You’ve made the transition from observer to participant. What were some of the early moments that helped you feel like an essential part of the team, rather than just a familiar face?
In the beginning, I worried that I’d never fully shake the “CEO’s daughter” label. I had known this team since I was a kid and I wondered if they’d only ever see me as such. But I remember a turning point when I started working on project reports. Initially, I was mostly assisting my Mom, typing notes and handling smaller tasks. When the team started coming to me directly for reports, though, I felt a shift. It wasn’t just about assisting anymore - my contributions mattered. Felt proud, when being relied upon by the team, not just as a helper but as someone who played a part in the bigger picture. The jigsaw puzzle of my doubts and ambitions began to come together finally.
Finding your own footing can be a trial by fire. Were there any particular projects or tasks that became your first big ‘trial’?
My first big trial was more about facing my own doubts than any specific project. Everything felt challenging initially, but tackling real projects and making mistakes along the way became essential to finding my confidence and Isa’s rhythm. It was less about any particular task and more about facing each of them with a mindset of me growing & moving forward.
You’ve been growing under the mentorship of team members like Gosia Gołębiewska, Lidia Kupidura and Monika Bak. Can you share how each of them has helped shape your approach to work and even your confidence in your own skills?
Each mentor has left a unique mark on my journey. Working with Monika was my first experience with real project work. No matter how many mistakes I made, Monika would explain things patiently, even if it meant repeating herself multiple times until I truly understood. Such perseverance is not taken for granted and can sometimes be a painful challenge for more than one mentor, but Monika has not given up on me.
Lidia has been my go-to mentor from day one. Her constant support helped me find my voice and speak up within the team. She always told me: “There are no stupid questions,” even when I was sure I could list quite a few! With her encouragement, I began to believe I had something to offer. She gave me the confidence to balance my work life with my studies, showing me that I could excel professionally without compromising my academic life.
And Gosia. She has been the reliable guide in all things practical, especially tax questions! In those days, I took great care to keep her phone ringing :), calling her multiple times, panicked over some tax worry, while she’d reassure me, patiently explaining things every time. That understanding and support, especially with my student commitments, allowed me to be fully present both at work and in my academic life.
What’s the hardest part of balancing dual identities of Isa-Daughter vs. Isa-Teammate and how did you manage to stay focused on simply being ‘You’?
The hardest part is the inevitable history - the times when people remembered me as “Corinne’s small daughter” or recall a memory from my childhood. At the same time, it was both funny and annoying when a person I didn’t remember in the slightest, recalled a situation in which I was the main character. Who are you? This question was rattling around in my head. I realized I couldn’t change those memories, but I could create a new image of who I am now. This I definitely had the power to do.
When it comes to earning respect through work rather than lineage, what have you found most effective in proving your value to the team on your own terms?
For me, it’s about being dependable and fully committed to whatever I do. If the team needs something, they know I’ll step up and get it done, even if it means adjusting my priorities. I ask questions, I check if it’s for sure, I know it’s worth sharing my own ideas, comments, as one thing is the bond: I care about getting things right. Earning respect is a process, but it’s one I’m committed to every day.
Can you pinpoint a moment where you realized you were standing on your own, making decisions, and handling responsibilities that showed you’d stepped into your own role fully?
A pivotal moment came last September when Lidia trusted me to start speaking directly with candidates over the phone. It felt like a real milestone, a moment where I realized my voice and my judgment mattered. From that point, I started conducting training sessions with Michal Jakubowski (Partner at Accord Group Polska) and what I strongly appreciated: he even asked for my insights. That was a huge shift - realizing I wasn’t just a participant but a valued voice within the team. Yes, it took years, but every day of the walk was worth it.
Any humorous or memorable moments with Gosia, Lidia or Monika that stand out? Something that maybe taught you a lesson in an unexpected way?
Oh, plenty! Early on, Monika once apologized for “using” me too much on a report, and I promptly replied, “I like being used!” We still laugh about that one. And every time I called Lidia with a question, I’d start with, “I have a question,” so much so that it became a running joke. These moments made me feel like at home, but also taught me that professionalism doesn’t mean we can’t have fun.
Another memorable moment, which is very fresh in my mind, was when recently Lidia and Michal both complimented my work on the same day. It was unexpected and threw me off a bit, or more than a bit, as I even called Lidia, asking if everything was alright! She reassured me that it was my own efforts that had earned those compliments, which made me realize that I was genuinely contributing something of value. Moments like these remind me that I’m on the right path.