Pawel Rafalski
Country president of cash-handling services at Securitas Polska
By : Greg Goodale
A karate champion, Pawel Rafalski, 45, said his career in the security industry was a natural progression from his passion for martial arts. "This is a common inclination among people who practice martial arts and want to make use of their skills professionally," Rafalski said.
A 1985 graduate of Warsaw University's Japanese studies department, he coached the Polish karate team while providing private security services at a time when private sector firms, particularly in security, were still frowned on by the authorities. "It was a very difficult time. The business attracted suspicion," he said.
In 1988 he founded Set, which was to become one of the first three private security firms after state permits were introduced in 1989. Rafalski rapidly diversified the business by going into security installations and training, and saw his firm mushroom from four employees to nearly 200. The shortage of capital in Poland at the beginning of the 1990s left Set starved of cash and by 1993 Rafalski decided the company had to return to its core activity security.
"It was a good lesson: The best ambitions, good products and good contracts are not enough in certain economic conditions." Rafalski said. After this he looked for an outside source of capital to revitalize the company, a search that put him in touch with Sweden-based Securitas, to which he sold the company in 1995. Rafalski was appointed vice president of the company, and when Securitas Polska was restructured in 1998 he became president of its cash-handling division.
Past notes:
1980-1986 National karate champion
1985 Graduated with a degree in Japanese studies from Warsaw University
1988 Started up Set
1995 Sold Set to Securitas
1996 Appointed vice chairman of
Securitas Polska
A word of advice:
"In Budo, the Japanese art of war, there is a concept called Inochigake, or total devotion. This is my advice to anyone who wants to develop in whatever they are doing. In less dramatic language: ambition, hard work and faith that you will achieve something."
