A bit about me
For life consulting.
It’s hard to distill a lifetime of experiences into something brief. So, I won’t even try.
I was born in Szczecin, Poland, during communism—a time of real crises. The kind where people disappeared, shops stood empty, and winters were harsh. I remember my dad being taken for regular interrogations by the security services and my grandma literally killing chickens for dinner. It was a different time, and it shaped me into…
A melancholic, romantic teenager. There were months when waking up felt meaningless. I even planned my suicide once. My family went from having money to losing it—a reflection of the turbulent 1990s. But back then, it didn’t matter much. People could still find meaningful ways to contribute to society, even without financial rewards. This phase turned me into…
A somewhat lost student. I started studying engineering, following some sound advice from my dad. But my true passions were politology, psychology, and philosophy—in that order. For the first three years, I partied more than I studied, clinging to that same melancholy vibe. And wandered the streets helping the homeless. I was heading toward a job in a supermarket until I met my wife. She changed me, and I became…
A slightly arrogant young engineer. Many of us go through this phase: feeling like the smartest person in the room, despite limited experience. I quickly became a manager in my first job—probably too quickly. I upset some people and made plenty of bad decisions. But my ever-present self-doubt helped me improve instead of stagnate. That same arrogance also drove me to…
Start two businesses—three if you count a clothing venture my wife launched with my support. I ran a web development business and later an insurance brokerage. Things were going well until life hit me with a triple crisis: my own significant health issues, a marital strain, and a severe health crisis involving our son—all during or right after the infamous 2008 financial crash. Oh, and we were also running a kitten adoption house at the time.
These challenges forced me to reassess what truly mattered. On the career front, I returned to employment, helping relocate operations from Denmark to Poland for a startup. On the health front, I adopted the mindset that “you own your health” and “never accept your current state.” This journey led me to my third company—a project with a friend, primarily health-focused but unexpectedly branching into data protection and electronic eavesdropping prevention. Our story even caught the attention of the Polish edition of Focus. Then…
I pivoted to coaching and mentoring, while continuing to work as a technologist, manager, and programmer. I ran a small coaching business—my fourth entrepreneurial endeavor—before deciding to take a bold step forward.
I took out a loan, knowing there’d be no salary increase, and moved to Kraków for better prospects. On my first day, my new team suggested I reconsider joining—calling it the worst job in town. Three years later, I helped transform that workplace into something entirely different. The “worst job” became one of the best projects. Then came…
London. A big bank. My business ventures quieted down, but I actively developed my technical career. I was learning how to do things on a massive scale until…
In 2017, a significant family event inspired me to undergo Samaritan training and volunteer on their helpline. This experience taught me the true essence of helping others: it’s not about feeling good or being told you are great yourself but enabling them to take action in their lives. Then came Scotland…
I moved here in 2021. Since then, I’ve established a charity, taken on the role of Chief of Staff for the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity in Edinburgh, restarted my coaching business (this time with a career focus), engaged in STEM education, and supported local 50+ community groups. I also fell in love with hiking—all while leading a brilliant team of engineers at Zoopla.
I’ve resigned off a lot of the “extra things” in 2025, after a life-changing, close-to-heart-attack incident. Started making music. Focused more on work.
Today, I bring a wealth of diverse experiences from life, work, and charitable endeavors. To give you an idea: I’ve managed budgets in the tens of millions of pounds and led teams of over eighty people spanning seven time zones. I’ve helped talk people out of suicide, addressed severe cases of racial discrimination, supported individuals with significant mental health struggles, guided people through tough relationship decisions, and advised others on whether to stay in their jobs. On the professional front, I’ve also faced high-pressure situations—like fielding calls from furious traders after mine and my team’s decisions and changes intermittently halted FX trading for a bank in Japan.
I’ve seen money made and money lost. I know what it feels like to have no reason to live, and I know what it means to be overly arrogant and aggressive. I’ve traveled the world but still dream of visiting a hut in Canada’s Rocky Mountains—a lifelong goal inspired by reading about the Lakota natives.
I’ve been interviewed many times for various reasons and am passionate about sharing my story, including the lessons from my more controversial opinions and suggestions. My background spans enterprise and startup software development, fundraising, investor management, navigating difficult situations, life transitions, health, DIY, music, shower singing, poetry, and more.
I’ve been writing poems and music to my drawer for the last 25 years.
Thank you and a big bow to my parents for shaping me into who I am today. And to all the incredible people I’ve met along the way, who have repeatedly shown me that I can’t do this life alone—special thanks to my son – Wiktor.
My little projects (and how to contact me):
And obviously my current work love:
Gustaw Fit Blog 