Co-owner and President of the Supervisory Board, Adamed Pharma S.A.
Rozmowa z Małgorzatą Adamkiewicz - ADAMED
Transcript (15 segments)
M
Małgorzata Adamkiewicz0:12
Adamed was created from nothing, thanks to intellectual property and an idea. My father-in-law wanted to introduce a product that no one wanted to produce for him, and he came up with the idea of starting his own company. Today, Adamed has 250 products on markets in Poland and abroad. It employs 1,600 people, with approximately a billion in revenue, and has international representations where we have our own structures and sell our products in other countries around the world. I always wanted to be a doctor. I had this desire to help others. There is probably nothing cooler in life than being able to give someone a second life or restore life.
C
Colleague1:00
She liked to help others. Being in school, she often helped students with their studies, sacrificing free days to pull someone up to a better grade, to help them get a better degree. She was good at everything, only we saw that biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics were her strengths. She was a brave girl, although modest, confident, and knew what she wanted.
M
Małgorzata Adamkiewicz1:31
For 12 years, I worked as a doctor in an endocrinology clinic.
C
Colleague1:40
She came as a young doctor, making a rapid and exceptional career. What Małgosia impressed everyone with was the perfect combination of the role of mother and wife with the role of a doctor, while simultaneously specializing in internal diseases and quickly doing a doctorate. Both this scientific work, work with patients, and work related to the development of education – a doctor must constantly improve – meant that new ideas were constantly emerging that could only be realized through business. That's when Adamed began to be created.
M
Małgorzata Adamkiewicz2:20
At that time, the first Adamed products were created. Together with my husband, we started to realize subsequent products that, after some time, turned out to be a great market success. At a certain stage, it seemed to me that I couldn't do two things well at once; I couldn't be a good doctor coming to the hospital and simultaneously be the person who creates the business.
C
Colleague2:58
The departure from work of Dr. Adamkiewicz, who was a trained endocrinologist with a doctorate, is always a great loss for the hospital and for patients. However, if there are exceptional people who have the gift and can translate it into something more, then we should just applaud and cheer for this business.
M
Małgorzata Adamkiewicz3:15
I had to learn business from the beginning. I knew a bit about research and development because I did scientific work and wrote a doctoral dissertation. Then, I transferred those skills to the other side, as a doctor. I knew the expectations of doctors and patients.
C
Colleague3:36
Małgorzata did not manage the company from the beginning. She was at its head, taking care of everything necessary in the company, since Adamed was a tiny firm at the very beginning. Only later did she stand at the head of a group of young and ambitious people who wanted to achieve something in life. On the other side, we had large pharmaceutical corporations led by professional leaders. Adamed had to achieve everything on its own, and here Małgorzata's role was enormous in showing these young people that success is possible and that competing even with the largest is achievable. They always touched on things that at first glance seemed unattainable. For the first time, from Małgosia, I heard not to think about it that way. For the first time, with Małgosia, I saw that you can make a list from what are called dreams.
The desire to act, striving for goals, the ability and willingness to learn, seeking good solutions, observing what is happening outside, observing the environment – throughout this time, she developed her skills and competencies, both in business and in being a doctor.
M
Małgorzata Adamkiewicz5:00
A very important aspect is self-education and self-improvement. To create a business, you need to create the environment in which the business exists, and this requires constant improvement, discovering new areas, and creating possibilities. I follow the principle that the most important thing is creation and innovation. It is worth creating something that does not yet exist and discovering it anew, and teaching others around that this is the right direction.
C
Colleague5:31
Adamed was truly built on innovations. An innovative way, building the company on its own patents. The company invests heavily in original drugs. Developing such a drug takes over a decade and involves enormous risk, so it is never known if it will bring adequate return. Małgosia really likes to take on new business challenges. Surplus finances are invested in new, more innovative projects and products that can give the company a chance for wider development around the world.
M
Małgorzata Adamkiewicz6:07
Innovation can be in every area of business activity. It can be a completely new molecule, but it is also improving therapies already on the market. All processes in the organization can be improved; you can constantly do something better. Innovation is discovering something anew and creating new possibilities, and this truly drives business. I think Adamed is an example of this, and we try to do it every day.
E
Employee6:35
I think that Małgosia today, looking at her company, how it looked 20 years ago and how it looks today, I think she has enormous satisfaction that this Polish company managed to achieve such success, that so many people have developed and that these people are still satisfied. I am an example of a person who has worked for 19 years in one company and I am still satisfied.
The respect that Małgosia shows is the main reason why I have many colleagues in Adamed who have worked just as long as I have: 15 years, 16, 12, 11. She is a boss who, besides the business meetings we have with Małgorzata, always asks how we feel, what bothers us, and if she can help in any way. Many times, in many situations, she has proven that she helps people in our organization, whether it is health issues or other difficult situations. A leader always sees his people, those who form his team, not only at work but also outside of work, in their private lives. I think a good leader must also have a heart.
M
Małgorzata Adamkiewicz7:47
Corporate social responsibility is inscribed in the company's activities, the sense of responsibility for others. I wanted to be a doctor because I wanted to help others. Today, being in the position I am in, I have this possibility to help others. The idea of the Adam Smart program was born, the program of creating a foundation to help young people create their talents, passions, and to create cooperation opportunities between universities at a very early stage of their development. A scholarship and promotional program that aims to create the best conditions for learning and development for Polish youth. Therefore, on the occasion of Adamed's 30th anniversary this year, we equipped 30 scientific laboratories in 30 Polish schools. In addition to popularizing science, we conduct classes in soft skills, self-presentation, group work, and all that can be useful for young people, also in creating businesses, as we encourage young people not to always think only about their place being in a corporation. The most important thing in all this is to be able to realize one's own ideas in life, and if one has such ideas, the best path to self-realization is entrepreneurship. There is nothing cooler than creating something and then seeing how it looks, what its reality is. I think that Adamed was also born from this need. After many years, I can say that if a person wants something very much, believes in it, and works hard on it, they can achieve success in life, and this is what I wish for you as young people.