WiBD Poland – Virtual Speed Mentoring Event
On June 26th we hosted our inaugural and super inspiring 2-hour virtual speed mentoring session, bringing together fantastic mentors and eager mentees from diverse backgrounds. Each mentee had the opportunity to connect with three mentors, gaining personalized insights on careers in Big Data, AI, and Data Science. The event kicked off with a panel discussion tackling four key questions, followed by dynamic 1:1 mentoring rotations.
Panel Discussion: Key Takeaways
“What pivotal decisions shaped your career?”
Katarzyna (Kasia) Stoltmann emphasized following passion as her guiding principle.
“What technical and soft skills matter most today?”
Kendy Rannenberg stressed communication as the #1 skill to bridge gaps between tech and business.
“How can non-technical professionals transition into AI/Data Science?”
Paulina Basta-Lasoń championed curiosity over formal credentials: “Your field of study matters less than your willingness to learn.”
“Where are the biggest opportunities in the next 5 years?”
Tina Rosario urged professionals to stay creative and open-minded amid shifts like generative AI and regulations.
Mentees rotated through three 25-minute 1:1 sessions, diving deeper into:
Career pivots
Skill-building strategies
Industry trends and personal branding
Feedback highlighted actionable advice and the mentors’ willingness to share real-world challenges.
Special thanks to our incredible mentors:
Tina Rosario, Paulina Basta-Lasoń, Iwo Szapar, Meyyar Palaniappan, Katarzyna (Kasia) Stoltmann, Konrad Banachewicz, Paulina Święcicka, Deborah Sgro, Kendy Rannenberg, Andrzej Danielewicz, Sandeep Singh, Aga Swiatowa.
And to our engaged mentees—your curiosity and drive made this event impactful.
Also, here is thorough note by :
Thank you Women in Big Data Poland – Aga Swiatowa for the exciting and smoothly executed (well-done Marta!) Speed Mentoring event last week! I am glad and honoured to be part of it, as a Mentor! What a fulfilling experience it was!
Some key-takeaways from the amazing accomplished fellow mentors in the introduction panel:
-> Katarzyna (Kasia) Stoltmann: Never give up and build up on your passion.
-> Kendy Rannenberg: Communication is the key!
-> Paulina Basta-Lasoń: Be curious!
-> Tina Rosario: Be creative and open-minded!
These are essential ingredients to find one’s purpose and the values that matters the most to oneself and build a career around it!
And my mentees were 3 incredible women (25mins each)!
While I will not share their identity, I think it may be helpful for someone out there to know the key topics we discussed! The common thread among them being Data and AI!
(1) One of them pivoted from the field of science into Data Science, and is rocking it! Earning extremely well but feels a bit trapped in the current role.
-> My recommendation: Identify and work on the transferrable skills that will prepare you for the next move, when the right opportunity aligning with your values/interests shows up, be ready to make the leap.
(2) One of them, took the leap of faith to move out of their long standing corporate role to become an entrepreneur – super admirable! And looking for avenues to expand on their offering, but as a newbie in this entrepreneurial journey she has some starting trouble.
-> My recommendation: Find your tribe! If in Poland, join Women in Big Data Poland, if in Munich – join Women in Big Data Munich / AWS Women’s User Group Munich , if in Berlin – join Women in Big Data Berlin / AWS Women’s User Group Berlin , etc.
You get my point, right? Find your community, that aligns with your vision and goals and be vocal about your questions and like-minded people in similar journey, who are probably few steps ahead of you, will share their wisdom with you!
Networking is essential to not feel like the only one out there, with all the questions that you have!
(3) One of them has been a freelancer for 15 years! Wow! And she is looking to surf the AI wave, to make her suitable for the future freelancing market! It is the perfect question at the perfect time!
-> My recommendation: There are million educational content out there (I recommended some courses based on her specific needs) and you have to find the tutor and format (video tutorial, hands-on GitHub repo, interactive notebook, etc.) that you can follow and that fits your style of absorption – experiment and be consistent in learning (in small steps) every day!
I wish you a happy ‘self-discovery’ and happy learning journey! We are all learning one way or the other, in our everyday lives!
