WBJ: You transitioned from marketing and media into real estate and then created one of the most recognized platforms supporting women in the industry. What shaped that journey?

Krystyna Swojak: My career path has never been linear. It’s been driven by curiosity and intuition. I started in marketing, sales, and media, gaining a solid business foundation. I entered real estate because I was ready for a new chapter. I quickly noticed a gap: many talented women were active in the industry but lacked visibility. They managed projects and delivered results, yet they rarely appeared on stage.

This insight became the impetus for creating Top Woman in Real Estate. The key lesson from this journey is that you don’t need a perfect plan; what matters is acting when you see a real need.

You mentioned that women were often absent from the stage despite managing large projects. Has that changed?

Change is happening, but the process is ongoing.

At the start of my observations, the disparity was clear – men dominated panels and representation, even when women contributed equally to a project. This was one of the main reasons for launching our initiative.

Today, we see more women on stage and participating in industry debates, particularly in Poland. Still, visibility requires effort from both organizations and women.

Top Woman promotes collaboration between women and men. We believe that equality and building businesses based on partnership and mutual respect lead to lasting success.

Do you think women tend to underestimate their achievements? Why is this still a barrier?

Yes, this is one of the most persistent challenges.

Working with women at various levels, I see the same pattern: women downplay their accomplishments by saying, “It’s nothing” or “I just did my job,” even when their impact was significant.

This isn’t about competence; it’s about mindset and communication. Many women haven’t been taught to speak about their successes. Without this, opportunities are easily overlooked.

Approaching self-promotion differently is essential. Self-promotion is about communicating your value. When women start recognizing their own worth, others respond. Recognition often starts from within.

The Top Woman mentoring program connects experienced leaders with younger women. What makes mentoring truly effective?

Effective mentoring is more than giving advice; it’s a process of growth and transformation.

In our program, we match participants with experienced leaders from the same industry. The program’s strength lies in practical knowledge, honest conversations, and support. Mentors help develop skills, discover strengths, build confidence, and plan careers.

One of the program’s most important outcomes is clarity in career direction. Many participants start without a plan and finish with clear goals.

Mentoring accelerates development by helping participants learn from others’ experiences. The results are tangible: promotions, role changes, and greater confidence in decision-making.

You often say your mission is to connect people and support their growth. What does effective leadership mean to you?

For me, leadership is about fostering the growth of others.

A strong leader isn’t defined by power, but by impact. It’s a person who builds trust, connects people, and creates an environment conducive to development. Modern leadership requires empathy, authenticity, and the ability to engage people around a vision.

I believe in value-based leadership, grounded in trust, integrity, and a win-win approach. These foundations build strong, engaging relationships.

Leadership also carries responsibility. When what we do helps others grow, we create something truly valuable, not just for the organization but for the entire business ecosystem.

You created Top Woman without initial funding, and the project quickly became a recognized brand. What did that teach you?

Above all, it taught me that vision and determination matter more than resources.

When I came up with this project, no business was backing me. I simply had a good idea, a strong belief in its value, and the ability to engage people and inspire them to work toward a shared goal. Soon, partners appeared who shared that vision and wanted to support it.

This experience showed me that you don’t need everything to get started. The most important thing is to take the first step and act consistently. Leadership often means moving forward despite uncertainty. There will always be unknowns.

You emphasize values like win-win, trust, and intuition. How important are they in business today?

They are fundamental. We operate in a dynamic and unpredictable environment. Here, values provide stability. Trust builds relationships, a win-win approach creates lasting partnerships, and intuition helps guide the right decisions.

For me, intuition plays a huge role. It’s intuition as a result of experience, observation, and internal alignment. When combined with action, it becomes a highly effective business tool.

Ultimately, lasting success is about creating value, building relationships, and acting according to principles. These elements matter most in the long run. I’m proud that through Top Woman, we can create meaningful projects and support others in their growth. 

ABOUT:

Krystyna Swojak is the Managing Director of the Top Woman in Real Estate initiatives, which promote and support women in business. With a background in marketing, media, and finance, she transitioned to real estate in 2016 and has since built a recognized platform including awards, mentoring programs, and industry events. She is also founder of the “Top Woman for Women” association, supporting women facing challenges in the workplace. Her mission is to connect people, foster growth, and empower women to build confident, visible careers in real estate.