So, onto Krakow we then moved and it was here where we spent our final days of the trip. We engaged with new people and had our eyes opened to a whole host of things we found reflective of the rise of Poland on European soil. Gosia and Monika were two young post-graduates that we met, and they proudly boasted the strength women carried in business in Poland. Gosia often endearingly jeered at me “Dupa, us women know what we want you know!” The term ‘dupa’ being a colloquial name for an ‘ass’. You can imagine how touched I was at such a pet name so soon on in our friendship, and the funny thing was, their claims were not just hearsay swagger. They were an authentic indication of reality too. Twenty percent of SME’s in Poland are owned by women. From what I gathered, there was no real hard and fast indication why this was the case but many cynics believe that women had their foot in the market economy before Western-style discrimination had a chance to set in and hold them back. Another viewpoint is that state socialism was good training for the flexible skills demanded by the new democratic market economy. Unlike men, women not only held down full time jobs but also handled virtually all the domestic duties in the era of shortages and few
labour-saving devices. Interestingly enough, since
1989 when their independence was gained from the Soviet Union, we have such a free-thinking, liberal and achieving European ally in Poland. I can see why the people there are very, very proud.
Krakow, as a city, was a personal favourite of mine, bustling with dynamism and life.
The younger
generation appeared more aligned to British/mainland European fashionable culture, and the restaurant, bar, club and entertainment vibe was definitely something to enjoy. Whereas the rest of Poland, albeit an enjoyable experience, felt separated from what I know, this place, however, felt like a home for me. When we weren’t frolicking in social entertainment or being culture vultures on every piece of history we could find, we got down to ‘mission purpose’ and we pleasingly met a whole bunch of web developers, designers, programmers and creative’s during our stay. The kind of contractors we were happy to have met and perhaps will fit into our plans along the road somewhere.
All in all, it was good to see how talent could prove useful to us in Poland. They were mostly of a well-equipped standard to what I would expect from any team I would want to form, and with the right guidance, standards and
creative direction set, I am sure they could prove useful on a live project or two. The concept of utilising offshore talent has always been a practise that is comfortable to me, and not that I do it all that often anymore (as my bank of UK talent gets more and more impressive every year), it’s still something that for the right project, can make perfect sense to do so. And even though I have won and lost with this offshore scenario many a time over the years, my belief is if you pick right, manage the process well, and prevent yourself from being isolated and vulnerable (escrow money, milestones, cloud file sharing, back-ups, etc) then off shoring can prove immensely valuable. There’s always been the likes of India, China and Argentina but now and for the last few years, capability lies on our own continent at prices that still make it worthwhile. Ukraine, Romania, Croatia, Latvia and now Poland, to name but a few. Where there’s an off shoring project to consider, then it may prove logical to go where our land neighbours lie first.
Lastly, one final experience we had, which was certainly off-mission, but one we will never forget, was the day a group of us took a step into one of Poland’s most tender memories. This day we embarked on Auschwitz. Without digressing, know that I don’t think I have ever been in the company of twelve other gentlemen where there were less words spoken. A day of reflection, perspective and humility. Something we will never forget.
Oh, and before you ask. Never again will I utter the words “By ‘eck, it’s Baltic!” when experiencing a mild chill on English soil. Even when it’s not all that cold in Winter months in Poland, there is what I can only describe as a perpetual chill in the air that chaps lips for fun and tightens the face like an ice-bathed face mask. The kind of weather that locals lap up for fun, which in turn makes you feel foolish that you ever thought Britain was cold in the first place.
Gdansk town frozen river - Image courtesy of Patryk 18 entrepreneurcountry
So, Poland. Work, in fact, sets us all free. The breakfast for pursuit chasers on every border. Thank you for your welcome.
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