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A holistic approach to the needs of the employee, interesting design and creative interpretation in the projects of the Design Anatomy studio appreciated during the third edition of the prestigious Office Superstar competition.

Over 100 projects were submitted to compete for the Office Oscars. The jury of the prestigious competition selected 15 winners and awarded 5 companies which, in their opinion, arranged their office spaces in the best way. Among the awardees were companies residing in Olivia Business Centre on a daily basis.

– This year’s competition received 136 applications, 20 winners from all over Polish were selected. Out of these, Design Anatomy won 3 awards. No other design team has won in so many categories – emphasizes Szymon Renk, Key Account Manager at Olivia Business Centre.

For the Design Anatomy design office, it is a year full of successes, which began with the outstanding realization of the 32nd floor of the tallest building in Pomerania, Olivia Star. In the CBRE Office Superstar competition, three of the studio’s projects were appreciated.

– I think that for every architect the Office Superstar competition is an important event. We are very pleased that the projects prepared in our design studio were appreciated by the jury, especially that all the evaluated projects were at a very high level. This success is a great motivation for the dynamically developing team. It proves that full involvement in the implementation of each of the projects, in building good relations with tenants, brings measurable results – their satisfaction, well-being in the office, which they want to share. Once again, I would like to congratulate all the winners and I hope that together we will write more than one story – says Anna Branicka, chief architect at Design Anatomy in Olivia Business Centre.

Sii received the CBRE Office Superstar statuette for the best recreational space in Poland and a distinction for the best office in the Tri-City. The winner in the “Best Office in Tricity” category was Nordea, which also has its office in Olivia Business Centre.

^{Interiors of Sii Poland in Olivia Business Centre}

^{Nordea interiors in Olivia Business Centre, author: Szymon Polański}

Bayer was also among the awardees, receiving the award in the category of service outsourcing and shared services center. It was very nice to hear that this was possible thanks to the effective cooperation with Design Anatomy.

– An office tailored to the specifics of the company and the needs of employees is one of the most important elements influencing the comfort of work. The companies awarded in the competition certainly remember this. We are glad that we can support our Residents, among others in the area of office design– adds Agnieszka Zglinicka , Director of Residents Relations at Olivia Business Centre, wishing further equally spectacular successes.

^{Bayer interiors in Olivia Business Centre}

The 12-person jury of the competition was composed of renowned architects, art critics and professors of universities educating future designers. The Design Anatomy team has collected a record number of awards, proving that the office space designs are among the best in the country.

 

More about the competition

Poland’s first coworking space for women-led companies,
O4 Flow
– another project of one of the largest coworking spaces in the country, O4 Coworking – has been launched in the Olivia Business Centre business hub in Gdańsk. The meeting and debate opening the project was attended by Natalia Hatalska, trend analyst, founder of infuture hatalska foresight institute; Olga Kozierowska, trainer and mentor, founder of the first organization in Poland working for women’s entrepreneurship and promotion of their successes in business called “Success Written in Lipstick”; Marta Moksa, Managing Director at O4 Coworking; and Dominik Ross, Head of O4 Flow.

 

During one of the Lean in Poland meetings entitled “Managing diversity and inclusion of women” from the representative of Pomeranian Employers said important words: “Legislative changes are needed to increase the visibility of women in senior positions. To stop dealing with this topic, it must be a standard, and it is difficult to introduce such a standard without regulation. We simply have to get used to equality in order for it to become a reality.” The first coworking space for women in Poland is a response to a global trend. One of the pioneers in the women’s coworking market, The Wing had as many as 8000 companies on the waiting list shortly after opening! Isn’t this the best proof that such a place is needed? In Western Europe, there are only a dozen or so such coworking spaces, and the research m.in. conducted before the launch of O4 Flow, clearly indicate that women want a place where they can develop their businesses “in their own way”. The first women’s coworking space in Poland breaks the mold, encourages cooperation, exchange of experiences and views, and mutual support. In this new, unique space, you will certainly be able to feel the flow.

 

WHO (FEELS) THE FLOW?

Who is the innovative, first women’s coworking space in Poland, O4 Flow, for? According to Dominika Rossa, Head of O4 Flow , it is a space for female entrepreneurs, freelancers, business owners and women working in corporations. In fact, it is for anyone who is interested in appearing in a new, different environment, which is created to help stimulate creativity, strengthen competences, develop themselves and their business.

 

– Our loved ones are divided into two groups: supportive and depreciating. The first one is delighted with our every idea and action. The second suggests or openly talks about the fact that we could do something differently, better, faster… In O4 Flow there will be a place for representatives of both types of personalities, because we are beautifully different and our differences in character complement us – emphasizes Dominika Rossa. – Sometimes we need a pat on the shoulder, other times we need the proverbial kick in the butt. Sometimes we want to hear, “Don’t worry, you can do it,” and sometimes we want to hear, “Try again and you can do it anyway.” And that’s what we found out in the research we conducted. In O4 Flow, however, you will most often hear “Let’s do it together” –Adds.

 

In terms of the number of women in senior positions, Poland ranks second in Europe and 9th in Europe. in the world. More and more often, women are starting their own businesses and developing their businesses. Despite the fact that, as research shows*, more and more women are being promoted and more and more often decide to continue their professional careers after starting a family, they do not give up additional responsibilities related to their private life. The results clearly indicate that women tend to take on (for various reasons) not only professional but also private responsibilities, and thus work much more than 40 hours a week.

 

“That is why we are creating a place where they can work when they want and how they want, while having contact with people who share similar experiences and strengthening the competences that are necessary today to increase competitiveness on the labour market. A lawyer and an accountant will be on duty at O4 Flow. We will guarantee residents access to the platform with business and marketing knowledge. We will focus on networking meetings and events deepening know-how. We have designed, for example: Session Room, a space dedicated to individual meetings with a coach, personal trainer, psychologist, mediator, but also a dietician or speech therapist – says Dominika Rossa.

