In the “WEffect” sustainability series, the BMW Group highlights the sustainable contribution made by a wide range of people in the company – and the motivation that inspires them. Today: Krzysztof Witczak.

Sustainability has many facets at the BMW Group because we are using this term to harmonise business, the environment and society. If we are to successfully put these high standards into practice, we need our employees’ commitment. Everyone can play their part in making the BMW Group sustainable.

So, who are all these colleagues who make sustainability part of their everyday work? What drives them to roll up their sleeves throughout the company? In its “WEffect” sustainability series, the BMW Group introduces employees who play their daily part in the broad and responsible further development of our company.

In this part of our series, Krzysztof Witczak, foreman in high-voltage storage production at the BMW Group plant in Dingolfing, reveals why a hobby from his childhood inspires him to drive sustainability at the BMW Group.

Krzysztof Witczak, you trained in hotel management in Poland, but then moved to Germany in 2010. How did you end up working at the BMW plant in Dingolfing today?

Krzysztof Witczak: After my first few years in Germany, I made my start working in engine production at the BMW plant in Munich in 2010 through a temporary employment agency. I jumped at the chance because it has always been my dream to work for BMW. I was delighted to be offered a permanent position after two years. In 2018, employees were being recruited for battery production. I’m always curious about change. More so, I also see that the future is in electromobility, so I went to Dingolfing. I was then able to make more progress in 2020 – now I work as a foreman in high-voltage storage production.

This quite far removed from your original training. Where do you get all the knowledge you need for your work?

Witczak: I learned a lot about organisation in my hotel management training and I can still use that knowledge today. But more than anything, I constantly educate myself. I took advantage of all the training opportunities that were offered to me. I have been in drive production from the beginning, but have regularly been assigned to new areas, so I always had to learn the ropes quickly. That was great, because I gained a lot of experience. I also read a lot outside work and that contributes to my education as well.

You see e-mobility as a great opportunity. Why is that important to you? What does sustainability mean to you?

Witczak: One of my hobbies is fishing and as an angler I am outdoors a lot. I see how the nature around me has changed since I was a child. I want to do something about that. For me it is about the future of my children. They should have a good world to live in.

So, what is your goal?

Witczak: Professionally, I still see my future in electric drives, especially in storage manufacturing. And I want to develop myself further, learn even more. My ambition is to go to master school one day. I can’t get that dream out of my head.

Are there days when things don’t go quite so well? What helps you then?

Witczak: Sometimes it’s exhausting and I wonder how we are going to manage it all. My wife is a great source of strength, though. She listens to me, she has my back and supports me. She is my wife and my best friend. We came to Germany together from Poland and have built everything up together for ourselves. She always encourages me – that means a lot to me. I also get a lot of support from my colleagues. We help each other and have a great working relationship together. We are a good team. Working together is great fun.

You have already changed and achieved a lot in your life. What are you particularly proud of?

Witczak: It was always my dream to work for BMW. A friend tipped me off about temporary work, and I had the courage to try it. That’s how I started and how I’ve always developed. You have so many opportunities in a large company. I really value that, because not everyone has these opportunities. And I am proud of what I have achieved in just six years. It was hard work, but I also had a lot of support. I am also grateful for that.

What drives you to keep going? What motivates you?

Witczak: My family! When I come home after work and can spend time with the children. And my colleagues are very nice to work with, which also motivates me. I also firmly believe that I will be able to achieve my dreams at some point if I just chase them hard enough.

So, when is it good enough? When are you satisfied?

Witczak: I am satisfied when everyone around me is satisfied – my wife, my children, my colleagues. Or when I talk to my parents in Poland and they tell me how proud they are of me. That makes me satisfied. But I am so inquisitive and full of motivation to move on – I will never stop learning.

In the upcoming portraits from our “WEffect” sustainability series, committed colleagues will also describe their motivation and explain the contribution they are making to sustainability within the BMW Group.