Sylwia Mokrysz, a doctor of social sciences, Mokate SA proxy and winner of the 2025 Manager of the Year title, has been co-creating one of the most recognisable brands in Central Europe for the last three decades. Representing the fourth generation of the Mokrysz family business, she demonstrated that successful management is a combination of courage, strategy and passion.

Ms Mokrysz began her professional path as a student, running her own “Sylwia” advertising agency with Mokate as the most important client. She implemented one of the most important advertising campaigns in the company’s history: the iconic Mokate Cappuccino commercial. ‘I didn’t improvise, I carefully analysed the market, trained myself and watched the consumer needs. We created campaigns that taught, engaged and built emotional connections with the brand,” Sylwia Mokrysz recalls.

Facing challenges

The real challenge, however, came with the acquisition of the Consumer company and the entry into a whole new category for Mokate, i.e. teas. “At first, I had my doubts, as I didn’t know the product and its potential. But there was no time to hesitate, I had to act and learn fast,” says Sylwia Mokrysz. She opted for education and collaboration with experts, starting with intensive training at the London’s Thompson Lloyd & Ewart tea house. There she met enthusiasts who know almost everything about tea. “They shared with me not only their passion, but also their desire to discover more and more possibilities. Such enthusiasm was also assumed by the team I started to build for the new sector.”

Under the leadership of Sylwia Mokrysz the LOYD brand underwent a major transformation, becoming a recognisable player not only in the Polish market, but also in foreign markets. In turn, the creative works on the Minutka tea brand were built around the product placement formula. “We started cooperation with the creators of the Ranch series and placed our teas in it. Even now, during the reruns of this series, you can see our tea in a great context, making it look very natural and expressive,” says Sylwia Mokrysz.

Towards modernity

Today Mokate is no longer just a brand associated with coffee and tea, but also a modern, technologically advanced concern which consistently pursues the ambitious vision of development based on the principles of sustainable development. A major modernisation of the production facility has just been completed in Ustroń. “We are investing in increased production capacity, process automation, use of renewable energy sources and eco-friendly packaging that minimises environmental impact,” Sylwia Mokrysz explains.

An important part of her activities is also the establishment of the Coffee and Tea Market Research Institute, with offices in Ustroń and London. “This is a continuation of my professional path and the vision of combining science with business,” says Sylwia Mokrysz. She remains true to her values, which she successfully implements in business. “For me, business is first and foremost about people: employees, customers, partners and the local community They are the foundation of our company and the source of Mokate’s true strength,” she emphasises.