Ukrainian Shelter Volunteer, NGO Operations Manager, Marketing Guru, Warsaw, Poland
Lots of great things to say about Ms. Aleksandra (Ola) Gątkiewicz, but I’ll start with the “multi-tasker extraordinaire”. Full-time career in brand management, Aleksandra was growing and advancing within that industry. Suddenly, it is February 24th 2022, the humanitarian crisis is on the Polish doorstep. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine results in nearly three million Ukrainian refugees flooding into Poland; many funneling through or settling in Warsaw. This is where Ms. Gatkiewicz’s care and humanity showed front and center; she has taken on another full time role, managing logistics for the Humanitarian Aid NGO Team Ukraine Love. Aleksandra is spending nights and evenings in the 200-person Ukrainian shelter in the center of Warsaw, that serves as the headquarters of the organization. Ms. Gatkiewicz ensures that women and children residents are taken care of; she also organizes the immense logistics of bringing physical aid (in the form of supplies, medicine and ambulances) from Poland into Ukraine. Ola does it all on the volunteer bases and somehow manages a full-time job. How else to say it? This is Polish WOW Woman strength.
1. Name.
Aleksandra Gątkiewicz - however in Poland everyone calls you Ola, so Ola it is.
2. Where is your hometown?
Szczecin, moved to Warsaw in 2014.
3. What is your profession/career/title/self-label/designation? What does your average day look like?
I work in marketing and license business, as a Junior Brand Manager in my family’s business. Our office is outside of Warsaw, so I drive there everyday. It’s not a classic 9-5, we are not a corporation so we have a bit more freedom. I honestly love the people I work with. Since March2022 (and Russia’s attack of Ukraine), besides my regular work, I help out at Team Ukraine Love (TUL), a humanitarian aid NGO. At times that means I go to the TUL office in the center of Warsaw, sometimes I work from home. I am responsible for our social media account on Instagram, I create all content there. Additionally, I help with running Team Ukraine Love. A lot at once I would say.
4. What did you study in school?
I’ve started with Law, yet after hating it for two years I quit. I’ve switched to International Relations and finished with a Bachelor’s in 2019 writing my thesis on the Rohingya refugee crisis. Seems like I’ve come back to my roots.
5. What was the journey like to get where you are (in life and career-wise)? Write about some of the achievements that you are most proud of. What was the moment for you that changed your life (in your personal life and/or career?) that set you on the current path in life? What did you do before the war, and why and how did you start helping Ukrainian women?
I was lucky enough to grow up with parents who motivated me and gave me so many opportunities in life. I’ve travelled so much as a kid, my mom’s goal was always to see as much as possible, learn from and about new cultures, languages, countries and traditions. What I’m most thankful for is that she pushed me to learn English from a very early age. This has allowed me to finish my high school and Uni in English, sometimes feeling like I know the English language better than my native Polish (and its horrible because my mom is a Polish teacher). I was very blessed as my family let me focus on studying and I didn’t need to work throughout my schooling.
Although I didn’t officially earn a paycheck before graduating and joining my family’s company, I had plenty of work experience. In 2017, my father and I opened a restaurant in Warsaw, which I single-handedly ran for a year. I was made the CEO and because I lived in Warsaw I was put in charge. I was a 23 year-old-girl who in the beginning wasn’t taken very seriously by the staff. I had to earn their trust and respect. I showed up early and worked long hours, took over shifts from absent waiters, who on more than one occasions partied a little too hard the night before. I did not earn salary for this work. It was more important to pay our staff, for rent, for the food. I had to quickly learn how to run a business, how to talk to suppliers, clients. It was possibly the best work experience in my life. I heard from one of my staff members when she was quitting. She said that she thought I will be the classic father/daughter duo, showing up with friends to the restaurant, partying and basically just using the CEO tittle while doing nothing. She said I proved her wrong; we are still friends to this day.
