WITOLD KOWALSKI - EX-CEO NIKE POLAND
After a 20-year career as a CEO in corporations, I realised that my true passion was helping people succeed and achieve their own professional and personal goals. This is how my consulting company WK Profit Consulting was founded, which I have been running for 13 years now. Thanks to my experience, I am able to quickly get to the heart of my clients' problems and help them find and implement the right solutions to make a real difference to their business performance and their professional or personal situation.
MY EXPERIENCE
Director in Corporations
I know the specifics of corporate work inside out. I founded and for 20 years ran two foreign companies in Poland: Nike and Telepizza.
Mentor, Coach AND TrAINER
I am one of 500 mentors in Europe working in European Commission projects under Horizon 2020, I help companies under the Innovation Manager Academy of the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) and I support female managers as a mentor at the Business Women Leaders Foundation. I have trained about 600 managers and created 24 leaders - directors of corporations and companies.
Consultant and Advisor
I have been acting as an independent consultant for over 5 years. I helped over 40 clients from Poland and abroad, from 10 different industries, in improving their business results.
MY APPROACH
Speed & flexibility
My goal is to provide the services in a way that allows the client to implement the agreed solutions independently and as soon as possible.
Comprehensive approach
I look at a client in their entirety, which covers different functions, departments, levels of management and the relationships between them.
Emphasis on client's results
Financial gains acquired by my clients thanks to my help are far greater than the cost of my services.
Individual work
I work individually and do not hire inexperienced employees who learn the ropes at the client's expense.
KEY SPECIALTIES
Companies wanting to scale
Companies struggling with too low profitability
The maximisation of human potenial in any industry
RECOMMENDATIONS
“Witold is one of most experienced GM within Nike organization. During his 12 years of managing Nike Poland business Witold accelerated business, established distribution network and most importantly developed talents within Nike Poland organization. Witold is a highly experienced mentor and coach for total Nike Poland organization and his retail management experience is at the highest level among Polish professionals.”
“Future business (and brand) success won’t come with just strong strategic plans and smart teams. The difference will be made by inspirational leaders that have the skills to unleash the potential of their teams. Witold is such a leader and it has been a pleasure to work with him and learn from him.”
“When I think of Witek (Witold), I recall tremendous positive energy. As General Manager of Nike Poland, he had the right attitude, raw smarts, and relentless commitment to turn bold plans and visionary concepts into a successful reality.
Apart from being an accomplished professional, Witek has a big and caring heart (and a witty sense of humour). Rightfully so, he was seen as a true people manager and friend by his colleagues across the Nike organization. I highly recommend him and will be happy to share additional context upon request.”
“I had the fortune to work with Witold in the same senior management group over a 7 year period. I found him to be an extremely mature and knowledgable colleague who was always willing to use his wealth of business experience in offering advice to his array of colleagues.
An inspirational leader to his team and a business leader who consistently delivered against his commitments I always regarded Wiltold as a true asset to the Nike team.”
“I worked with Witek as we established our first Nike owned office in Warsaw. Witek was hired as the General Manager of Nike Poland. He did an outstanding job of building a team and a strategy, quickly developing an understanding of the Nike Brand as well as the culture. He understood the balance between the global nature of the Brand, and applying local relevance without compromising the Brand. He was also a strong team builder and able to attract top talent into the Nike organization.
I would highly recommend Witek as someone who can mentor leaders both within and outside of the fashion/sports sector. He understands both the wholesale and retail aspects of this business thoroughly. Witek also understands what it takes to build a profitable business model, and the key levers to use in order to create the biggest impact. He will have a positive impact on building your team, and enabling you to grow your business in a profitable and sustainable manner.”
“Witek is one of those few managers you meet who have a unique ability to command respect from everyone. The respect came from the way he was able to lead the Nike Poland team to to constantly push the bar one level higher. They were often the benchmark and the innovators in our region constantly coming up with better ways of driving and managing the business. It is Witek’s thought leadership and consistent, confident management style that was the driving force of change and improvement within that team.”
LET’s GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER THROUGH MY BOOK
Many companies are reluctant to reach out to external consultants because they do not believe it can be helpful for their situation. This is a limiting belief that is not necessarily true in every case. Certainly not in mine.
The professional level of advisors and mentors in Poland varies greatly, from real experts to charlatans. That's why I have written a book that will enable my potential clients to increase their confidence in making business decisions, do some deep self-reflection, prepare themselves for a radical change for better leadership, and learn proven tools and tips I used in managing Nike and in working with my current clients.
At the same time, it is my way of gaining your trust, for the price of PLN 74.90, including the cost of delivery of the book to your door.