 

GENTLEMEN ARE ALSO FLOW

By launching O4 Flow, Gdańsk’s Olivia Business Centre and O4 Coworking have joined the ranks of global pioneers and innovators. It will not only be the first coworking space for women in our country, but also in this part of Europe. Even before the official opening, O4 Flow started cooperation with its closest neighbour, a women’s coworking space in Berlin. But it’s not about the top spot. Coworking, by definition, allows us to work together, thanks to which we achieve better results by using m.in. strengths or competences of different people in the team. The key issue, from the perspective of many women, is that being together they can count on support. This is important, considering the fact that women have a greater need for community and relationality than men. Coworking for women is not discrimination against men – as some people will think. It is a place where men are welcome and needed. No change – and women’s coworking is considered to be such – can take place without the participation of men. O4 Flow is therefore intended to be an inclusive space.

 

– A woman is supposed to be the center of attention. To meet its needs, we prepare an offer of workshops, inspiring meetings and substantive trainings. This absolutely does not mean that we isolate ourselves. Many men are already supporting our initiative. There are those who would love to join women’s coworking, we cordially invite you Rossa encourages. – In O4 Flow, there is a place for businesses run, managed or owned by women, but men are also their employees, clients, contractors, advisors, business partners. We will certainly benefit from their knowledge and experience. There will be no shortage of gentlemen at Flow.

 

FLOW, AS IT IS, EVERYONE CAN FEEL

With ladies in mind and with the participation of ladies, the interiors of O4 Flow have been designed. The arrangement works were preceded by research and surveys, whose respondents considered the Scandinavian style to be the one that should dominate in women’s coworking.

 

– This style is associated with naturalness, simplicity and subdued colours. But also with sustainable development and respect for the natural environment – says Dagmara Czarnobaj-Zielińska from the Desire studio, the designer of O4 Flow. – I wanted to maintain a balance between Scandinavian moderation and a sense of coziness of hygge. Here we are supposed to feel good and feel like being here. I hope that with simple measures we will be able to make the residents feel a sense of belonging to this place, that they will feel the flow here, thanks to which they will develop themselves, their passions and businesses. I believe in this project, that’s why I decided to collaborate on it and eventually I will be a member of O4 Flow – Laughs.

 

FLOW HAS MANY COLORS

First of all, it is a concept on the border of positive psychology and psychology of motivation. The creator of the concept is Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, according to whom flow is a state between satisfaction and euphoria, caused by the total dedication of an activity. On the basis of Csíkszentmihálya’s flow theory, for example, the cult computer game “Flow” was created. Secondly, in parkour terminology, flow means the fluidity of movements. Thirdly, in the colloquial understanding, it means fluency, commitment, positive attitude, optimism, freedom in thinking and acting, ease, “being on a roll”, feeling that “I am doing well” and that I have a good contact with the interlocutor. The name of the coworking space for women and its graphic sign perfectly reflect the assumptions that guide this modern space.

 

According to the founders of the women’s coworking space, O4 Flow – with its name and logo – is to communicate the smoothness of business and personal development. It should also emphasize the optimal conditions for achieving success in an atmosphere of support and acceptance. It is also important to incorporate elements of the O4 Coworking logo into the O4 Flow logo. This movement is meant to emphasize the coexistence and completion of both entities; O4 Flow is an integral, but autonomous part of O4 Coworking. The colour scheme of the sign refers to the style of the interior.

 

OPENING O4 FLOW

The opening meeting and debate of O4 Flow were attended by m.in. Olga Kozierowska , trainer and mentor, founder of the first Polish organization working for women’s entrepreneurship and promotion of their success in business, called Success Written in Lipstick; Marta Moksa, Managing Director at O4 Coworking; Natalia Hatalska , trend analyst, founder of infuture hatalska foresight institute; Dominic Ross, Head of O4 Flow. The ladies spoke m.in. about the power of community, the need for courage in action, the need for equality in private and professional life, the importance of intuition and teamwork.

 

About people

– People are the key to any good business. And I see this community as a huge strength, also of the coworking space we are currently in – Marta Moksa emphasized.

 

– I built the Fresight institute with my team. We wouldn’t really be where we are today if we weren’t a team. I wouldn’t be able to do it alone. It’s fantastic because every person in our team is completely different and each has different competences. That’s why we can do anything as a team – said Natalia Hatalska.

 

About intuition:

– In business, intuition is super-unpopular, but I trust my intuition and really, ladies, trust it. It is born of knowledge, of experience. There is no intuition without knowledge – encouraged Natalia Hatalska.

 

“Believing in yourself, listening to your heart and intuition, surrounding yourself with wise people, those with passion, is the recipe for success that I wish you best,” said Dominika Rossa.

 

On courage and equality

– Let’s give ourselves a chance. If 10 competencies are required for promotion, apply for the position even if you have 50 or 30 percent of them. When, as women, we set the bar so high that we have to meet 100 percent of the requirements to submit a resume, it means that the position is too low for us. It’s not worth it. You Will Not Evolve – encouraged Olga Kozierowska.

 

“Feminism is when men and women fight together for a better and equal world,” Hatalska summed up the meeting.

 

O4 COWORKING

O4 Flow is part of O4 Coworking, one of the largest and most dynamically developing coworking spaces in Poland. O4 Coworking is 5000 sqm of space ideally suited to the various needs of companies and industries. There will be extremely prestigious places here, with a view of the entire Tri-City from the 13th floor, places where you can feel at ease, walk your dog to work, loud and quiet places – so that everyone can find the perfect place for themselves. It is a space addressed to everyone, without any formal requirements, inviting both startups, novice entrepreneurs, as well as mature or developing entrepreneurs. The O4 Coworking space is not only a place to work, but also a huge number of acceleration projects supporting startups, development projects for students and young entrepreneurs, and above all, a place for meetings and networking. The O4 Coworking space houses over 80 companies from 7 different countries.

