Coffee break with Karina: Growth, culture and the human edge
Interview: Ecem Bengü Atakul
Interviewee: Karina Osieleniec
For this edition of Coffee Break, we sat down with Karina Osieleniec, Team Lead Growth & Development. Her goal is to build a working environment where both people and business thrive. Karina explains more about the Culture program, why human creativity is irreplaceable, and her vision for the future of Solaris.
Take us back to your first days at Solaris. What were they like and how has your role developed since then?
Karina: I started at Solaris a little over three years ago. I still remember my first day and who I started with – actually they remember me, too. It’s really sweet to have those connections and build relationships with people. This is such an important part of Solaris.
I joined as a People Business Partner in the People team. Back then we were a team of three, but as our team's setup evolved and my responsibilities grew, I transitioned into managing the function.
Solaris has always offered me a lot of possibilities to improve. The learning curve was huge, but so was my career growth. At the same time I had the chance to make a meaningful impact which always matters most to me.
A big part of your work right now is the Culture program as part of Solaris’ transformation strategy into becoming the first AI-native bank. What is the program about and why does it matter to you?
Karina: The Culture program is designed to align our values and behaviors with our future goals, ensuring that our dual-setup in Berlin and Frankfurt continues to be a powerful engine for innovation. The ultimate goal of the program is to build an entrepreneurial, cross-functional workforce equipped for the hybrid banking-tech landscape.
The program is built entirely for employees, by employees, which I appreciate a lot. Also, I love our approach because it isn’t just top-down but it’s bottom-up. Involving employees is something I care deeply about, and we’re encouraging participation at every level. Anyone can make an impact.
Our culture is completely different from when Solaris was founded over 10 years ago. We have different ambitions now. It’s important to acknowledge this shift and move forward together. Establishing this program as one of the five key pillars shows its importance, not just to the Management Board but to the whole organization.
Solaris is moving toward a vision where AI plays a huge role in daily operations while humans focus on strategy and oversight. What is the biggest mindset shift Solarians have to make and how are you dealing with these new requirements?
Karina: When working with AI it’s crucial to challenge it. I’ve always believed in questioning the status quo, both professionally and personally. I really dislike the phrase 'it is what it is.' I refuse to accept that. If something isn't working, we can always improve it rather than passively accepting a situation no one is happy with.
Thinking about AI and the future of Solaris, we need genuine human ingenuity, diverse mindsets, collaboration, real people and their creativity. You can't truly brainstorm with AI because it will never challenge you. Real progress comes from brainstorming together, being open-minded, and building strong human relationships. Once we do the human heavy-lifting, then we can hand it over to AI to execute so we can focus on what’s actually engaging and fun.
Personally, I’m welcoming AI with open arms. Even in a strategic role, there are administrative tasks that need to be taken care of. I would be thrilled if an AI agent took over those tasks so I could focus on more creative, strategic tasks, and leverage AI’s data capabilities to make truly data-driven decisions for the business.
Looking at the future, what is the part that excites you most and why?
Karina: I would have answered this question differently a year or two ago. What I really want to highlight though is the vision our CEO shared previously. He envisions Solaris as a true pioneer in Fintech, and in the banking world as a whole. That’s what gets me excited.
I believe we can achieve amazing things together. That belief is the foundation for everything we do.