On November 29, 2024, an exceptional event took place at the Faculty of Engineering Management of Poznań University of Technology – the 2nd Women in Science and Business Forum combined with the 5th edition of Entrepreneurial Women’s Day.
The 2nd Women in Science and Business Forum was directly organized by prof. Joanna Kałkowska, from the Institute of Management and Computing Systems, Faculty of Engineering Management, Poznan University of Technology and Attorney Zofia Chołody, President of the Women Entrepreneurs Club Foundation in Poznan. Both ladies also debuted as hosts of the entire event. The organization of the event would not have been possible without the support of the fantastic women from the Department of Entrepreneurship and Business Communication – Dr. Paulina Kubera, Head of the Department; Anna Dębicka, PhD, Małgorzata Rembiasz, PhD and Karolina Olejniczak, PhD. Special thanks also go to prof. Hanna Włodarkiewicz-Klimek, Małgorzata Kolczyńska, Press Officer of the Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinical Hospital at the Karol Marcinkowski Medical University in Poznan; Daria Olzacka; and Beata Czerkas, Head of the Information and Promotion Department, PUT.
The 2nd Women in Science and Business Forum was officially opened by the Rector of Poznan University of Technology, Prof. Teofil Jesionowski. A special letter to the organizers and participants was sent by the Deputy Speaker of the Senate, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, and warm greetings were extended by former Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz
This year's initiative aimed to draw special attention to the aspects of combining science with business and to support the scientific and business development of both women and men. The Forum participants included representatives from various fields, including state administration, science, medicine, business, and the arts. The Forum took the form of a one-day conference consisting of four discussion panels:
Panel I: Women Facing the Challenges of New Technologies – Opportunities and Threats
Panelists:
- Prof. Ewa Wender-Ożegowska – National Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Magdalena Kuncewicz – Director of the MSWiA Hospital in Poznan
- Stefanie Hegels – CEO of Volkswagen Poznan
- Prof. Agnieszka Misztal, – Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Education, Poznan University of Technology
- Prof. Anna Kobusińska, Prof. PUT – Head of the Division of Computing Systems, Institute of Computing Science, Poznan University of Technology
The panel was moderated by:
- Prof. Hanna Bogucka – Director of the Institute of Radiocommunications at Poznan University of Technology
Panel II: Psychosocial Opportunities and Threats of New Technology Development
Panelists:
- Prof. Beata Skowron-Mielnik, – Vice-Rector for Teaching, University of Economics in Poznan
- Prof. Agnieszka Iwanicka, , Department of Media Education, Faculty of Educational Studies, Adam Mickiewicz University
- Prof. Dominika Narożna, , Member of the Board of the Poznan Science and Technology Park
The panel was moderated by Liliana Szczuka-Dorna, PhD - "Rector's Plenipotentiary for Microcredentials"
Panel III: The Role of Women in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals
Panelists:
- Karolina Roszyk – Board Member, Veolia Energy Contracting Poland
- Katarzyna Kierzek Koperska – Member of the Sejm of the 10th Term
- Prof. Hanna Włodarkiewicz-Klimek, Institute of Management and Computing Systems, Faculty of Engineering Management, Poznan University of Technology
The panel was moderated by:
- Prof. Alina Matuszak-Flejszman, Director of the Institute of Management, University of Economics in Poznan
Panel IV: Challenges for Entrepreneurial Women of the 21st Century
Panelists:
- Prof. Alicja Hadryś – Department of International Management, University of Economics in Poznan
- Małgorzata Dudzic-Biskupska – Vice-President of the Management Board, Wielkopolska Development Fund
- Ewa Adams – Strategist, Business Trainer, Co-author of Brian Tracy’s book
- Monika Mardas – Brzezińska – CEO of SENSE Consulting
The panel was moderated by:
- Attorney Zofia Chołody – President of the Women Entrepreneurs Club Foundation
At the end of the Forum, a short lecture on the genesis of professional burnout and how to prevent it, titled "Personal Decalogue, or How to Prevent Professional Burnout," was delivered by Dorota Nowocień – an academic teacher, motivational speaker, and coach. During the Forum, as part of a surprise "Andrzejki" event, participants had the opportunity to have individual conversations with astrologer Anna Daroszewska-Żeromska – DarAstro.
We would like to thank all the speakers and our guests for their valuable contributions to the discussion and their participation in the event. The Forum was organized under the patronage of the Rector of Poznan University of Technology, Prof. Teofil Jesionowski. Honorary patrons included: the Poznan County Governor – Jan Grabkowski and the Mayor of Poznan – Jacek Jaskowiak. We are also deeply grateful to the event partners, without whom its realization would have been impossible: Wielkopolska Development Fund, Solar Company S.A., Foundation for the Development of Poznan University of Technology, REMTOR Ltd., Keller Poligrafia for Industry, and media partners: Sukces po poznańsku, codziennypoznan.pl, ipolska24.pl, biznespoznan.pl, and Boss:ka.
Prof. Joanna Kałkowska