 

PRACTICALLY ABOUT FLOW

Area: over 500 m2. Address: Al. Grunwaldzka 472, Gdansk. The space is located in the business heart of the Tri-City, in the Olivia Business Centre, in the Olivia Gate A building, at 1. Floor. The entrance is both from Al. Grunwaldzka Street as well as from the OBC patio.

 

^{*”Women and Men at Home”, Public Opinion Research Centre, September 2018}

About O4 FLOW

 

Project partner:

JYSK

Project:

Desire Sudio Interior Design

Cooperation:

Dream Studio, Zdrojewscy Flower Shop

 

Piotr Łobodziński, World Champion in Towerrunning as a guest of Olivia Business Centre

This meeting was the most awaited by the participants registered for the second edition of the charity staircase run Star Challenge 2019. Piotr Łobodziński – the most titled Towerrunner of the world, World, European and Polish Champion and 4-time winner of the World Cup, as well as the winner of the famous races on the Emipre State Building in New York and the Eiffel Tower in Paris was a special guest of Olivia Business Centre.

– On the final straight to the Star Challenge, the most important thing seems to be the summary of the work and the strategy of the run. Piotr, who is the Ambassador of the event for the second time, not only took us to the fascinating world of the most prestigious events, but above all shared tips that can be described as a way to win – admits Dagmara Rybicka, Communication Manager of Olivia Business Centre, with a smile.

The meeting in the Sky Club in Olivia Tower began with the theoretical part, after which the participants had the opportunity to train under the supervision of the Master on the Olivia Star staircase, where the run will be held on December 1 .

– There was a lot of advice and interesting observations that I would like to apply when improving last year’s result. In stair running, technique, analysis of the cage in which we race and a bit of cunning are important, thanks to which we have a chance to outrun physically stronger rivals – sums up the participant of the meeting.

Piotr Łobodziński did not want to reveal how long it would take him to climb the 34 floors of Olivia Star, but he assured that it will be possible to find out in the next edition of the event. This year, plans to play together, which measures help by floors, were thwarted by the start in Asia.

The competition will be held in five categories. Star Sprint, in which the competitors will race from level zero, finishing in 34th place. Star Ultra , during which participants will climb 34 floors three times, Uniformed Star Sprint , which requires you to face the distance Sprint in full uniform, and Star Challenge, where you have to run as many floors as possible for 120 minutes. The grande finale of the event is the Olivia Business Centre Residents’ Cup, in which 3-person company teams will compete for a unique trophy made by Blind Children from the Centre in Sobieszewo and the artist Alicja Stańska.

Read more
about the unique trophy and how the Star Challenge is supported by Artists and Masters.

YOU CAN STILL SIGN UP FOR THE STAR CHALLENGE HERE

You are cordially invited! Sign up your relay race
to the Star Challenge Resident Cup.

WHY? BECAUSE WE HELP IN OLIVIA WITH YOU WE MEASURE FLOORS, AND THE CUP IS UNIQUE!

• In addition to the health benefits:) and in addition to the spirit of competition, we simply HELP TOGETHER.
• Each floor run is a zloty donated to the charges of the Centre for Early Development Support for Blind and Visually Impaired Children in Sobieszewo. You can also go up the first floor on foot, the important thing is that there will be 723 stairs behind us:)
• The cup is special! This year, it was made at the Stańska Art Gallery in Warsaw and at the special invitation of Alicja Stańska by children from the centre in Sobieszewo. The co-creators of the work are artists, sculptor Miłosława Skoczek-Śliwińska and Grzegorz Cysewski, the only representative of the Diesel Punk trend in Poland.

HOW TO SUBMIT A RELAY RACE?

• All you have to do is click HERE

  , select “OBC RESIDENT CUP” and proceed to the payment (it’s 199 PLN for three players).

SOME USEFUL INFORMATION

• The team can run in, but they can also go up to the 34th floor.
• A company can enter any number of 3-person teams, each of the registered teams starts individually. To save your team,
  just click HERE
  🙂
• Athletes from the team are registered to start in the Star Ultra relay. Each competitor covers the distance once: from level 0 to the 34th floor, after descending to level 0, he passes the baton to the next competitor and the next competitor starts.
• The total time is the sum of the times achieved by the 3 riders, which gives the final result in the classification.
• The main prize is an amazing OBC Resident Cup.
• Each person taking part in the relay will receive an occasional T-shirt , a voucher for a meal after the race, a bib number, and a commemorative medal after crossing the finish line .

WE INVITE YOU ONCE AGAIN, BECAUSE TOGETHER WE CAN DO MORE.

Click HERE

Please join us! Register your relay team for the Star Challenge Residents Cup.

WHAT FOR? BECAUSE AT OLIVIA WE MEASURE HELP WITH FLOORS, AND OUR CUP IS UNIQUE!

• In addition to health benefits 🙂 and the spirit of competition, we simply HELP together.
• Each floor you reach means one zloty donated to the children from the Centre for blind children in Sobieszewo. A floor can also be reached by walking, as long as you will climb 723 stairs 🙂
• The cup is unique! This year it was created at Stanska Art Galery in Warsaw, at the special invitation of Alicja Stańska, by children from the centre in Sobieszewo. Co-creators of the work are artists, a sculptor Miłosława Skoczek-Śliwińska and Grzegorz Cysewski, the only representative of the Diesel Punk trend in Poland.

HOW TO REGISTER A TEAM?

• Just
  click HERE,
  select the “OBC RESIDENTS CUP” when choosing the category and go to payment (PLN 199 for three players).

SOME USEFUL INFORMATION

• The team may run, but it may also walk up the 34^th floor.
• A company can register any number of 3-person teams, each of the registered teams starts individually. Just
  click HERE
  to register a team 🙂
• The team players are signed up for the start in the Star Ultra relay. Each player runs the distance once: from level 0 to floor 34; after going down to level 0, the player passes the baton to the next player and the next player starts.
• The total time is the sum of the times obtained by 3 players, which gives the final result in the classification.
• The main prize is the amazing OBC Residents cup.
• Each participant in the relay will receive in the starter pack a commemorative t-shirt, a voucher for a meal after the race, a competition number, and, after passing the finish line, a commemorative medal.

