Bartosz „Bartek“ Kotowicz (26) was mainly fascinated by PR activities, especial issues of design. He was PR Director and President of AEGEE-Gdansk, but was also quite active on European level, as PRWG member, as team member of the Key to Europe and One Europe team, the project Take Control and the Case Study Trip to Caucasus. He shared his knowledge as trainer at Network Meetings and Local Training Courses. Today he works as self-employed Brand Strategist. His company is called Engram – Branding Studio.
Golden Oldie: When and where were you born?
Bartek: 26 years ago in Kolobrzeg, Poland.
Golden Oldie: Where and what did you study?
Bartek: I studied at the University of Gdansk. I’m a Master of Political Sciences. Now I am planning to start my postgraduate studies on Brand Management at Warsaw School of Economic this year.
Golden Oldie: When did you join AEGEE and how?
Bartek: In 2005 I received an AEGEE-Gdansk flyer. I went for my first Thursday meeting. The first impression was quite positive so I decided to go for an LTC and after it each Thursday in the next couple of years was strictly reserved for AEGEE.
Golden Oldie: Are you still member?
Bartek: I didn’t pay a membership fee, so according to the AEGEE-Gdansk statutes I’m not a member of it anymore – although emotionally I will always be member of my lovely antenna.
Golden Oldie: You are best known for being involved in AEGEE’s PR and publication matters. Why were you so fascinated by it?
Bartek: Good question. I simply like to work in this field and I strongly believe that communication – both verbal and visual, internal and external – is a key factor in each organisation’s success.
Golden Oldie: What where the biggest challenges and rewards of these tasks?
Bartek: Involving in many PR activities throughout AEGEE, I encountered different kinds of challenges from very pragmatic to very problematic ones. I remember for example a hotline between me and Key to Europe chief editor Arleta Bojke. We had a hard job and sleepless nights when we prepared the Key to Europe. Everything was done in a short time just because the Agora was coming. In the end the Key wasn’t distributed due to VAT problems on the border… The efforts in all the tasks I was involved in resulted in many positive ways until today – especially in my professional life. The biggest reward however is the real friendship with the people with whom I cooperated.
Golden Oldie: Which other things did you do in AEGEE that you are proud of?
Bartek: I’m proud of the “small big” things I had the privilege to work on. I think that most of these “small big” things took place at the local level and most of them weren’t spectacular at all, nonetheless, from the perspective of time I see that they are very fruitful. I’m proud of myself too. I broke down many barriers and I proved myself that only the sky is the limit.
Golden Oldie: Tell us a funny story of your AEGEE time.
Bartek: During my first LTC I was forced to wear women’s clothing in order to present AEGEE-Slivovice’s hard situation. AEGEE-Slivovice was the name of the simulated antenna. I did it because there was a problem with electricity. We used candles and taking photos was not possible in that situation. Unluckily the problem was repaired during our presentation and we – I did it with some other guys – have been immortalised on hundreds of photos…
Golden Oldie: What was your favourite AEGEE event?
Bartek: EBM Sofia! The most intriguing, interesting, different, craziest event!
Golden Oldie: What were your best and worst moments in AEGEE?
Bartek: There were many best moments in AEGEE, it’s hard to describe all of them. Whereas the worst moments have been relocated to trash and disappeared some time ago.
Golden Oldie: Which AEGEE member impressed you a lot?
Bartek: The list of AEGEE members who impressed me is a quite long. I can’t mention only one person since I met in my AEGEE life a big group of wonderful and inspirational people. So let’s starts: Arleta Bojke, Karo Wysocka, Burcu Becerman, Maria Nomikou, Asia Piskunowicz and people originally from my antena: Iza Jurczik, Monika Kozuń and Bartek Lis – by the way I have no idea why most of them are women…
Golden Oldie: Any things you regret that you haven’t done them in AEGEE?
Bartek: Successfully branding for AEGEE and maybe no CD experience.
Golden Oldie: Did AEGEE influence your career decision?
Bartek: Yes, a lot.
Golden Oldie: As a child, what did you dream to be your future job after growing up?
Bartek: To be a president. My dream came true in AEGEE.
Golden Oldie: What are you doing now as main occupation?
Bartek: I’m an entrepreneur, running my branding studio Engram.
Golden Oldie: Are you single/married/married with 5 children?
Bartek: I’m not single anymore! I got married exactly two months ago and of course my marriage is strongly connected with AEGEE as well. No kids yet.
Golden Oldie: Which languages do you speak?
Bartek: I speak Polish and English. I undestand Kashubian a little bit, since my wife is Kashubian. I used to learn German.
Golden Oldie: Where do you live now? What do you like/dislike about your city?
Bartek: I live in Gdansk and I adore its culture of freedom. If it’s too enigmatic for you, come here! There are dislikes too, however I will not gripe.
Golden Oldie: What are your best and least liked cities?
Bartek: Best: Kraków and Rome. I don’t have least liked cities. I try to find in each city something stunning.
Golden Oldie: What is the furthest place you ever went to?
Bartek: Probably Baku.
Golden Oldie: Which country would you like to visit in the near future?
Bartek: Georgia.
Golden Oldie: What are your hobbies?
Bartek: My job is hobby.
Golden Oldie: What are you most afraid of?
Bartek: Spiders and stupidity.
Golden Oldie: What’s never missing in your fridge?
Bartek: Light and electricity.
Golden Oldie: How would you describe yourself in five keywords?
Bartek: Find on YouTube: “I am feeling so good”.