Beata Drzazga Entrepreneur and founder of BetaMed SA, Drzazga Clinic, Dono da Scheggia, Global Impact and Beata Drzazga Foundation, as well as Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Katowice, shares her thoughts on charity, the joy of helping, doing business with mission and passion, and the need for ethical values to guide entrepreneurs.
You recently returned to Silesia from the largest charity gala in Europe, which is a unique gathering of prominent entrepreneurs personally involved in helping those in need. Is this an important event for you?
Corporate Connections Poland, together with the Foundations led by Omenea Mensah and Rafal Brzoska, organized the TOP CHARITY Grand Charity Auction in Warsaw, along with a gala, for the third time. I have been with them from the beginning. It was actually the first time there that entrepreneurs dared to speak out about helping others. We have been taught all along that one should do charity quietly, because it is more noble that way. I actually agree with this, because after all, one does not help for show. But if we support the needy for years, and not only financially, I think it is worth talking about it out loud in order to attract others, to show them that charity is something really wonderful. For me personally, there is nothing more beautiful than giving back to another person out of the goodness of your heart. This is the most wonderful thing that can be given. That is why it is important to speak out about it. I know it is still unpopular and sometimes even unwelcome.
Whom is Beata Drzazga personally helping?
I contribute everywhere and on many continents. In the United States, I participate in charity galas, financially support various conferences, including those in Palo Alto, New York, Miami and Chicago. These are events devoted to new technologies, for example, or events on such a large scale as the 60 Million Congress, a global convention of the Polish community to integrate the business community at home and abroad. In Africa, in turn, I supported the construction of a school for children. There are also people I help individually and really quietly, without camera flashes. Lately I’ve been visiting homes where people in need simply live, who are, by the way, my patients. After all, you can give them little surprises. It’s enough to buy bedding, quilts, pillows or towels, such basic things, essential for chronically ill people. I am also sensitive to the injustice of animals, and subsidize various foundations. There are so many opportunities around to help, you just have to look around. I realize that one person won’t save the world, but with small steps and small deeds are able to change the world, at least one person in need.
Why should social activities and ethical standards in doing business, generally helping others, sharing what you’ve earned be a regular part of how businesses operate?
I believe that all this reflects the modern dimension of humanity. When we run a business, let’s treat our employees as we would want to be treated ourselves in their place. After all, they come to work with us because they want to create the company with us, not be its slaves. They give their strength and energy. For a salary, of course, but that money doesn’t necessarily cover what can be gained from that dedication and commitment. When those employed in our company see that we create something good and pass it on, it becomes easier for them to share our passions. And it doesn’t matter if it’s a medical company or not, after all, all services or products are directed to people and are ultimately meant to serve us for something. That should be the standard. Fortunately, there are more and more entrepreneurs who operate this way. But there are also a bunch of people who shouldn’t be running a business at all, because they are only looking at – to put it colloquially – their tip of the nose.
Would it be fair to say that you could be a role model for them, because you run a business with a mission?
A business with a mission, a vision and a heart, and well, a passion – these four values determine everything I do. I’ve known this for more than 20 years, and I don’t need coaches or motivational trainers to do it.
Is this approach the key to why you have endless amounts of energy for action and constantly new activities?
This is a question I am often asked. My greatest joy and desire to get up in the morning is precisely the prospect of creating something beautiful, something new, something that will make people happier. Every day I sit down and think about what else I can do new. Simply put, when I see stagnation or routine starting to creep into my business, I say – okay, then what else do I open? The modern world offers endless opportunities, so many businesses can be run in different industries that you actually don’t know what to put your hands into! If someone has such a character and approach to life, likes to create, organize, then he will never be bored. And still, if he adds passion, heart and vision, and above all, combine it with love for people, then he can already talk about success.
By founding BetaMed, you planted the seeds of empathy. The medical center became a pioneer, a promoter of a different view of standards in patient care. Has anything generally changed in this type of facility in Poland?
I notice such evolutionary changes and I am immensely happy that I have contributed to them to some extent, I have contributed to them. My team, medical staff, but also office staff, coordinators, etc., are people with deep empathy, by the way, this is the main criteria when recruiting for BetaMed: empathy, ability to express love and respect for the other person. It is also worth explaining what our goal is and what we want to create with this approach. I see that this seed of empathy has been planted. For the past three years I have been a dean at the Upper Silesian Academy in Katowice, Poland, and there I lecture for nurses on communication. I touch, of course, on the issue of empathy, how to relate to patients appropriately. This is actually a very difficult profession, for a select few who are able to sacrifice themselves to a certain extent for others and have great reserves of love and patience in themselves at the same time. I believe that through my lectures to a – altogether small – group of students, something can change for the better. And this is really happening. Imagine that I met a friend, she was in Lodz at the hospital and told me about an exceptional nurse who was very nice, so to the heart. My friend even told her: 'You’re a dear, so a little different from everyone else,’ and she says: “I had lectures with Mrs. Beata Drzazga”. Such a situation is for me the greatest reward that can befall me. However, it is not for nothing that I devote my time and energy. The seed has been sown, let this goodness spread.
It’s been 20 years of Poland in the European Union… What was the significance of Poland’s accession to the Union for you, did it make it easier to do business?
This was a very important and wise move. It gave a greater sense of security in doing business, and made Poland more developed. As an important example for my business, I can cite better road infrastructure, which made it easier to access BetaMed patients. Much-needed standards and procedures for doing business have also been set. BetaMed was one of the first companies in the region to gain ISO quality certification. Now there is a lot of talk about ESG standards, and I introduced this at my company early on, because I paid attention to sustainability, the environment and social responsibility. The financial aspect can’t be overlooked either, with the funds from the Jessica low-interest loan I was able to build my dream clinic. In general, in everything I do, I focus on cooperation. That’s why I’m in favor of cooperation and strengthening of countries belonging to the European Union. Let’s go together to make things easier. Every country that gets EU funds improves its structure in many areas.
If we’re talking about cooperation… This year you became vice president of the Regional Chamber of Commerce in Katowice. How will you support the Chamber?
I am very proud of this nomination. I respect and appreciate what RIG has been doing for so many years. It wants to meet with entrepreneurs, inspire them, empower them and share its experience with them. I remember that at the beginning of my business journey I lacked such mentoring or practical advice. I am happy to share my free time and experience.
With this free time it can be a problem. I read somewhere that you auctioned a tennis session with Iga Swiatek at a charity auction and could not find a free date.
I am even a little silly that every now and then I postpone the date to play with the master Iga and meet with her. For me it will be a great pleasure, I will realize it for sure.
The holiday season is beginning. Many entrepreneurs then have the same problem, they are at work all the time, they can’t “turn off” their heads. Do you have a solution for this?
A good organizer must be able to put everything together in such a way as to have at least two weeks just for the family. I manage to do that. I push work aside, thanks to my fantastic employees. They can run the company on an ongoing basis, basically without me, excluding some strategic moves, of course. And then I devote myself to my children, mother, family and friends. In my opinion, if you can’t carve out time for your loved ones then you’re not a good entrepreneur, because your planning and time organization fails. Admittedly, I have to admit that in the mornings on vacation I check my phone to see if I have any disturbing news from my companies, but if everything is ok, I switch off for the whole day to be just for my family.
Thank you beautifully for the interview and I envy this batch of tennis with Iga Swiatek. Will you make it this year?
I’m looking forward to it, but that’s how I am, that helping and getting involved in various activities, is more important to me than moments of pleasure.
Interviewed by Jaga Kolawa
The article appeared in the June issue of Business HUB.