ONCE AGAIN WE ASK YOU TO JOIN US BECAUSE TOGETHER WE CAN DO MORE.

Click HERE

She’s a debutante, he’s a debutant. Joint trainings, similar motivation and the same huge effort. Magda Piskorska from Olivia Business Centre and Sławek Lamparski from Amazon talk about the running adventure in the Olivia Sports group, fears just before the start and the incredible story that gave wings on the route of the Amber Expo Half Marathon in Gdańsk.

Sławek, a successful half marathon?

Sławek: I ran another personal best – after a four-year break I managed to improve my result in the seventh half marathon in which I competed. I crossed the finish line in 1:23:57.

How long have you been running?

Slawek: It’s hard to say, because in the beginning it was my mom who made me run on the beach (laughs). She took care of her form, because the school my brother and I went to received a subsidy bonus for each success of the students. After a long break, I resumed training in 2013 to prepare for triathlon.

What happened on the route?

Sławek: I was running with a group that I knew from various competitions, but the pace was definitely set by competitors with experience in half marathons. They know how to do it, which can’t be said about the rookies, who paid for their lack of experience with the fact that they swelled up in the following kilometers.

Magda, how did you start? Did you have a plan, did you know what to do?

Magda: Not at all, what’s more, I borrowed a watch that I didn’t know how to use at all (laughs). I managed to finish with a time of 2.10 and 18 seconds.

The beginning of a new adventure or a return to the running paths?

Magda: I’ve always been active and liked to run in the woods recreationally. In February, I got injured while windsurfing, I completely tore my cruciate ligament, but I decided not to give up moving. I started training at City Fit under the guidance of a trainer who, like me, struggled with such an injury, so the plan he prepared was a support and strengthening for this leg. I took a risk, I took up the challenge of a half marathon, which I paid for with a lot of stress.

What were you afraid of?

Magda: Starting a half marathon is a serious matter. The day before, I couldn’t sleep, the distance seemed horrible to me. Thousands of thoughts of what might happen to the route. I tried to convince myself that it was fun. In the middle of the run I saw the 2.10 balloons, I got so much power that I stayed behind them.

How did it happen that you started training together?

Magda: The trainings took place as part of the Olivia Sports running group. Already at the first meeting, coaches Iwona and Piotr Suchenia divided us into two groups based on an 8-kilometer test, which showed who is light and fast, and who has more difficulty.

Slawek: It all really depended on the level of preparation that the participants had. The coach explained to us that the base was needed because there were 60 days left until the start. Without training facilities, it was difficult to get into this program, which I felt myself. I’ve been on a road bike for most of the season, and although I was prepared to breathe, my legs didn’t want to serve as they should. For the first two weeks I trained with some reserve, wanting to enter this cycle calmly.

Did everyone have the same training plan?

Magda: That was the assumption. In practice, I tried to systematically participate in trainings, adjusting to the level of effort that was planned for Tuesdays. During the week, I fought on my own, which in my case required excellent logistics.

What was your biggest problem?

Magda: I’m a mother of two preschool children, so you understand that in this situation, finding 40 minutes to run is a success.

Has running turned out to be an escape from your duties?

Magda: A huge one, which introduced a lot of balance and a feeling that the world does not revolve only around children. Running helps me a lot – I come out tired and nervous, and I come back cheerful, happy and with solutions to problems that seemed insurmountable. Medicine for body and soul (laughs)!

Sławek, is it the same with you?

Sławek: Yes, running has become important to me. I used to coach basketball, which I was very fond of. I absorbed knowledge from magazines and from friends, but after some time I felt that if I wanted to find myself in a team discipline, I should activate all the elements that are needed for it. On top of that, there were fears that I wouldn’t be able to develop athletically, physically and mentally, so when one day I saw my lecturer from college taking part in a triathlon, I felt I had to give it a try. It turned out that running is my strongest point!

Is Olivia’s group a help for a debutant?

Magda: During training, my group was a great support. If it hadn’t been for them, I probably would have quit at some point. As it usually happens, there would be an obstacle – maybe children, maybe just laziness, but so the workouts fit perfectly into my weekly schedule, keeping me in check and motivating me. On top of that, an incredible story happened to me at the start. On the route, a girl ran up to me – Magda from Sii, who said “hello neighbor”. We started talking and she, an experienced runner, created such an amazing atmosphere that I managed to survive the most difficult moment.

At what kilometer did the crisis appear?

Magda: Between the 12th and 15th kilometer, I had a thought about how far I still had to run.

Sławek: I was surprised by the problems I had with absorbing the gel. I bought a huge one and every time I tried to pull it in I gagged. From the 10th to the 11th kilometer I was fighting how to push it. I wanted to eat it whole – it didn’t work, so I threw it and stained the volunteer from whom I took a cup of water.

Magda: Great volunteers were really exposed to being hit by a cup or an uneaten gel. But they didn’t give up, for which we are grateful!

Slawek: In order to redeem myself, I feel that I have to become a volunteer!

Is the toilet on the route normal?

Magda: Yes, and there are queues for them.

Slawek: It’s a matter of nutrition before the start.

Have you changed your eating habits?

Magda: Just before the start they are very pleasant, you can finally eat carbohydrates, because that’s what the coach says. On Saturday I ate pasta with a clear conscience (laughs).

Slawek: In the last week before the half marathon, I tried to experiment and see how my body would react when I completely deprived it of sugar and ate my last meal no later than 7:00 p.m. I lost a kilo and a half, which certainly helped me get a better time.

Piotr Suchenia didn’t encourage people to conquer the poles?

Magda: He said that running a marathon at the pole is the cheapest option to explore it!

