Meet Gosia Luczak: Driving Customer Success in Poland

Gosia, let's start at the beginning - why did you decide to join Agileday?

Well, it actually began long before Agileday existed. I was part of a Finnish company Tieto, where I crossed paths with Mikko, Jaakko and others. During those years, we gathered experiences in business, managing teams, but also came to recognize the good and the bad of how IT teams are led. We recognized the big potential in developing the practices of teams and making operations more effective but there was no tool for this.

So when Mikko and Jaakko were seeking a local in Poland to help onboard customers here, it felt like a natural progression. Our values aligned, and we are all driven by the potential we saw in empowering IT teams already back then.

That’s the power of shared experiences and values. Can you tell us more about your professional background?

Absolutely! My career has been a blend of curious exploration and hard work. Since my early days, I have been a math enthusiast at heart. From attending math olympics and learning programming in high school, I later found my path at Tieto, where my knack for understanding complex technical topics served me well. As I grew as a professional, I also found myself outgrowing the traditional structures of large organizations, which led me to start my career as a freelancer. So for the last 10 years, I’ve worked as a freelance IT Project Manager for large companies, like Nokia and Aon. And now, that path led me to Agileday.

Outside of work, it seems you're quite the adventurer. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I love a good adrenaline rush! Whether it's trying out a new hobby every quarter, deep diving into new topics, or embarking on treks through landscapes abroad, I'm always seeking out new experiences. And of course, there's nothing quite like immersing myself in different cultures by learning languages. I think it's a gateway to truly understanding people's perspectives and way of thinking. Now, I’ve been learning Spanish and Italian but Finnish is still a mystery - I don’t understand a single word.

Now that you've been with Agileday for a month, how are you finding the environment and working with customers?

Joining the Agileday team has been a great experience so far. I’ve felt so welcomed and we get along really well. They actually got me to sing karaoke for the first time in my life - that speaks volumes about the integration.

In the past month, I’ve started working with our customers. I get to draw on my past experiences in IT project management and use the skills I have. When it comes to customer collaboration, I think the key is to empathize with customers’ perspectives while also showcasing the value that Agileday brings. It's about striking a balance between understanding where they're coming from and painting the bigger picture that inspires changing the existing ways of running operations.

You are a Customer Success Officer at Agileday. What does your role entail?

My role revolves around ensuring that our customers not only adopt Agileday's platform but also thrive with it. Drawing on my experience, I understand the challenges of adopting new technology, especially in cultures where traditional practices are deeply ingrained. My goal is to make the transition as smooth as possible by emphasizing the user-friendly nature of our platform and guiding customers through the process with empathy and patience.

Speaking of cultural differences, how do you see Agileday fitting into the Polish market?

Poland is undergoing significant changes and our IT market has not only grown but changed. Before we were the back office for big European companies but today, we have local technology companies that contribute to the world of innovation. I'm super proud to see this but I also recognize that many people might be hesitant in the face of new. I mean, we are raised in a certain way, with certain beliefs, so changing mindset about transparency or hierarchy, for example, can be a challenge.

Agileday brings a new way of operating to companies but given how well it works for companies in the Nordics, I think the forward thinking firms in Poland are ready to adopt our platform. For those lingering towards safety rather than new, I think it takes repetition to show our value. So there is work to be done but there’s plenty of open-minded consultancies.

This is the same kind of revolution as we have experienced multiple times before. For example, look at project management practices; no one believed in Lean, Kanban or Scrum when they were first introduced. It was all about Waterfall. And look at the world today.

Finally, what are your aspirations for Agileday's future, and how do you plan to contribute to our success?

With the rise of SaaS solutions, competition is inevitable. However, I firmly believe that Agileday has what it takes to not only be the first on the market but also set new standards that push companies further, in people-centric operations.

My focus is on demonstrating the tangible value our platform brings, particularly to those who may be hesitant to embrace change. Actions speak louder than words, and I'm committed to ensuring that Agileday remains not just the first choice but the best choice for our customers.

It's evident that Gosia’s blend of expertise, enthusiasm, and adventurous spirit make her a valuable asset to the Agileday team and our Polish endeavors. With her dedication to customer success, we are looking forward to seeing what’s next in Poland. So, stay tuned!

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