When Russia attacked Ukraine, I was in utter shock and initially felt helpless. My mom together with her friends transformed the top floor of her friends kindergarten to the first refugee center in Szczecin. I was in Warsaw at the time but I tried to help by posting about the effort and getting influential people on board to donate. In less than two days the center was created, people brought clothes, food, beds and anything needed to make the place livable. I knew I couldn’t just sit and do nothing. On Monday, March 7, Yes Theory posted on their IG stories that they are looking for local volunteers, preferably Polish or Ukrainian. A few hours after messaging one of the founders, I joined Team Ukraine Love in the CIC office. I’ve been a part of the team since. My tasks are varied and are never the same. I’ve driven Ammar and Benni (from Yes Theory) to the Polish Ukrainian border and we filmed there, to help fundraise. I’ve done it all: from buying furniture and home supplies at Ikea to right now kind of coordinating for Team Ukraine Love together with the founder Victoria Umanska.
6. How is your life different from what you pictured at 20?
I’ve never lived my life with a clear picture or a plan for the next steps. I didn’t want to be married by a certain age, and didn’t put pressure on myself to achieve any such milestones. I always wanted to just live a happy and fulfilled life. And even though I didn’t become a lawyer as I thought when I was 19, I feel happy. I think that the TUL work was the missing part. I feel needed and I know that what I'm doing is actually helping people in need.
7. Was there a time when life knocked you down or out and how did you get back up on your feet?
My childhood all kind of feels like a long knockout period. My dad is an alcoholic; he struggled horribly when I was younger. It led to my parents’ divorce and to many scary moments for a kid. I didn’t have any contact with him for over a year. He has been clean for over two years now; I am really proud of him. I feel like I’ve gotten back on my feet when I understood that his sickness didn’t define me. I’ve learned how to deal with it properly and understood that it is not my place to feel ashamed for something I had no control over.
8. Advice for other women?
Live your life for you, you are not here to please others.
9. Knowing what we know now in a current political climate, can women be "all that we can be" in today's world? What is the way forward, as you see it, for "feminist values”?
I don’t want to sound like a pessimist, but in the current climate, specifically in Poland, it seems impossible for women to be all that we can be. We are one of the strictest countries when it comes to the anti-abortion law. What the US felt with the Supreme Court ruling (striking down Roe v Wade) is an every day reality for Polish women. I strongly stand by women being able to decide what is best for their bodies. It feels like in the political sense our bodies are being dehumanized; we are treated like child-bearing machines. I’ve protested since 2016 in Poland about this issue; I love seeing women of all ages protesting. So many older people and men joining us on those marches. I feel like Polish political leaning is so much different compared to the people that surround me on a daily basis. Out of my friends no one voted for the current ruling president or the political party. I feel supported in my friend group and feel like around them I can truly be all that I can be.
10. Where in the world do you feel “tallest” (i.e. where is your happy place)?
My happy places are wherever I can see and be near water, feel the sand under my feet and a enjoy an ocean breeze on my face. I am a typical Cancer, I often dive before I know how to float on water. Oh and a nice, chilled glass of wine couldn’t hurt.
11. What extracurricular activities/hobbies are you most proud of? Why?
I’ve skied since I was really little, I have gotten good enough that I practice slalom. I love the freedom skis give you. I learned how to dive to share my dads passion. It felt scary at first, knowing the immensity of water above you but then you just learn to go with the flow. You don’t feel the weight of the equipment, you just feel freedom. I love mono skiing and then moved to wakeboarding; clearly I love skiing on all surfaces.
12. What do you want to be when you grow up? Future goals/challenges?
If I only knew. I think that with the experience I’ve gotten at Team Ukraine Love I would want my future to be somehow tied to the NGO space. Distant future goal would be to live near/on the beach.
14. Anything you'd do differently, if you had another go at life?
I would have spent more time with my paternal grandma and wouldn’t have held a grudge against her, for protecting her alcoholic son. She didn’t know different and when he was drinking she saw a little boy in him that needed her protection. I was angry, because I was actually the kid that needed that support. I was mad at her for a long time, and we didn’t for a few good years. She passed away almost two years ago and I would just love to go back in time to talk to her once more.
15. What/who inspires you?
My mom. She is my hero. She was the one that taught me that happiness and contentment is what you should strive for in life. She divorced my father even though it meant a complete change of lifestyle for us. But she did it.
16. What are you hopeful about?
That I will be able to go to Ukraine with the amazing Ukrainian people I’ve met the past four months. That we will dance and sing in all of the cities in Ukraine.
