Charge d’Affairs John Law addressed over 200 participants at Vital Voices Poland’s 6th Annual Mentoring Walk on Sunday, March 5. Vital Voices Poland Director Ela Raczkowska and Magdalena Oleksiewicz, Board Member coordinated this year’s event, which matched 100 mentor-mentee pairs from business, civil society, government and academia. The participants took advantage of Lazienki Park’s beautiful surroundings to walk and share best practices. In his remarks, CDA Law highlighted the positive impact the mentoring event has and will have for mentors and mentees alike. Law urged more men to become mentors, and added, that while women don’t need men to succeed, men need more women to assume leadership positions in the workplace. Citing American anthropologist Margaret Mead, CDA Law noted: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Slawomir Sikora (President of Citi Bank Handlowy) and Nikos Kalaitzidakis (CEO of Coca Cola HBC) also spoke at the event, while Aleksandra Gren (Fortune Women/State Department Alumna) read a letter from Jolanta Kwasniewska, former First Lady of Poland and Honorary President of Vital Voices Poland, addressed to the attendees. The participants were treated to jazz performance by Michal Urbaniak and Michael “Patches” Stewart, as well as a surprise vocal performance by Vital Voices Poland Ania Jankowiak, alumna of November 2016 program.