What are your startup plans? Will we see you in March at the start of the World Championships in Gdynia?

Slawek: I’m already enrolled!

Magda: Yes, if the Olivia Sports running group gathers and the trainings are on Tuesdays. For me, winter training is difficult – I have a sinus problem and when I breathe in cold air, I get sick immediately.

After the World Championships, will the challenge be a marathon?

Magda: Never in my life (laughs)! In the next half marathon I would like to go under 2 hours, Slawek, do you think it is possible?

Slawek: No problem, I think. I was surprised when I saw the result – my goal was to go under an hour and thirty minutes. The week before the race, I took part in a 5k parkrun where I ran so fast that I set my second fastest time. After calculations using various indicators, it turned out that I was able to do this personal best. And it worked! I have a few challenges in mind, so maybe I’ll stand at the start line of the marathon in Gdańsk and Warsaw. Time will tell!

Interviewed by: Dagmara Rybicka, Olivia Business Centre

Effective on marathon routes, a year ago he would not have thought that he would ever stand at the starting line. He dreams of the “big six” of the most prestigious races in the world, which even professional runners describe as the crowning achievement of a sporting journey at the royal distance. What are 42 kilometers compared to the tasks that a programmer faces on a daily basis – reveals Jacek Martuzalski from Sii, the fastest Hero of the 10 Magnificent Olivia Business Centre.

Will you take part in the World Half Marathon Championships in March in Gdynia?

Yes, and I’d like to make it to the finish line under 1:35.

A special training plan?

Preparing for a specific race, I run up to 6 times a week. At my peak, I cover about 100 – 120 kilometers a week.

Under the guidance of a trainer, does experience allow you to create a cycle of preparation on your own?

I started last year (laughs). In the spring, my wife took me out on my first running paths, and a moment later, literally a month after my first start, an e-mail appeared in the company’s inbox about the #siiruns40wm campaign. As part of the Passion Sponsorship Program, which strongly supports a large group of runners on a daily basis, Sii was looking for 40 volunteers to take part in the 40th Marathon Marathon. PZU Warsaw Marathon: 40 people for the 40th edition of the run, who will collect 40 thousand for the Rak & Roll Foundation. I applied, again at my wife’s urging, although at first I thought I wouldn’t be able to do it.

Do you have a sporting past?

No. I’ve always tried to stay in shape, but I’ve never done any discipline on a major scale. I think running is in my blood, because I can see that I’m doing quite well.

How long did it take you to start for the first time?

I started running in March, and the marathon was on September 30th. This year I’ve really taken off – there were marathons, a few half marathons and “nozzles”.

At what time?

It takes me 45 minutes.

Talent was born!

Without exaggeration, it’s still a long way from the professional level (laughs).

So what time would satisfy you at this distance?

I don’t have any plans, I’m just concentrating on running a sub-3 hour marathon. The last one, which I ran in the spring, I finished with a good time of 3:43 – I think it would be a bit better at the moment, but I didn’t decide to start in the fall, so I’ll test myself next year.

Is a marathon the crowning achievement for a runner?

For some, it certainly is. There are many shorter and longer runs, but I feel like the marathon distance is magical. You need to prepare for it, and just as a half marathon is within reach for someone who regularly runs tens, you need to undergo reliable training up to 42 kilometers.

Did you prepare for your debut with your coach?

Yes, the Sii company I work for provided us with a professional trainer. Bartek Olszewski, known as a Warsaw runner, and his wife, Kasia Gorlo, from the Run the World blog, took up the challenge. Two really cool and experienced trainers have a lot of successes on running routes. Bartek won “Wings for Life” and has a world record to his name, so he knows a lot about running! Kasia too.

Did you train in Gdansk?

Kasia and Bartek are from Warsaw. That is why the supervision of the preparation cycle was possible mainly online, because each Sii branch fielded several players, so it was difficult to organize regular and joint trainings, although two such trainings took place in Warsaw anyway. Unfortunately, I couldn’t take part in them, but my colleagues from work told me when I came back that it was fantastic.

How large was the representation of the Gdańsk branch of Sii?

If I remember correctly, 5 runners at the start.

Were you a diligent student? Have you taken your workouts seriously?

From the very beginning, I understood that 42 kilometers is no joke. I tried to implement all the coach’s tips, even too zealously at first – I trained too hard and ended up with an injury and exclusion from training for 3 weeks. Luckily, I managed to come back and finish this marathon in less than 4 hours – probably quite good for a debut (laughs).

Has a new, great adventure begun?

Yes, and it quickly turned into a passion. The feelings at the finish line are hard to describe. There is a great deal of fatigue and incredible joy. Initially, you don’t have to keep running, but when you cool down and catch your breath, you start to believe that there are no limits and you can do anything. Look, 4 hours of running for someone who sits at a desk is half a day’s work.

Did you have any moments of doubt on the road?

Amazingly, the first marathon went smoothly. I felt tired, but I didn’t experience the so-called wall during my debut.

When did you face it?

During the next race, for which I didn’t prepare so thoroughly. I now know that this was a mistake that I will not repeat in the future.

What happened?

A trip to the marathon in Stockholm was also organized by Sii. More and more people are showing interest in being active, so the company is trying to implement a wide range of opportunities for runners – proposed by them. For several years now, the Passion Sponsorship Program has been in operation, under which since last year a list of races in Poland and abroad has been kept, for which Sii buys packages for employees. As part of it, I had the opportunity to run a marathon and a half marathon in Sweden. There are more of us: nearly 70 runners are going to the aforementioned Half Marathon in Gdynia in March 2020! We are the largest corporate representation to date.

How long did you close this marathon with a crisis?

4 hours, and in the meantime in Poland I did a personal best – 3:43. Now I think I haven’t thought about the starts. In April, I was preparing for the Gdańsk Marathon and after it I completely gave up, convinced that I would be able to cope with the form I had done in June. It turned out that it was too long a break in training, because I ran far below the assumptions. At the 36th kilometer my legs stopped cooperating, after a few hundred meters I had to slow down and switch to walking. It wasn’t until I saw the marker that there were less than 5 kilometers left that I believed that I would be able to run further.

