AUTHENTICITY, EMPATHY AND ATTENTION TO RELATIONSHIPS

Sylwia Mokrysz, member of the management board and proxy of Mokate, is interviewed by Katarzyna Mazur.

Sylwia Mokrysz represents the fourth generation of this 100-year-old family business. She has been involved in shaping the company’s strategy since the early 1990s. During a key period for the company, she implemented successful marketing campaigns for Mokate Cappuccino. She brought the Loyd brand to the forefront of tea brands and set it on a course for global dominance. It is for this brand that Sylwia Mokrysz has obtained the prestigious membership of ‘The London Tea History Association’. She has secured a leading position for Minutka tea in its category. She has received numerous awards and distinctions for the Mokate Group, including “Teraz Polska” (Poland Now), “Superbrands” and the Economic Award of the President of the Republic of Poland. Sylwia Mokrysz is a well-known figure in the women’s entrepreneurship movement. She holds the title of “Polish Ambassador for Women’s Entrepreneurship”. Since 2014, she has been active in the Polish Network of Female Entrepreneurship and is a member of the “Family Business Network”. In 2016, she represented Poland at the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day at the UN Headquarters in New York. She is involved in the “Million Women Mentors” project.

In 2023, Sylwia Mokrysz founded the Coffee & Tea Market Research Institute. As its President, she conducts research and integrates and supports the scientific, research and business communities related to this market. In addition to her professional, scientific and social activities, she is a passionate about photography and helicopter piloting. She is the co-author of the novel “The Tea Lover. When Life Becomes a Journey” (Polish „Herbaciarz. Gdy życie staje się podróżą”). She also translated Orson Scott Marden’s work “Pushing to the Front” and published it in the collector’s series. Privately, she is the mother of two grown-up children.

Mokate is one of the best-known companies in Poland. What challenges have you faced as a female leader in such a dynamic industry?

The biggest challenge has been to balance the dynamic growth of the company with maintaining its family character. Building a global brand, especially in demanding foreign markets, required courage, flexibility and the ability to adapt to changing trends.

What matters in business is authenticity, empathy and attention to relationships. Women have a unique ability to see different aspects at the same time and this is a great asset that helps in decision-making even in the face of challenges.

Which of your qualities have been key to the success of the company?

In business, consistency, intuition and openness to new opportunities are paramount. I have always tried to look at products from the customer’s point of view. This approach has enabled us to launch innovative functional teas that respond to current consumer needs.

At the same time, I have my mother’s words in mind: “Success is not given once and for all.” This belief accompanies me at every stage of my work. I am happy to be writing my story with such an authority at my side and I am optimistic about the future.

What do you think needs to change for women to have an even stronger position in the business world?

Women already play an important role in business, but they often do not realise their full potential. The support of mentors and being inspired by the success of other women is key. That is why I am involved in projects such as Million Women Mentors, which help to develop professional skills. There are many women working in key positions at Mokate, whose attitude shows that empathy and cooperation are extremely valuable in business.

What personal experiences have influenced your approach to the role of women in managing a large company?

I was very much influenced by my mother, Teresa Mokrysz, who took over the reins of the company in the 1990s. She showed me that in business you have to be bold and consistent.

One of the breakthrough moments was the success of Mokate Cappuccino. In 1992, I created a commercial with the slogan “Mokate Cappuccino – a star among coffees”, in which I personally appeared. It was the first all-Polish TV production to enter the advertising canon. Since then, I have learnt that women can play a key role in business through courage and creativity, while maintaining their authenticity.

What values have you inherited from your loved ones that have influenced your decisions as a leader?

The most important values I have taken from home are respect for people, honesty and responsibility for the decisions I make. This requires daily work and commitment. I try to implement these principles at Mokate by focusing on product quality and building relationships based on mutual trust.

What childhood memories of Mokate are most important to you? How have these memories shaped your approach to business?

The most memorable thing for me was the family atmosphere and the commitment of my parents. The company was present in our lives every day. I remember my mother passionately introducing ever new flavours of Mokate Cappuccino. I was already in charge of marketing and promotion at the time.

These experiences have taught me that business is all about people, values and passion, and that success is the result of teamwork.

What did you learn from your parents, the founders of Mokate, and what have you decided to bring to the company as a woman running the family business?

I learned from my parents that quality and authenticity are key to building trust. At Mokate, I introduced a modern approach to marketing that helped our Loyd teas stand out on the market. Advertising campaigns such as “Loyd – The Magic Experience” or the inclusion of the Minutka tea in Polish TV series have shown that it pays to be creative and unconventional.

Mokate is a company that stands out on the market both in Poland and abroad. Who or what has been your biggest inspiration for the further development of the company and what are your goals for the future?

My greatest inspiration has always been my parents. My mum showed me that courage and a sense of the market can take a company to a new level, and my dad showed me that even the best idea requires consistent work.

Their attitude taught me that success is not about achieving a goal once, but about constantly seeking new opportunities. That is why we at Mokate are constantly developing our products and trying to respond to the changing needs of consumers. In the future, I would like to make our brands even more recognisable and inspire people to discover new flavours.