MY CAREER IN SIX SPOTLIGHT

HANNA FOJK-WRÓBEL

Regional Head of Payments Europe & GSC Oversight

 HSBC

Sharing her career journey by answering the six questions below.

Who or what has been your biggest source of inspiration throughout your career?

I would say I have been very lucky when it comes to my managers – I have learned a lot from each of them, focusing on their strengths and observing how they work and interact with others. Each of them taught me something unique—what was needed at that point in my career—and helped me progress further. Sometimes it wasn’t an easy path; it also meant some difficult conversations had to happen, and I needed to work on certain areas to improve. In the long run, though, it made me stronger and better prepared for further challenges in my next position. Throughout my career, my motivation and inspiration have always been curiosity and a desire to seek opportunities to learn and develop. I find roles interesting as long as I can learn something new, add value, face positive challenges, and truly make a difference for our clients. This has been my driver from the very beginning, and so far, it’s worked well for me.

Would you say your success is primarily due to luck or hard work?

A mixture of hard work and not giving up, using opportunities wisely, being in the right place at the right time, and having my family’s support. Certainly, I am stubborn and do not give up easily! This means that when I come across challenges, I have a clear vision of what I want to achieve and work towards it—no matter how difficult it may be.
I look at short- and mid-term opportunities rather than focusing too much on where I want to be in 10–20 years. I think about the difference I can make now in my work and the opportunities it brings for next steps. Given the changing environment, we need to be flexible and open-minded—seeing each change as an opportunity rather than a threat.
Personally, I wouldn’t be where I am now without the amazing support of my family—especially my husband and my mum, who take over when I’m away on business trips or need to stay longer at work. I know my sons are well taken care of and really value the extra time with their grandma, which makes it a bit easier to let go on that front.

What is the driving force behind your career aspirations?

Curiosity and a willingness to learn more. After all these years, I am ready to admit that work is my passion—I truly like what I do, and that’s my main driver. I’m a goal-oriented person, so when I see the results of both my own and my team’s work—whether it’s increasing client satisfaction, reducing the number of payments needing repair, or great collaboration—it motivates me to take the next step.
As long as I find my work challenging and it gives me the opportunity to make a difference, learn something new, expand my horizons, and step out of my comfort zone—I feel fulfilled.

If given the chance to do one thing differently in your career, what would it be and why?

We need both successes and failures in our career journey. Those who are afraid to fail will never learn from their mistakes or step out of their comfort zone. As such, there’s nothing specific I would change from my past experience. Every situation, even the most difficult, made me stronger and helped me get to where I am today. While some parts of my career were more stressful than others, I believe they were the right experiences for me. One piece of advice I would give to a much younger me would be not to think that choosing to have children as a woman would end my career progression—which is what I believed early in my career. In reality, it made me more resilient, understanding and open, though it does require strong organisational skills!

What was your most favourite job/role and why?

I find my current role fascinating, so I would say this is my favourite one, given how broad it is. Each day is different, requiring me to be flexible and switch between topics—customer escalations, strategic thinking, team management, and transformation. I cover a wide range of areas, including risk, finance, services, and operations, and I get to collaborate with stakeholders across the organisation as well as externally, which offers excellent networking opportunities. What I find most interesting is the constant change—adjusting to client needs and proactively identifying improvements to make the end-to-end client journey smoother and faster.

Do you have a favourite motto or quote that guides your professional life?

“A calm sea doesn’t make a good sailor” – this is what my former manager told me when I began my journey in payments. Don’t be afraid of challenges—they are opportunities to learn, showcase your capabilities, and demonstrate the value you bring. This phrase has stayed with me all these years. Given the ever-evolving environment, where we must continuously adapt, simplify, and meet client expectations, it’s more relevant than ever.
During those early days in payments, my former manager also gave me the book The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins. It encouraged me to make the most of those initial days—approaching processes with a fresh perspective, not being afraid to ask “obvious” questions, and spending as much time as possible with my team to learn, show trust, and build strong relationships. It also taught me not to get fixated on a single best solution—explore different paths and listen to varying viewpoints, especially those different from my own. That’s what helped me gain perspective.