About me
My name is Mirella Panek-Owsiańska.
I'm the person who will help you to turn your dreams of positive social impact into real action.
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About me
I want a world where human dignity is respected.
I don't agree with social inequalities, discrimination against women, and environmental destruction.
I don't want to stand on the sidelines and passively watch this happen.
I have unlimited reserves of energy and enthusiasm, which I use to implement projects and socio-political initiatives that align with my values.
I have something else too – extensive experience from diverse areas and effective action strategies that I want to share.
You can meet me at conferences and panel discussions, because I love sharing knowledge about CSR/ESG, DEI diversity management, philanthropy, fundraising, social impact, business-NGO collaboration and women's leadership.
I believe that education is the foundation of change, which is why I conduct workshops and training sessions for companies and non-governmental organizations, as well as classes for students in postgraduate and MBA programs at institutions including Kozminski University, Collegium Civitas, University of Warsaw, Lazarski University, SWPS University, Poznań University of Economics, Krakow's European University and Warsaw School of Economics. I have already trained over 500 social and political activists, including those from Belarus, Cuba, Serbia, and Kyrgyzstan.
I'm also constantly learning, because openness and curiosity drive my actions. I'm a graduate of the Leadership School and studied political science with a specialization in political marketing. I've completed courses organized by Columbia University, Stanford University, and the University of Geneva, among others. I regularly use Massive Open Online Courses and plan to pursue a doctorate, but... for now, my topic ideas change too frequently. ;)
I engage in political life because I know that talking about changes isn't enough – you have to implement them, and this can be done effectively at the political level. I've gotten to know politics from the inside: I worked in the offices of justice ministers Hanna Suchocka and Barbara Piwnik, was an intern in the Illinois governor's office, observed parliamentary elections in Great Britain, worked in several election campaigns, and ran for the Polish Parliament.
I treat business as an area where we can make breakthrough positive changes – provided that we consider companies' impact on people and the environment. That's why I train management teams, raise awareness about social issues, and help develop effective strategies.
I share experiences and best practices from this sector with positive impact start-ups and social organizations; I also help them raise funds and teach them how to tell their story in ways that reach the hearts of supporters and – of course! – sponsors.
I'd be happy to show you the fascinating initiatives I've participated in. Check out the Projects tab, I'm sure you'll find inspiration there.
Where do I get the energy for all these activities?
From the people around me. Collaboration, partnership, and long-term relationships are my guiding principles.
I greatly value friendship and have exceptional luck in meeting wonderful people on my path. My husband Daniel is an invaluable mentor and support for me, and my daughter Zoe is the inspiration for many of my projects.
Sometimes, however, I too need to pause for a moment. I listen to old Italian songs, read books (you can find reading summaries on my blog), and travel – I love Asia!
Do you feel we could create something valuable together? Tell me about your ideas.
TO ME
Bio:
CSR/ESG and DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) expert. Mirella served as the long-time president of the Responsible Business Forum, co-authored Startups of Positive Impact project. Former spokesperson for Amnesty International in Poland, member of the Councils of: Copernicus Science Centre, Leadership School, NESsT Poland, and one of the founders of Cosmos for Girls foundation. Mirella is a consultant and trainer in numerous projects related to ESG, social innovation, and social impact. She is also an initiator of projects for women, mentor, blogger, juror in competitions dedicated to communication and corporate social responsibility, and university lecturer.
Mirella supports companies and non-profit organizations in managing sustainable development strategies, developing fundraising and communication strategies, and managing diversity. She has extensive experience collaborating with businesses, the public sector, and NGOs.
Since November 2025, Mirella has been responsible for international relations at the European Economic Congress.