The person behind The Konnekt Lab

It's me, hi! I finally brought to life the idea of creating a judgment-free space where women can share their professional journeys. You won’t find any “30 Under 30” lists or 4 a.m. morning routines here - I honestly think the world has enough of that. What you will find is a series of interviews with women I find inspiring. Because guess what? A lot of us are inspiring - we just don’t always realize it.

I'll start with myself. My name is Karolina. I've worked in e-commerce, product, digital marketing agency, and as a freelancer. Since the start of my career, I've led teams, and recently I realized I can make a bigger impact helping people collaborate better and achieve their goals. Also, it turns out that it gives me more satisfaction than any other role I've ever had - so that's what I'm doing now.

Warm up questions 🔥

Go-to drink to survive a busy day?

Matcha latte.

One word that describes your career so far?

Solver. Whether it was making sense of marketing metrics, user needs, client goals, or team dynamics - my work has always revolved around solving problems.

Early bird or night owl?

Night owl.

Best thing about what you do?

Understanding how people think. It’s fascinating how differently our minds work.

Favorite way to recharge outside of work?

Walking aimlessly, with no direction in mind.

Secret skill or hobby most people don’t know about?

I make really good banana pancakes.

Most used emoji when texting about work?

🙈

Most inspiring place you’ve ever worked from?

I've worked from a lot of countries, but honestly, I've felt most inspired working from my couch. I love working from home.

Let’s dive in! 🏄

Tell us about a professional risk you took — and what happened after.

I left a very stable job without knowing what would come next. I was deep in my comfort zone, but the work no longer excited me - and more importantly, I didn’t feel aligned with my colleagues. It was scary (still is - hello freelancing!), but looking back, that sense of "stability" wasn’t worth it.

What’s something about your job (or your path) that people completely misunderstand?

As a leader (in past roles) or as a coach (now), people sometimes expect you to have all the answers. But in both roles, the real goal is helping them find the answers for themselves.

If your younger self could see you now, what would surprise her most?

That I’m calmer and don’t take things so personally anymore. I once had a colleague who constantly pointed out my mistakes - not as constructive feedback, but in a way that felt personal and unsupported by facts. After months of frustration, I realized that sometimes, people just don’t like you - and there’s nothing you can do about it. So I just focused on doing my job. I wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone, but it did teach me not to care so much.

What’s a myth about success that you wish we could finally stop spreading?

That success is measured by how many hours you work. Work smarter, not harder. Sure, sometimes you’ll need to put in extra hours - but if you’re consistently working until 10 p.m., something needs to change: your workload, your organization, your delegation, or your tools.

What’s something you’re still figuring out, even now?

What’s next. I used to have a detailed career plan - never really stuck to it, but it made me feel safe. Now, I’m more about going with the flow and focusing on what feels right in the present.

If you had to give a TED Talk tomorrow, what would it be about (besides your job)?

Hormones - during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and postpartum. I loved biology in high school and even considered studying it before choosing marketing. More than a decade later, I’m still fascinated by how hormones work and remember so much from school, books I've read and podcasts I've listened to during my pregnancies.

Is there a skill you learned outside of work (a hobby, a life experience) that changed how you approach your career?

Motherhood. It made me more patient and empathetic - and way better at organizing my work and prioritizing tasks.

What’s something you unlearned to get where you are today?

That rest is a reward. We’re not machines. Yes, we need money to pay the bills, but we also need time to rest and recharge.

When in your career did you feel totally lost — and what helped you find your way?

It’s happened a few times - usually when I stopped enjoying what I was doing. I’d spiral, questioning everything and thinking I had to start over. What helped? Talking to people. Getting outside perspectives always brought fresh ideas and clarity.

What’s something you once thought was a failure, but now you're grateful it happened?

A job I didn’t get. I was so sure it was mine - I even prepared a farewell speech in my head (cringe). The rejection hurt, but the next week, my former supervisor quit and I got a promotion I hadn’t even considered.

What part of your job lights you up, even when everything else feels heavy?

Remembering the people I’ve helped - whether by solving a problem or simply pointing them in the right direction.

What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received about your work (even if it felt small)?

“When I talk, I can tell you really listen.” That’s when I realized my strength wasn’t in what I said, but in how I showed up for others.

What did you used to chase in your career that you don’t anymore?

Being liked. I guess it comes with age, but now I know some people will never see you the way you want to be seen - and that’s okay. It’s a huge relief to stop trying to please everyone.

How has your definition of “success” changed over the years?

I used to think success was about long hours, more projects, and endless milestones. Now, it’s about feeling good about what I’m doing - and having the flexibility and freedom to live my life.

Name a woman or the women who have helped you or inspired you in your career.

You’ll meet them soon in the upcoming interviews. Stay tuned!