17. What are some ingredients to a good life?
I will sound like a broken record but happiness is definitely one of the ingredients. If its in the form of your favourite dish, a travel to your favourite city or simply doing nothing; if it brings you joy just keep doing it. The war and the global pandemic showed me that your wealth doesn’t matter in case of sickness or war. You can have all the money in the world yet it won’t protect you. The war clearly proved how cruel and heartless people can be but it also gave me the chance to see how we can all unite. It was the first time I was truly proud to be Polish, we have put our life on hold to help the fleeing Ukrainians.
What do you want the world to know and appreciate about Ukrainians and Ukrainian women in particular?
Ukrainians are the strongest people I’ve ever met and anyone will probably ever meet. Their love for Ukraine is incredible and admirable. They are warm and truly genuine. I am surrounded by the most amazing Ukrainian women on a daily basis. I’ve proudly worked beside and among them, I have seen them cry one minute and the next minute go back to finding transportation for the humanitarian aid. Even with the language barrier, I’ve created stronger friendship bonds than I thought possible. I feel honoured to be working with them and calling them my friends.
18. What are (at least) three qualities you most love about yourself and why? What are your superpowers?
I am honest. I wear my heart on my sleeve and am there whenever my friends need me. I love people, maybe because I am an only child and had to be open to make friends. I am proud of my relationship with my mom. She is one of my closest friends, even though during the typically stupid teenage years I didn’t think it cool to be spending so much much time with your parents. I strive to always be honest with the people I love; no good comes from lying. I try to find a way to be honest in a kind way, without being too brutal. It helped me to realize that you don’t always have to agree with your friends, you just need to find a place in your heart to listen and really hear their point of view.
I don’t think I found my superpower yet or maybe its my ability to bruise way too easy.
19. What advice would you give your 14-year-old self? What advice would your 14-year-old self give you in return?
I would tell her that life will get better and to be less harsh on her dad.
She would probably tell me to listen to my gut and not to do stuff to please others.
20. What are you reading now? (what books do you gift most and what are your favourite reads?)
I never had one type of book I like the most. I sometimes enjoy an easy read, sometimes I prefer something with a lot more substance. I just finished a book written by a daughter of an alcoholic, a difficult read. I would probably only buy books for my mom or my grandma and both of them already read everything there is.
21. Who is a WOW WOMAN in your world who inspires you and why? Can you nominate three (or more) women you know who perfectly fit WOW WOMAN description? What would you tell them, if you had an opportunity, about why you admire them?
Victoria Umanska for sure. Vicky is a WOW WOMAN in my world. I only met her four months ago but we already share such a deep bond. She is the force behind Team Ukraine Love, making it all possible. I don’t know how I can possibly describe her, you just have to meet Vicky and you will instantly know that she is someone special.
22. Where can others find you/your work (links to websites, blogs, etc.)?
You can find me on LinkedIn as Aleksandra Gątkiewicz but I’m more active on Instagram @olagatkiewicz. I like to have a mix of travel, life and lately a lot of Ukraine-related topics.
Also all the work I do for Team Ukraine Love can be found on our website www.teamukrainelove.com and on TUL Instagram @teamukrainelove.
Bonus Quick Round Qs:
1. What and who is worth suffering for? Ideas, dreams, people close to us.
2. What would you do if you knew that nobody would judge you? I think I already live a life where other people’s opinions don’t really bother me. Just live your life for you, remember?
3. Who is/are your mentor/s (men or women)? There were several teachers who made an impact on my live. My high school history teacher pushed me into the Model United Nations project. I became interested in the human rights topics and learned to speak up for what I believed in. My thesis supervisor empowered me to write a really challenging for me thesis; a topic that hasn’t been covered yet. My mom and my best friend Anita are my mentors in life.
4. If you didn't have to work anymore what would you do with your days? I would take up surfing lessons in Costa Rica, it was truly one of the best countries I visited. I would explore the world, read books in a hammock, enjoy and appreciate every sunset and sunrise.
5. If you could be anyone for a day who would you be? Someone who can sing well so I finally could sing without people thinking I’m having a stroke.
6. If you could relive one year in your life, which one would it be? 2019, the last year of my studies, the last year before COVID. I would relive my trip with my best friend; how careless we all were.
7. What bothers you most about other people? What do you love most about other people? It bothers me how ignorant and blind some people are to the injustices of this world. I love how much we can learn from one another, we all have different experiences, and there is nothing better than sharing them.