The life and career of a global citizen in British Columbia

Can you please introduce yourself?

I'm Kasia. At heart, I'm an explorer of ideas & cultures. I was born in Krakow, Poland, grew up in Canada and moved to Australia in my late 20s. I stayed there for 15 years and worked in Asia Pacific for a global organization, leading a digital transformation project in Asia Pacific for six years. Later I started Mindquest Leadership Coaching & Consulting and now work with managers and executives who want to master influence, develop their leadership capability and expand their impact.

I live with my partner in Victoria, British Columbia but consider myself a global citizen. For a long time, I struggled with my sense of belonging. Eventually, I found it through the deep connections I have created both personally and professionally.

What brought you to Canada? For how long have you been there?

I moved from Poland to Canada with my parents at age 8. We travelled on an old cruise liner. We even took a wooden coffee table and a large persian rug. We landed in Montreal and drove across Canada to Edmonton, Alberta. When I was a teenager, we moved to Victoria, BC and re-started life again.

Why did you move back to British Columbia?

Two years ago, I returned to BC when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. I wanted to be close by while she went through her treatment. I ended up staying due to the pandemic, and I met my current partner in November last year. He was living a 5 min walk from my mother's place, and I met him in our neighbourhood one sunny day by the water. We fell in love. So I stayed instead of returning to Australia.

Tell us about your adventures and which one has been your best experience so far.

Hard to choose just one! When I started my business, I was able to travel and decided to go to Central & South America. I lived in Cusco and had an amazing time exploring Peru. I spent a wonderful week hiking in the Colca Canyon and the Cordillera Blanca near Huaraz, driving a dune buggy in Paracas National Park, and salsa dancing at high elevation.

Another great adventure was in Seoul, where I met a monk on the subway. He wanted to practice his English and showed me around Seoul for the day. I got to try on his big grey jacket and bought him a pair of new socks – monks in South Korea only get one pair a year, and his were almost worn out! I learnt that it is possible to do a temple stay in South Korea, which I think would be a wonderful experience.

Is there anything that you miss from your home country?

I miss the food the most! Perogies, cabbage rolls, and great bread! We don't really have great bread in Canada.

You are today an International Leadership & Career Coach & Speaker. What motivated you to have such a career?

I coach leaders worldwide, so cross-cultural experience and a broad perspective are essential to my career. I saw the need for stronger leadership skills, and I thought that my experience as a regional leader in Asia would be beneficial to others. I wanted more people to have the opportunity to work with skilled leaders and to thrive in their careers. I see a lot of talent being wasted due to the lack of skilled managers, and it is so unnecessary. Many managers attend leadership courses but they don't have anyone to help them implement the skills back on the job.

How important is coaching for expats who wish to work or set up a business abroad? What would you advise them?

I believe that coaching is beneficial for everyone. There are questions and challenges during a big change, and it is very helpful to have a trusted confidant who can help navigate the transition, overcome barriers and accelerate your success.

Tell us about the challenges and benefits of working remotely in the pandemic era.

I have been working remotely for a long time. I spent 13 years working on virtual teams before starting my business, and I love working remotely. I would not go back to an office. Some of the leaders I work with, especially older leaders, felt challenged by working remotely during the pandemic. One CEO told me he didn't know how to communicate with people, but he overcame that. It is a mindset shift, and the skill is creating deeper connections with people no matter where they are in the world. If the desire is there, it is totally possible. I have done that with almost all of my clients, and we are very close, and I have worked with many regional and global leaders who have created tight-knit loyal teams.

Did the pandemic have an impact on your professional and social life? 

Yes, it did. I went through a break-up with my previous partner in Australia because we didn't see each other for a year. I also lost some face to face work which I really loved, running leadership training workshops for new managers at HSBC in Australia.

What are your views on the way Canada, and especially British Columbia, dealt with the pandemic? What are the current restrictions in place?

I think BC has fared relatively well compared to the rest of Canada. Currently, we don't have any major restrictions. I have been using my vaccine passport for a few weeks when I go out to a restaurant.

What are your plans for the future?

For the moment, we are planning to stay in Canada, and we are exploring the possibility of relocating to Central America in a few years. I love to speak Spanish. My partner is from the Azores Islands, in Portugal, and we would both love to live in a warmer place again.   

I plan to continue with my business. I love my clients and my work. I'm on a mission to help as many leaders as I can implement a coaching approach so that they have the skills to turn talent into results. We can't afford to be wasting so much talent.

If you had to go through your move abroad all over again, is there anything you would have done differently?

The only thing I would have done differently is acquiring less belongings. I realized I don't really need that much stuff!