Economy
IN MEMORY OF ANNA HEJKA, ONE OF POLAND’S MOST ACCOMPLISHED BUSINESSWOMEN 1959-2018
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nna Hejka, a Polish entrepreneur, investment banker and one of the country’s best known business angels, died on September 9 at the age of 59, having lost her battle against lung cancer. She was managing director of the Heyka Capital Markets Group, an active businesswoman, founder of 20 companies in Europe, the United States and Asia, a board member of many companies and supervisory boards, investment banker at Salomon Brothers and vice-president of Security Pacific in New York, investment banker at JP Morgan Chase in Madrid, and analyst at Cargill in Barcelona. She was also a member of the US-Polish Trade Council, a World Bank expert, and a founding member of one of Poland’s business organisations. “It was an honour to know Anna Hejka and work with her on the book about Women Entrepreneurship Ambassadors which presents the way of thinking and activities of 21 enterprising women in Polish business conditions. One of the businesswomen featured in the book is Anna Hejka who authorised her part shortly before her death. An English language version entitled “NEVER Give up!” comes out shortly,” Urszula Ciołeszyńska, Founder and President of the “Polish Network of Women Entrepreneurship Ambassadors” told „Polish Market.” “She had profound knowledge and experience, especially in the areas of science, funds and development strategies. Nothing was too difficult for her,” Michał Lisiecki, PMPG president, recalled in an interview for one of the main Polish daily newspapers. “If I had to fly to Mars with someone, Hejka would definitely be in this team,” he said touchingly.
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At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Hejka won the title of the Global Leader of Tomorrow. She also received an award of European Association of Business Angels. In last year’s December issue, “Polish Market” carried an interview with Anna Hejka. We asked her why – in view of her company’s many international successes – not so many other Polish firms and ideas broke ground in foreign countries. “We have great scientists. What is lacking is a system of implementation. Following decades of communism, Polish firms lack confidence, not only in terms of their ability to achieve ambitious goals, but also in terms of their ability to promote the company’s image, effective marketing and PR. Polish companies do not have the ability to achieve cooperation between individual teams given the very low level of public confidence. Last but not least, entrepreneurs – and especially beginners lack understanding of the cash conversion cycle,” she told us. We also wanted to know what Anna Hejka’s views on the system of promoting innovation in Poland were. “Jobs, higher wages, civilisational progress and the country’s position in the world are all dependent on newly set up firms. These can be founded and succeed only in a well prepared ecosystem. Delays in payments from government agencies, inflexible labour markets, high operating costs, dire legal consequences of bankruptcy and high taxation create hurdles preventing the rapid growth of investment in new companies,” she said. Those who knew Anna Hejka and who appreciated her input in debates on the realities of Polish business will greatly miss her voice and • commitment.