Hanna Walter is a career and business coach who specialises in working with Ireland’s Polish community to encourage more people from Poland to set up and run businesses in Ireland.
What’s your role?
I am a business and career coach at Inspiring Coaching. I also organise networking events for Polish people who want to set up businesses in Ireland or already have a business. For these events, we get great help from Bank of Ireland Workbenches and the Trade & Investment promotion section of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Dublin.
I also run smaller meetings for women where we talk about our passions and interests and encourage each other in terms of our careers and businesses.
What are you most interested in?
I am interested in people, what drives them, their mindset and their achievements. I am also interested in positive psychology and personal branding. My degree in marketing and my coaching qualifications made my perfect role and career. I love cooking, dancing and walking (even in the rain).
“We are the largest minority group in Ireland, but most of us aren’t involved in any networking events in Ireland. I want to change this.”
What are your ambitions?
I want to help Poles to integrate more with Irish businesses and encourage more people to set up businesses in Galway. Last year I was one of the finalists for Business Women of the Year as part of Network Galway, and I didn’t meet any other Polish women there. I started to organise events and networking for Poles because I am Polish and I know what we need it. I also want to do these types of events in other cities across Ireland. We are the largest minority group in Ireland, but most of us aren’t involved in any networking events in Ireland. I want to change this. Some Polish people still have a problem with the English language and still need to get information in Polish. My mission is to inspire people to find their right career path and encourage them as entrepreneurs. They need to realise that we only have one life and our mission is to use our full potential.
What drives you?
Helping, training and coaching people. When I see my clients taking the first steps in setting up their business or starting a new career. I am very proud of the progress they make. It drives me a lot.
Who do you admire in business?
All people who transform their passion into a profitable business.
“It’s a small town with a big heart, by the ocean, with the beautiful city centre and a unique character.”
What are we doing well in Galway?
Networking. When the Polish Embassy agreed to participate in my events, I could finally start to organise bigger events, and this is where the Workbench played such a decisive part. It is a pleasure to run my events there as it helps so many startups.
I like ThinkBusiness. It is a great idea. People need to think about their businesses. They should focus on results and solutions and overcome fears and doubts. We are always afraid of the new and we need to accept fear and work in spite of it.
What makes Galway unique?
I fell in love with Galway, and it was love at first sight. I love the people in Galway; there are so many open-minded people who are optimistic and have a drive. It’s a small town with a big heart, by the ocean, with the beautiful city centre and a unique character. There are so many arts performances and fabulous festivals. What more could you want?
Related Resource
Find out more about Bank of Ireland Workbench here.