The finish, where the body refuses to obey and there is a fight with the head, seems longer?

It is said that the magic limit is the 32nd kilometer and after that, the problems begin. I’ve only hit the only wall so far at the 36th kilometer, so I guess it’s an individual matter.

Why 32?

It seems to me that there is a crisis after three-quarters of the distance. In the same way, in the ten runs, the last two kilometers are the most difficult, in the five kilometers before the finish line – the end is the most difficult to overcome at each distance.

How do you reconcile such demanding workouts with work?

I think that’s the hardest part! On the one hand, there is self-denial, on the other, there is time expenditure, because training is at least one hour taken out of the day. I try to run in the evening and more and more often instead of concrete there is a forest. I bought a headlamp plus my dog has grown up enough to become my companion.

Can it handle such a distance?

I run about 5 – 6 kilometers with my dog. When I have longer runs, I do them myself.

Longer, i.e. the full distance of a marathon?

No, it doesn’t make any sense in training, because you get too tired. No school recommends running the whole distance, up to 32 kilometers is enough, of course not every day (laughs). I try to do a maximum of 27 kilometers.

When you run, do you think about work?

It happens when I have a problem and there have been times when I have solved it in the middle of a run. I’m a programmer, so the collision of these two worlds is conducive – it completely unlocks the head, allows you to go into a slightly different dimension, which then translates into effectiveness in action.

The gentleman behind the desk becomes a marathon runner: family, friends very surprised?

My life hasn’t changed that much, except that I have to find time to train. The proportions are similar – there is family, home, work and friends, and in my free time I run. A novelty are the starts, which require travel. That’s when the weekend falls, but luckily I’m often accompanied by my family, so I don’t feel a sense of loss. Recently we were together in Krakow, now we are planning a trip to Italy and Prague, so it promises to be interesting.

Do you have a sporting dream?

There are the big six: Berlin, London, Tokyo, Chicago, New York and Boston, described as the crowning achievement of the marathon journey. It is difficult to sign up for these races – the easiest way is to report to the organizer, who provides the entire trip. The second is to participate in a draw or prove that you have a good time. The requirements are quite high, really out of my reach. There is one more loophole, which is participation in a charity event and a fundraiser for a given organization, which then allocates one of its packages, and this in turn requires time to collect a predetermined amount during the fundraiser. As far as I’m concerned, that’s the plan I’d like to implement without pressure. I started from London, unfortunately I didn’t manage to get on the start list. I’ve got a draw to Berlin ahead of me, so I’m counting on your fingers to help me make my biggest dream come true there. After that, I think it’s going to be downhill (laughs)!

 

Interviewed by Dagmara Rybicka, Olivia Business Centre

Ilona Gradus’ fantastic form, a proposal at the finish line and 10 thousand zlotys run for a centre for blind children in Sobieszewo – once again it is the Star Challenge of Olivia Business Centre that starts Christmas in Pomerania.

There were surprises and unexpected twists and turns. Cristina Bonacina from Italy, who was tipped as the favorite in the Ultra category, had to acknowledge the sports dominance of Ilona Gradus, who went down in the history of the race for good, also winning the Sprint category.

Emotions accompanied the competitors and fans from the very morning. The first to appear at the start were the Start Challenge runners, whose goal was to overcome as many floors as possible within 120 minutes in the highest building of Polish Northern Olivia Star. Among the ladies, Olga Sobocińska triumphed, running 11 laps, Beata Dembińska was second, and Dominika Witkowska was third.

In the men’s competition, Jacquard Jorsi from France checked in 16 times on the 34th floor, ahead of Mariusz Klapenda and Łukasz Józefiak.

The fastest woman in the Sprint turned out to be Ilona Gradus, who with a time of 5:14.65 left behindKatarzyna Butowska and Katarzyna Wróbel. The fastest man, Mateusz Marunowski , took 3:47.50 minutes to cover 180 meters on 723 stairs. Right behind him at the finishing line appeared Kacper Mrowiec and Mickael Pourcelot.

In Ultra, the favorites did not disappoint. On the podium stood Ilona Gradus, Cristina Bonacina and Katarzyna Butowska. Another Star Challenge statuette was collected by Mickael Pourcelot, ahead of Paweł Zakowicz and Piotr Dembicki.

– In the Olivia Business Centre Residents’ Cup

, the AirHelp team, composed of Jan Meisner, Jakub Dulko and Ariadana Martines,

turned out to be beyond the reach of their rivals . The next places on the podium were taken by two relay teams representing the company Thyssenkrup. The fight was fierce and even, and the main prize in this year’s edition of the event was a sculpture made and awarded by the artist Alicja Stańska, Grzegorz Cysewski and Miłosława Śliwińska“A jumper with the little charges of the centre in Sobieszewo ,” says Dagmara Rybicka, Communication Manager at Olivia Business Centre.

There were also moments of emotion. There were red roses, music, champagne, confetti and a proposal at the very top, which was chosen by a participant of the Uniformed category, a firefighter from Sobieszewo. When he heard this, there seemed to be no end to the applause. The elements of the unique setting of the event were taken care of by Olivia Star Top, the operator of the top three floors in Olivia Star.

– We are very pleased that our space exudes a good aura and is conducive to such special moments. After all, Olivia Star is not only a place for business meetings, but also for unforgettable moments with your loved ones – explains Krystyna Hartenberger – Pater Head of International Sales, Marketing & PR.

The primacy in the Uniformed category belonged to Iwona Kowalska (6:51) and Piotr Dembicki (4:06)

The originator and organizer of the event is Olivia Business Centre. The combination of sports competition with the passion to help once again under the aegis of the International Towerrunning Federation meant that representatives of France, Italy, Belarus, Great Britain, Russia and Polish entered the start of this unique race.

