Polish Managers Get New Tools to Tackle Bias at Work
As Poland assumed the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, the European campaign BeyondBias took a decisive step forward and made all its materials available in Polish.
Download position paper in Polish [+]
Download all the materials [+]
Beyondbias has been officially shared with EU institutions as CEC European Managers believes that inclusive leadership must be placed at the heart of Europe’s political agenda, with a particular focus on combating unconscious bias in management and recruitment.
One of the central figures behind this translation and dissemination effort is Anna Oprocha, Vice President of the FECEC Federation, which represents banking managers across Europe. Based in Poland, Anna is also a long-standing member and contributor to CEC European Managers.
Drawing from both her professional experience in the banking sector and her personal journey as a woman in leadership, she played a key role in ensuring the Polish version of the campaign retained both clarity and cultural relevance.
In a recent interview with CEC European Managers, Anna spoke candidly about the challenges she has faced as a leader (read full interview here [+]), a mother, and a union representative in Poland’s evolving workplace.
Her career, marked by resilience during periods of corporate restructuring, has also been shaped by the subtle but persistent biases women encounter.
She recalled being told that as a mother, she should be at home rather than pursuing leadership. That moment, among others, made her reflect deeply on the power of internalized bias and the structural barriers still facing women in managerial roles.
Anna’s engagement with the BeyondBias initiative began as a participant in its training sessions, but quickly evolved into an advocacy role.
She felt that the materials offered not only practical tools but also a chance for real mindset change. From her point of view, the campaign’s value lies in its ability to help managers across sectors reflect on their behaviours, particularly those shaped by assumptions about gender, age, or family responsibilities.
Polish Managers Get New Tools to Tackle Bias at Work
In Poland, where gender equality remains an uphill struggle, the launch of BeyondBias takes on a particular significance.
While women are well represented in higher education and some professional sectors, their presence in top leadership positions continues to lag behind.
According to recent data, women make up less than a third of the national parliament and continue to face notable gaps in pay and promotion.
The translation of the campaign into Polish arrives at a moment when these disparities are increasingly recognised, but not yet resolved.
By embedding inclusive leadership into the broader political conversation, Anna and the CEC team aim to make gender equality more than just a social value—it becomes a strategic tool for improved governance.
BeyondBias is not a one-time campaign, but a long-term investment in organisational cultures that value empathy, competence, and inclusion over outdated assumptions.
BeyondBias launches a message to the managers, especially in Poland, to embrace the campaign’s 20 recommendations with openness and courage.
These tools are not about pointing fingers but about helping people grow—together, and with purpose.
