Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Tennis, Kite, Travel and cooking
Timeline
Generic
Kinga Karolina Walicka

Kinga Karolina Walicka

Warsaw

Summary

Professional with experience in business leadership and management, prepared for this role. Strong focus on team collaboration and achieving results. Skilled in strategic planning, financial oversight, and operational efficiency. Reliable and adaptable to changing needs, ensuring consistent performance and growth.

Overview

28
28
years of professional experience

Work History

Owner

Soul Lab
01.2016 - Current
  • Created a limited liability company dedicated to distribution on exclusive basis of cosmetic brands in Poland and Czech Republic. Distributed brands include: James Read Tan, Nailmatic, Rouge Bunny Rouge, Bloom & Blossom, Proto-col, Shaeri, Divage.
  • Prepared and carried out plans for market introduction and expansion of every brand in the company’s portfolio.
  • Developed annual business plans to determine top line sales targets, pricing w/sales discount strategies and expected margins, overhead and staffing allocations, marketing budgets and resulting profitability.
  • Supported each brand using qualified personnel and subject to service policies satisfactory to the brand’s requirements.
  • Built relationships with retailers in Poland including exclusive e-retailing accounts as well as chains ranging from drugstores, through exclusive perfumery chains to spas and single stores/accounts.
  • Responsible for each brand’s local marketing and PR strategy in line with global brands presence.
  • Liaised with customers to ensure appropriate support of accounts through visual and promotional strategies.

General Manager Poland

Rouge Bunny Rouge
01.2006 - 01.2016
  • Created and implemented brand’s introduction plan and then expansion onto Polish and Czech markets for this exclusive, niche British-Russian brand of color cosmetics.
  • Prepared P&L in accordance with the expansion plan for the brand and maintenance of expected profitability levels, while shaping and overseeing execution of marketing budget and marketing critical path for Poland.
  • Throughout first 2 years opened alone 15 brand counters in selective perfumery chain in Poland. Over next 8 years, with carefully selected and trained team, expanded the brand into 60 perfumeries in Poland, 8 in Czech Republic and opened one standalone flagship store/showroom in Warsaw.
  • Built fruitful relationships with Management Team of selective perfumery chain in both countries guaranteeing the brand’s expansion plan inside the chain.
  • Responsible for maintenance of optimal stock levels in Polish warehouse and in all stores eliminating “out-of-stock” scenarios. Facilitated all orders from international warehouse to local one and oversaw local warehouse.
  • For the first 15 months of brand’s existence in the market singlehandedly prepared all stock according to local cosmetic regulatory restrictions, dispatched all orders and trained perfumery personnel. Afterwards responsible for growing local Polish team, hiring all personnel, training and establishing remuneration policies.
  • Responsible for contract negotiations with retailers and its proper implementations in Poland.
  • In charge of all activities relating to marketing, PR and sales in accordance with global brand standards. Due to brand’s expansion after 2 years hired Marketing and PR manager who took over those responsibilities.
  • After 10 fruitful years of cooperation was awarded exclusive distribution rights in Poland.

Business Development Director for International Advertising Agency

McCann Erickson Poland
01.2004 - 01.2006
  • Responsible for setting up pitch business procedures as a leader of a team exclusively appointed to acquiring new accounts. Created the positioning of the Agency and local visual identity elements in line with local positioning.
  • Entrusted with coordination of media house, direct marketing agency and ATL communication group. Upon acquiring new accounts responsible for seamless transition of the account into Client Service Department.

Sr. Account Manager Coca-Cola

McCann Erickson Poland
01.2003 - 01.2004
  • Utilized marketing budgets in the most effective manner to build awareness and a positive image for Coca-Cola brands. These marketing targets had to also drive top line sales results and profitability in line with Coca-Cola annual targets.
  • Tracked on monthly basis results vs. targets (sales and brand perceptions) and aimed all communication towards delivering these results.
  • Together with brand team suggested to Coca-Cola management an annual 12 month marketing plan. The plan consisted of a market research review, brand strategy, an advertising/communication strategy, a detailed media plan, a detailed commercial/marketing calendar, and a POS material production and usage plan.
  • Controlled advertising budgets on a monthly basis to ensure the timely payment of supplier invoices and a rigorous tracking of monthly actual income/profitability.
  • Tracked on regular basis the development and strategies of competitive brands.
  • Created and presented communication strategy for Coca-Cola.
  • Won regional pitch for Coca-Cola for 2Q summer promo for Central & Eastern Europe.
  • Participated in the production of all ATL communication.
  • Upon reaching the sales targets, the Agency was rewarded with bonuses.

Marketing Services Manager for the largest Department Store chain in Poland

Domy Towarowe “Centrum”
01.1997 - 01.2003
  • Responsible for introducing and developing franchise brands like Wallis, River Island, Celio, Esprit to the chain as well as acting as a marketing manager for the biggest children’s department store chain Smyk.
  • Participated in development of annual business plans to determine top line sales targets, pricing w/sales discount strategies and expected margins, overhead and staffing allocations, marketing budgets and resulting profitability.
  • Created and implemented annual marketing plans for 4 franchise brands and Smyk chain.
  • Controlled marketing budgets and tracked the effectiveness of marketing programs by analysing results.
  • Helped create market research program measuring development of key marketing indicators.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Mathematics and Economics

Mount Holyoke College
01.1996

Skills

  • Main strengths: self-organisation, responsibility, confidentiality, diligence, analytical thinking, communication skills, resistance to stress, ability to work in a group, dedication to community

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Languages: Fluent in Polish and English with basic knowledge of Russian.

Tennis, Kite, Travel and cooking

Tennis promotes quick decision making, adaptability and a strong sense of fair play-qualities which I bring to my professional work, especially when collaborating in teams or managing challenging projects. Kite demands focus and the ability to adapt to changing conditions. These experiences have strengthened my problem solving skilled and my capacity to remain calm and solution oriented under pressure, which I apply to dynamic work environments.

Timeline

Owner

Soul Lab
01.2016 - Current

General Manager Poland

Rouge Bunny Rouge
01.2006 - 01.2016

Business Development Director for International Advertising Agency

McCann Erickson Poland
01.2004 - 01.2006

Sr. Account Manager Coca-Cola

McCann Erickson Poland
01.2003 - 01.2004

Marketing Services Manager for the largest Department Store chain in Poland

Domy Towarowe “Centrum”
01.1997 - 01.2003

Bachelor of Arts - Mathematics and Economics

Mount Holyoke College

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Kinga Karolina Walicka