Behind the scenes series – Marta Sołtysiak
Marta is a Manager and part of the Sustainability team in Civitta Poland. She joined Civitta with a passion for driving sustainability solutions and a commitment to helping businesses navigate the evolving landscape of sustainability challenges and opportunities.
Hi Marta! You have recently joined Civitta – what are your first impressions of the team in Poland and the work culture?
After coming from a much larger corporate environment, I was curious how things would work at Civitta. What I discovered was a refreshingly well-organized company with a strong collaborative spirit. Teamwork and open communication are genuinely prioritized here, making it easy to connect with colleagues and partners whenever you need support – no red tape, just action.
In the Polish sustainability team, it’s currently just me, another colleague and my manager – and I think we really align in terms of work style and values. There’s no tension around workloads or priorities, we’re on the same page and that makes everything smoother. We also collaborate a lot with colleagues from the Innovation and Private streams and I really enjoy that mix. Honestly, I enjoy coming to the office, it’s a good vibe!
What first got you interested in sustainability and what has kept you excited about it over time?
My interest in sustainability started back in 2019 when I was an intern at Accenture. I supported the creation of a report on the circular economy in the fashion industry and I found it incredibly fascinating. It opened my eyes to how different business models can positively impact both the environment and society. That moment really stuck with me and inspired me to explore the topic further.
I wrote my master’s thesis on the circular economy at the Warsaw School of Economics, then took a course on entrepreneurship and innovation in France. That sparked my passion for sustainability and led me to a postgrad in sustainability and business strategy. I stay engaged, because the field is always evolving and there’s always something new to learn!
Having worked across industries like pharma, textile and logistics, has something unexpected from one sector inspired a solution in another?
One thing that really stood out to me while working across sectors, is how the same sustainability issue can carry very different weight, depending on the industry. For example, responsible marketing is a big topic in the textile sector, it’s all about being transparent with consumers: “is the material organic, what’s the footprint, what are the product characteristics?”
In the pharmaceutical industry, what’s is important is not just knowing if a T-shirt is made from natural fibers, but: “is a product is safe, is it the right dosage, what are the potential risks?” I found it really interesting how material topics can shift so much based on the industry, even if they seem the same on paper.
Looking five years ahead –
what kind of impact would you be most proud to achieve through your work?
It’s hard to say what the sustainability space will look like in five years. Things were moving fast, especially with regulations, but recent decisions from the European Commission have slowed or even reversed some progress. For example, the reporting directive was scaled back significantly. So, the future landscape is uncertain.
That said, in my ideal world, I’d love to contribute to meaningful work in the public sector. I used to think it was too slow or hard to influence, but I’ve come to see the real potential for large-scale impact. Supporting science-based policies or creating sustainability reports that shape real understanding, is becoming more and more exciting to me.
What have you enjoyed about the Civitta sustainability team? Any habits or ways of working that stood out?
One thing I really appreciate about the Civitta sustainability team is how well we manage day-to-day work. Our weekly planning meetings and regular check-ins bring clarity and structure, which I didn’t always experience in larger organizations. Here, we’re intentional about tracking progress, avoiding duplication and communicating openly – something I truly value.
On a personal note, I enjoy our Warsaw office routines, like biweekly Friday lunches. Even though our sustainability team is spread across cities, there’s a real effort to stay connected – we’re even planning a team gathering soon. It really shows how much the culture values human connection, even in a remote setup!
What’s something you enjoy outside of work that helps you recharge?
One thing I like is spending time in nature – whether that’s hopping on my bike and heading to the park or taking part in something a bit more immersive, like a forest workshop I’m attending soon. Just being outside really helps me clear my mind!
The second is more creative: I love working with my hands. A few years ago, I built a tiny dollhouse for my niece out of cardboard and leftover materials and I’ve been hooked on crafting ever since. Now I do a lot of collage and card-making. It’s my way of staying creative and completely switching off for a while.
What qualities make a strong Civitta sustainability consultant and how can someone succeed in this team?
To succeed as a Civitta sustainability consultant, you need a solid grasp of sustainability topics and regulations, but just as important are the basics – communicating clearly, structuring your thoughts, and turning insights into practical advice clients can use.
It’s all interconnected: energy, emissions, water use – and systems thinking helps us see the bigger picture. My advice for anyone joining Civitta would be: don’t be afraid to be creative – sustainability thrives on fresh perspectives! There is real space for new ideas and that makes the work even more meaningful!