– I’m very impressed with the competition in Gdansk. I’ve run in different places around the world, but I admit that Olivia Business Centre will be the place where I’ll be happy to come back next year. It was very good that I was able to compete for a good cause and help blind children with my passion for running – said Cristina Bonacina from Italy.

In total, all the competitors ran 10 thousand zlotys for the Centre in Sobieszewo. As they emphasized at the finish line, it was the awareness of who they were running for that added motivation, because there was no shortage of difficult moments on the route.

– We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for a beautiful day and a lot of good that we managed to bring out of people’s hearts. We hope that this is the beginning of a common adventure and meetings in Sobieszewo. The runners and Olivia Business Centre gave the children and their families a wonderful, unforgettable surprise, and the collected funds are a great help for us – emphasized Sister Ida, the founder and leader of the Center.

ENGLISH VERSION

SEE RESULTS

SEE THE PHOTO GALLERY ON FB STAR CHALLENGE

The Honorary Patrons of the second edition of the Star Challenge are the Mayor of the City of Gdańsk and the Marshal of the Pomeranian Voivodeship.

Media patronage: trojmiasto.pl, Radio Gdańsk, Together and Dziennik Bałtycki. The partners of the event are Alior Bank, Bayer, DoSportNow.com, Advertis, Bergson, MacLife, STBU Insurance Brokers, BMG Goworowski, InDreams, Eska radio, Złote Przeboje radio, gdansk.pl, Towerrunning World Association.

 

 

Comics – which until recently were attributed only to “nerds” and “geeks” – are now mainstream. For several years now, we have been flooded with great film productions based on comic books, so it is hard to find a person who would not know Batman, Superman or another “man”. However, there was a time when comics were subject to censorship that even a superhero could not win.

In the early 1940s. In the 1980s, there was a real boom for superheroes in America. Comic books aimed at young readers abounded in political and social content, often serving the purpose of… propaganda. The creators of the comics often drew inspiration from police records and described actual crimes – so the editions were full of violence and brutality, which only helped to sell them. Therefore, voices quickly appeared about the harmfulness of such content and its demoralizing impact on young minds. The aftermath of anti-comic propaganda was the Comics Code Authority, adopted in 1954, which imposed a number of requirements on content and images. Despite the fact that the introduction of the code severely limited creativity and freedom of creation, there were publishing houses that turned the limitations into success. The codex didn’t apply to other planets, so Marvel and DC began to create heroes who would fight in space or even in other dimensions. New characters were created to inspire teenagers and show that anyone can be a superhero. This is how the lonely and struggling Peter Parker became Spider-man, the blind boy Matt became Daredevil fighting evil, and the orphaned Bruce Wayne became the best detective in the world – Batman.

Today, the publishing market abounds in comics of all contents. You can find here crime, horror, fantasy and even romance. On the covers of comic books we can find the names of great writers such as Nail Gaiman or Stephen King. We can also find comic versions favorite books – for example, “The Witcher” by Andrzej Sapkowski. So if you’ve never got your hands on a comic book, let Public Comic Book Reading Day be the beginning of a great adventure. We recommend 5 comics from the American classics of the genre that you simply have to read! However, if you are familiar with this form and your home library is overwhelmed by comic books (like mine!), recommend your favorite works to us!

TOP 5. Start reading comics.

• “Batman: The Long Halloween” (recommended, if you like reading detective stories! You can even try to solve the mystery in front of Batman – will you face it? The creators, Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, are one of the most famous duos in the comic book world.)
• “Old Man Logan” (tells the story of the old Wolverine – but don’t worry, you don’t need to know other comics to like this story).
• “Moonknight” (great series about an as-yet-unknown superhero, we recommend it if you have little time to read).
• “Parker” (an adaptation of the book “Parker” by Richard Stark, we recommend it for fans of thrillers and crime novels. Worth a look, if only to admire Darwin Cooke’s hand-drawn pictures).
• “A New Frontier” (this is where you’ll start your adventure with the Justice League and befriend heroes such as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman).

Ela Nowak, Communication Team Olivia Business Centre

On the 32nd floor, Olivia Top Star hypnotized the audience with his “Autumn Waltz”. His YouTube is full of sounds that he describes as light and understandable to any ear. Inspired by the classics, he relaxes by playing Beethoven and Chopin, challenging himself to Liszt’s technically demanding “Second Hungarian Rhapsody”. Full of contradictions – that’s what you can say about Alexander Stupnikov from Schibsted. A programmer from St. Petersburg who, although he has romantic music in his heart, is no stranger to a bicycle and kilometer records for a noble cause.

More often on a bicycle or at the piano?

My greatest passion is the piano, I have been playing it for 14 years. I discovered the bike quite recently, it happened in connection with moving to the Tri-City. The world from the perspective of two wheels is extremely addictive, but I’m sure that my heart will stay with the music.

A conservatory graduate?

A computer scientist and self-taught musician who loves to play (laughs)! I was 13 years old when I first saw the piano at school and felt drawn to it. I started pressing the keys, trying to play something, I was going through those beginnings on my own. Then, for two years, I trained with a teacher who focused on arousing my sensitivity and perfecting my technique, while I also learned the notation on my own.

Passion from the beginning, but with a dream of concert halls?

Definitely a passion, because that’s the only way I’ve seen a hobby that draws me in every day. From the very beginning I was composing music – at first very easy melodies with simple harmony, with time I managed to create songs at a decent level.

Is music a generational tradition in your family?

No. My mother tried to play the guitar in her youth, but it was only a cameo. Where did it come from for me? I have no idea.

Do you put your compositions in a drawer, do you share them with the world?

I’m slowly starting to publish them on my YouTube channel, under the pseudonym Aleksander Rubelski. I put there both compositions and covers of popular songs.

Who inspires you musically?

Invariably classical – I really like Beethoven and Chopin, but turning into popular and modern music everything that is happening on the world music scene.

