One of my best memories of the University is so many different people from other countries
What are your main responsibilities in your current role?
I am responsible for conducting on-site as well off-site controls of depositors' data stored in IT systems in banks and credit unions in Poland. I am also a member of the task force on deposit guarantee system in the European Banking Authority, and deal with many international issues on the protection of depositors' funds which are held in banks and credit institutions.
Please outline your career history: how did you get to where you are today?
I started my professional career in the National Bank of Poland. Then I decided to come to the University to study East Asian Studies. After completing postgraduate study at the University, I returned to Poland and started to work for PKO Bank Polski - the biggest bank in my country in the Internal Audit Department. Since 2010 I ahve worked for the Bank Guarantee Fund, the institution which guarantees deposits in Poland.
Why did you want to come to the University of Sheffield to study your chosen degree?
I was interested in the culture and economy of East Asian countries (Japan, Vietnam, South Korea). Especially, at that time I was interested in the Japanese banking crisis in the 1980's.
What were your favourite things about or best memories of the University of Sheffield?
My best memories of the University were meeting many people from other countries and making friends with them. I am still in close contact with some of them despite them living in Japan or Romania. Especially, I remember working on my final dissertation and the wonderful support from my supervisor Mr. Peter Matanle from the School of East Asian Studies. And of course, I met my future wife at the University. She comes from Vietnam and she studied in the same Department. Finally, as a big football fan, I have got fantastic memories supporting both teams in Sheffield, Sheffield United, and Sheffield Wednesday.
Please explain how has your qualification and/or time at Sheffield helped you in your career?
First of all, the fact that I graduated from the University helped me to find an interesting and good payable job in Poland. The employers in my country still search for candidates with wide international experiences. My good knowledge of English also helped me to be involved in working for the European Banking Authority - a very prestigious international institution regulating the banking industry in UE.
What has been your greatest achievement to date?
My greatest achievement was to complete the postgraduate studies at the University and successfully finished my dissertation. It was challenging because I worked in a foreign language and I got a high mark for my dissertation. And of course, it was also meeting my future wife at the University. We created a fantastic family with two children.