In this edition of our “Meet the Team” series, we’d like to introduce you to Joanna Wrona, Business Unit Leader for the Kraków office at Erlang Solutions.

She discusses her role at ESL and her passion for empowering her team. She also gives us a glimpse into life in beautiful Kraków and what makes her journey so fulfilling.

About Joanna

What is your role at Erlang Solutions?

I am the Business Unit Leader at Erlang Solutions, based in Kraków, Poland. I oversee the business unit’s day-to-day operations. 

My role focuses on supporting and guiding our great team of talented and passionate Erlang and Elixir developers. I’m dedicated to creating an environment where they can thrive while ensuring we achieve our goals and stay true to our values: teamwork, knowledge sharing, sustainability, passion and fun. 

Equally important is our partnership with our customers – we work closely with them, valuing their input and collaboration as we strive to deliver the best possible outcomes. 

I also identify new market opportunities to help us grow and strengthen our regional presence. My leadership is rooted in serving our team and customers so everyone succeeds.

What have been some highlights of your career so far?

For over a decade, I have worked with passionate people who excel at what they do and genuinely love the technologies we use. Watching them grow, develop, and contribute to our success is incredibly gratifying.

I’m also very proud of our low employee turnover. Many team members have been with us for over a decade, which reflects the positive work environment we’ve built and the deep fulfilment that comes from being part of such a dedicated business. 

It feels good to work here.

What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned about leadership?

I’ve learned that leadership is fundamentally about service and empathy. Effective leaders prioritise the needs of their teams and create environments where people feel valued, supported, empowered, and listened to. I draw inspiration from thought leaders like Simon Sinek, Brené Brown, Robert Greenleaf and Kim Scott. Their work has helped shape my approach to servant-style leadership.

While it’s not always easy, it’s incredibly rewarding.

Having mentors and leadership workshops with our executive management team has also been invaluable in my journey. I’ve been fortunate to have great mentors and colleagues, like Michał Ślaski, who first brought me to Erlang Solutions and Erik Schön, a fellow Business Unit Leader in Sweden, whose insights and books on leadership continue to inspire me.

Are there any exciting projects you and the team are working on now? 

Yes- we have recently launched the MongooseIM Autoscaler, which is a solution for businesses looking to increase or decrease the capacity of their MongooseIM cluster. It is also for businesses seeking a chat solution, existing chat applications or businesses with variable loads.

Tell us about what life is like in Poland- what does a typical day look like for you?

My most important responsibility is as a mother to two teenagers. My schedule is often dictated by school calendars and family events! 

I’m fortunate to live in Kraków. I enjoy biking to work, which allows me to pass by iconic landmarks like Wawel Castle, Main Square, Zakrzówek and along the Vistula River.

It’s a great way to start my day and appreciate the city’s beauty.

Tell us one thing you can’t live without.

Well, it is not a thing, but it’s people around me (my partner, kids, family, friends, colleagues at work). To me, life is a journey that is best when you can share it with others. 

Final thoughts

We love connecting with people—whether it’s over coffee at our offices or conferences around the world. If you’d like to connect with Joanna, catch her at the GOTO EDA Day in Warsaw on 19th September.

If you would like to learn more about what we do, drop the team a line.