How long did it take to compose the waltz, which we listened to with bated breath in the scenery of the 32nd floor of Olivia Star TOP?

“Autumn Waltz” took me about a week, I composed it while living in Warsaw. The beautiful, golden Polish autumn became an inspiration, and I, enjoying this view, translated the sensations into sounds.

Did you start with sheet music?

No, that happened later. In the beginning there were sounds. Playing as if casually and writing down in my memory what I heard. Then I added some small accents and moved on to the notation, which is important because memory can be different (laughs).

Why the waltz?

I don’t know, it was rather a coincidence, although I admit that I love the waltz. It was one of the first songs I ever made. Of course, it was simple at the time, but my mother liked it very much. Besides, I come from St. Petersburg, a city that has been associated with balls and beautiful dance halls for centuries, which inevitably imposes the continuation of tradition.

Speaking of tradition, can you waltz?

Unfortunately, no. I can compose, but I prefer to avoid dancing (laughs)!

 

What is your vision of the future – a computer keyboard or piano keys?

We’ll see what fate brings. I am at the beginning of my professional career, which gives me a lot of satisfaction. The Schibsted company where I work is a place where I can fulfill myself and, most importantly, develop. At the same time, however, I am ready to combine work with making music. I’m happy to share my compositions, which I’m happy to share.

A pragmatic computer scientist who has music in his soul?

Let’s not forget that music is based on a bit of math. It has its own rules that I try to follow in every song. Possibilities are imposed on me by the style in which I compose. For example, the modernism of the twentieth century, in which artists tried to depart from the prevailing rules, made these rules less restrictive. I stick to a more traditional style – light music that is easy to understand, in which the requirement is to stick to the basic rules, so that the whole thing sounds sensible to every listener.

Which composer do you think is the most difficult to play?

It seems to me that Ferenc Liszt, who treated the piano like an orchestra, tried to give it this sound in his works. So far I’m able to play the first part of his “Second Hungarian Rhapsody”, I’m slowly struggling with the second one. The whole thing is technically complex, so it requires good skills from the pianist.

Are the basics enough, or do you need perfect technique? When can you take on the challenge of playing Liszt?

Definitely the technique. Liszt created the final etudes “Transcendental”, which immediately expose the deficiencies in training. It is different with Chopin, who is also very difficult, but fortunately gives room for expressing emotions, as befits a Romantic composer.

Do you have a favourite musical era?

Yes, it is romanticism. I think there’s a lot of romance in me!

Suddenly, you swapped your piano for a bicycle saddle, what happened?

Together with the company’s team, I had the opportunity to take part in a charity event in which Schibsted “valued” every kilometer traveled. The threshold was 5,000 kilometers and it turned out that we managed to cover 450 kilometers. We donated the collected money to a shelter for homeless animals.

Revelation!

Such things are possible thanks to the brilliant location of the Tri-City, which is full of bicycle paths, in insane natural surroundings. I was similarly delighted with Żuławy, where it was equally a great pleasure to have contact with nature while getting to know the hospitable region. It can be said that everything came together perfectly: a noble destination, sports and sightseeing.

When you’re riding a bike, does music also play in your soul?

This happens a lot, because during these rides, a lot of ideas come to mind. Especially when I was composing songs, there were a lot of lyrics going on in my head. I hope to present them to the public in the future – at the moment I feel that they are raw and I am not ready yet.

In Schibsted, the status of an artist?

Never in my life! Some of my friends from work found out about my passion from you tube, others found out during a company integration event that we had in May. There was a piano on the ground floor and my friends persuaded me to play something for them. When I turned around after 3 minutes, there were about 40 people standing behind me listening to the “concert”.

Do you dream of a concert hall?

I would gladly play for friends and acquaintances, inviting them into my musical world during an intimate concert.

 

Interviewed by Dagmara Rybicka, Olivia Business Centre

For the first time in a long time, I close the window that has been ajar all summer, I feel the first gusts of cool wind on my skin and more and more often I feel like wrapping myself in a warm blanket… This is a sign that autumn is inevitably approaching. So let’s take a moment to immerse ourselves in the memories of the past summer, and what doesn’t remind us of it better than “hot” movies? First, let’s spend a moment in a villa in Italy, then let’s go to sun-warmed Barcelona and end our film adventure by escaping into carefree, youthful years. Ready? Here is a subjective overview of the productions that you simply have to see in the fall!:)

“Those Days, Those Nights” directed by Luca Guadagnino is a beautiful picture of an Italian holiday filled with intellectual conversations, lazy flirtation, music and love. The film impresses with its cinematography, acting and sensual atmosphere, which cannot be faked. Don’t be fooled by the Polish title (originally: “Call Me by Your Name”), because the picture has nothing to do with a cheap, summer romance. The most important thing remains unsaid, and emotions even leak out of the screen. So if you miss the hot summer, move, at least for a moment, to a hot Italian villa.

WHERE WILL YOU WATCH? HBO GO | Chili

“Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona” directed by Woody Allen. Classically, as in Allen’s work, we can expect a dose of irony and existential revelations. The narrator slowly introduces us to the world of three women who have one thing in common: an internal struggle between a safe routine and dangerous impulses of the heart. You can smell the hot Catalan streets in the air and hear the buzz of the city of artists. The New York director shows us Barcelona through the eyes of a tourist and it’s a really beautiful view. So immerse yourself in this atmosphere (with a glass of wine!).

WHERE WILL YOU WATCH? IPLA

If you have to see only one film from this list, choose this one – “Kings of Summer” directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts. I promise you’ll be transported a little further than just last summer. To carefree teenage years, to great adventures, crazy friendships and, of course, first love. It is a warm film that delights with music, cinematography and an original script. It will warm you up better than a warm blanket and tea, fight the upcoming autumn blues and awaken the most beautiful memories.

WHERE TO WATCH: IPLA

Ela Nowak, Olivia Business Centre