Employee Spotlight: Agnieszka Pankowska

Learn more about Agnieszka Pankowska's career journey as Plant Manager at MAT Dania Poland...

1. What’s your position at Dania? How long have you worked in that role?
   I'm the Plant Manager at Dania’s machining facility in Poland. I've been in this role for seven years.

2. What’s been your experience as a woman in a managerial role in a male-dominated industry?
   It’s always felt natural to me. I studied engineering, which already meant being surrounded by men, and I’ve always worked in manufacturing. I’ve never felt out of place — maybe more of a surprise to the teams I managed than the managers who hired me! There was one occasion, early on, where someone said they wouldn’t report to a woman, but we got along in the end. Overall, I’ve had a very positive experience.

3. What would you say to young women wanting to start a career in any of these fields?
   They often don’t know what these careers actually involve. In Sweden, for example, factories bring in children as young as seven to show them what industrial work looks like. That early exposure makes a big difference. We need more initiatives like that — connections between industry and education. When women see other women in leadership roles, it becomes easier to envision themselves there.

4. How do you keep yourself and your team motivated?
   My team is amazing — six managers who are all engaged and driven. I try to create an environment where everyone feels like they're part of a team, where every role matters and everyone knows our goals. We celebrate wins, stay excited about new projects, and I try to keep things fun and inspiring. Work should have meaning — and a bit of magic.

5. If you weren’t doing this job, what do you think you would be doing?
   Originally, I wanted to be a landscape architect, but I didn’t get in. As one door closes, another opens. Still, I think I’ve ended up in the right place — the fundamentals are similar, I love organising, improving processes, and working with people. In any role, I’d still be building and creating.

6. If we asked your family/friends to describe you in 3 words what would they say?
   That’s tricky! I’ve heard very different things depending on who you ask. From a young age I’ve always organised, made up new games, and told everybody what to do! This is just in my nature, creating teams, organising creating new realities. Generally, I think people would say I’m someone who brings fun, isn’t afraid of new things, and gets things done. Not 3 words but you get the point!

7. If you could banish something (not someone!) into the furnace for eternity, what would it be and why?
   Tradition — at least in the workplace. Too often we do things “because we’ve always done it that way,” without asking why. I believe in constantly questioning and improving, asking those questions of ‘why’ . This is incredibly powerful movement for change and as a business and as people this is the best way to be, I think this in built in me as it’s the way I’ve always been. That type of mindset creates space for creativity and innovation — and we need more of that.

Want to follow in agnieszka's footsteps? Explore career opportunities across the MAT Group.