Joanna Kowalska

About

Hi. A key driver of my life has been people and their stories. They fascinate me for what they are and for how much insights and learnings they provide. I enjoy interacting with and working for people also since seeing them happy gives me a sense of purpose, of joy. I am a UX Designer who recently graduated from the American UX Academy’s DesignLab, which resulted also in this portfolio www.joannakowalska.design .Before, I worked for over a decade in Public Affair and Communication, where collaboration with multiple stakeholders was essential to design effective public campaigns, policies and to build international partnerships. I decided to add UX design skills to shape the digital world to ever better customer experiences that make people happier. My switch to UX Design felt instantly right, since my previous experience and skills have much in common with UX Design. Me being empathetic helps me distill user pains and needs. Being structured and organized helps me move smoothly through the Design Thinking process. And my experience in other sectors widens my ability to look at problems from different perspectives, to emerge with ever better solutions. Since I started my UX adventure my professional life has taken off. I am thrilled that my designs can have a direct, positive impact on a user's everyday life! This is exciting. Well, quite frankly almost addictive. I would be delighted to join your team to design ever better digital user experience, together. It would be wonderful to get to talk to you further. Thank you for your time. Joanna

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-kowalska-97a9a7a7/

kowalska.joanna.ewa@gmail.com

+41787303088

Experience

Subsolar Energy

Apr 2020 – Present

Zurich, Switzerland

Project Manager for Poland

As a Project Manager I contribute to its success by: • sourcing suitable project sites (20ha+) for Solar PV projects • negotiating lease contracts • preparing project budgets and organising all necessary regulatory affairs • communicating with and nurturing our stakeholder network in Poland.

Decarbonista

Oct 2019 – Present

Zurich, Switzerland

Visual Strategist and Social Media Manager

1. Concepting the visual strategy for Decarbonista's website. 2. Designing social the social strategy for Decarbonista's Instagram profile. 3. Preparing visuals and storyboards for the Decarbonista's Instagram profile.

Solski Communications

Apr 2016 – Dec 2017

Warsaw, Poland

Public Affairs Consultant

1. Public Affairs Consultant in particular: • building coalitions and partnerships with public administration, foundations, Think Tanks and NGOs, • conducting legislative, legal, and political monitoring regarding Europe and Poland, • interviewing stakeholders to define their needs and find the right solutions, • supporting clients by conducting research, tracking action items, developing recommendations, and analytical documents. 2. Designing and negotiating CSR projects in the field of: • education (e.g. program to increase the interest of children in STEM education programs in Poland), • environment (negotiated and managed a partnership of an association of global agrochemical companies with Our Earth Foundation, Poland’s most renowned NGO in environmental education. 3. PR activities.

Solski Communications

Apr 2016 – Dec 2017

Warsaw, Poland

Public Affairs Consultant

Polish Parliament

Apr 2004 – Feb 2016

Warsaw, Brussels

Specialist for Foreign Affairs

1. Public Affairs: • following the EU legislative procedures and preparing dossiers on environmental issues, human rights, and democratization processes, • designing and managing the work of the parliamentary European Union Affairs Committee, • representing the Office of the Parliament and the Commissions at the inter-parliamentary forum. 2. Communication: • cooperating with: governments, EU institutions' representatives, foundations and NGOs both national and international, • interviewing Members of the Parliament in order to meet their needs and find the right solutions, • managing inter-parliamentary meetings and conferences for 200-400 participants in Warsaw and Brussels during the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2011.

Education

UX Academy by Designlab

Feb 2020 – Dec 2020

Certificate of UX Designer, UX/UI Design

Warsaw School of Economics

Oct 2001 – Jun 2005

Master, International Relations

European School of Law and Administration

Oct 1998 – Sep 2003

Master, International law

Skills

Languages