered people who recognize the need for developing relationships based on equal rights.
We organize the Effective Woman of the Year competition, in which the judges are internet users who nominate candidates in various categories, and we award the “Effective Woman of the Year” statuettes to the winners with the highest number of votes. This year marks the fourth edition. So far, over 100 women have competed for the title of Effective Woman of the Year, and internet users have awarded this title to 26 of them, casting over 100,000 votes in total.
For the third year in a row, we are organizing the Women of the 21st Century Congress, which aims to create a space for meeting, discussion, knowledge exchange, and experience sharing for people from different backgrounds.
This year’s congress will be held under the theme “New Times – New Changes.“
My understanding and feeling of women’s situations led me to believe that the Academy of Effective Women is not enough. I got involved in the activities of the Non-Partisan Local Government Representatives, a group that approached women’s issues systematically and went beyond biased perceptions of women. By collaborating on their political program, I could ensure that women’s issues would be treated appropriately. I am running for the Senate from District 40, which includes the suburbs of Warsaw, as a candidate from their list. I want to be a voice for women in the Senate, guarding their safety, position, fair treatment in the job market, in the family, and in society. I will be an ambassador for the people living in my district. I was never a member of any political party, and I will not pursue the interests of a party but those of the people who voted for me.
– An effective leader, entrepreneur and promoter of social inclusion.
– President of the Academy of Effective Women Foundation
– Organizer of the Effective Woman of the Year plebiscite, Congress of Women of the XXI century.
-Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of “Czerwona Szpilka” magazine.
-Master in Physics at the Jagiellonian University, PhD student at the Centre for Research on Women’s and Gender Problems at the University of Warsaw.
-30 years of work in managerial positions in global corporations: Microsoft, CISCO Systems i Citrix Systems. Winner of the “President Awards” awarded by Bill Gates.
In private life: mother of two adult children. She likes good literature, loves traveling and good cuisine.
More about Urszula Krawczyk on: www.poprostukrawczyk.pl
Urszula Krawczyk was interviewed by Danuta Hanna Jakubowska
Danuta Hanna Jakubowska, winner of the “Effective Woman of 2021” plebiscite in the Media category.
