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Ryszard Skarbek

CEO at Empowerment Coaching Krakow

Krakow, Poland

30+ years of professional record. HR and IT are married together.
Global Head-level corporate experience. A strong foundation of Project Management. Full-spectrum of HR expertise (entire employee life cycle), including HR Analytics, and flavored with many years of hands-on experience in the Shared Service Center.

Founder and co-owner of www.empowerment-coaching.com, grounded in the following motto:
"Work for a Cause, not for applause. Live Life to express, not to impress"

Certified and appreciated by work colleagues, Coach for both individual and team coaching (GROW and Action Learning methods). MBTI profiler.

Project management practitioner in both Waterfall and Agile methods. Certified in the Design Thinking method by the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. Head of Programme Management Office for the transformation of the global service organization.

Available For: Advising, Authoring, Consulting
Travels From: online
Speaking Topics: coaching, mentoring, HR, organizational culture, employee engagement, internal communication

Ryszard Skarbek Points
Academic 0
Author 26
Influencer 0
Speaker 0
Entrepreneur 48
Total 74

Points based upon Thinkers360 patent-pending algorithm.

Thought Leader Profile

Portfolio Mix

Company Information

Company Type: Service Provider
Business Unit: HR, Coaching, Mentoring
Theatre: Europe
Minimum Project Size: N/A
Average Hourly Rate: $100-$149
Number of Employees: 1-10
Company Founded Date: 2020

Areas of Expertise

AGI 30.39
Agile 30.33
AI 30.01
AI Governance 30.08
Analytics
Behavioral Science 33.70
Business Strategy 30.06
Careers
Change Management 30.09
Coaching 33.14
Creativity 32.16
Culture 30.10
Design Thinking 30.40
Digital Transformation
Diversity and Inclusion 30.24
Entrepreneurship
Future of Work
Health and Wellness 30.16
HR 30.08
Innovation 30.03
IT Leadership
Leadership 30.73
Management 31.78
Mental Health 30.27
Project Management 30.35
Sustainability 30.08
Transformation

Industry Experience

Consumer Products
High Tech & Electronics
Manufacturing
Professional Services

Publications & Experience

25 Article/Blogs
50 Minds That Changed the World and Influenced the Lives of Millions
Empowerment Coaching
May 18, 2026
The history of humanity is the history of ideas. It's not events that change the world—it's people who think differently, ask questions, and question reality. This article showcases 50 minds that changed the world and shaped contemporary thinking about humanity, leadership, psychology, and personal development.

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Tags: Behavioral Science, Coaching, Leadership

Noam Chomsky and his social manipulation theory
Ryszard Skarbek
May 18, 2026
Avram Noam Chomsky, an American Laureate Professor of Linguistics at the University of Arizona and Institute Professor Emeritus at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, is one of the most cited scientists in the world. This is partly due to his extensive body of work (he has written over 150 books on topics such as linguistics, war, and politics) and to many often moving quotes.

He is called the father of modern linguistics, and his greatest contribution to Mankind's achievements is the theory of linguistics. Chomsky is also a major figure in analytic philosophy and one of the founders of cognitive science.

But he is not only a respected and highly valued scientist. He is known for his political activism and social criticism.

Today, I would like to share a THEORY OF MANIPULATION that Chomsky developed while observing the modern world. I am curious about which points will appeal to you the most. You may find something there that you know from your experience.

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Tags: Behavioral Science, Culture, Mental Health

A holistic approach to the human being: body, mind, heart, and soul
Empowerment Coaching
May 17, 2026
A holistic approach to humanity assumes that the human being is an integrated system: body + mind + emotions (heart) + spiritual dimension. Each of these elements influences the others, so human development requires work on all levels simultaneously – biological, psychological, social, and existential.

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Tags: Behavioral Science, Coaching, Health and Wellness

Boiled Frog Syndrome, Tall Poppy Effect, Pollyanna Syndrome: learn three major cognitive biases
Ryszard Skarbek
May 12, 2026
Three common cognitive biases can affect both our personal and professional lives. These biases are the Boiled Grog Syndrome, the Tall Poppy Syndrome, and the Pollyanna Effect. They can hinder our satisfaction, fulfillment, and relationships with others. These biases are prevalent in various aspects of our lives. They can pose challenges in our private relationships and at work.

Let's examine the Boiled Frog, Tall Poppy, and Pollyanna Syndrome. Learn to recognize and deal with them in everyday life. In the first place, let's put a frog in cold, tepid water and start a gradual heating process.

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Tags: Behavioral Science, Health and Wellness, Mental Health

HR Trends 2026: AI, leadership i nowa era pracy
Empowerment Coaching
May 07, 2026
Raport McLean & Company „HR Trends 2026” pokazuje, że HR przestaje pełnić rolę administracyjnego wsparcia i staje się strategicznym liderem transformacji organizacyjnej. Najważniejsze trendy obejmują: rozwój leadershipu, wdrażanie AI, budowę kultury ciągłego uczenia się, wzrost znaczenia wellbeingu oraz silniejszą współpracę HR z IT, finansami i komunikacją. Organizacje przyszłości będą wygrywać dzięki adaptacyjności, kulturze opartej na wartościach i zdolności liderów do zarządzania zmianą.

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Tags: AI, HR, Leadership

Artificial Intelligence in Coaching: The Online AI Coach Is Here
Ryszard Skarbek
May 06, 2026
Artificial intelligence is rapidly entering the world of coaching, supporting both coaches and coachees. Using machine learning algorithms and chatbots based on large language models (LLMs), AI can analyze massive datasets, provide personalized recommendations, and be available 24/7.

This modern technology, though already highly advanced, cannot yet recognize the subtleties of human emotion and certainly cannot replace human empathy. However, when used effectively, it can strengthen the interpersonal bond in the coaching process. This is achieved, among other things, by allowing the coach to take over routine tasks (e.g., note-taking and analysis) from a human coach and by providing real-time feedback.

In this article, we present specific examples of existing AI solutions that demonstrate how AI is used in coaching and support different types of coaching:

- life coaching,
- career coaching,
- business coaching,
- executive coaching.

Our summary includes both global solutions and those available on the Polish market.

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Tags: AGI, Behavioral Science, Coaching

Carl Jung: Jungian Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious Explained
Ryszard Skarbek
May 05, 2026
The whole world knows Carl Gustav Jung as a brilliant psychiatrist and psychotherapist. His works and words have had a significant impact on Western civilization. Called the rebellious disciple of Sigmund Freud, he criticized Freud's psychoanalysis and created his concept of analytical psychology. He went down in history mainly as the author of two concepts. His most famous achievements are archetypes and the collective unconscious.

We also owe him the invention of the "introvert" and "extrovert". His theories and personality types were the foundation for personality and behavior tests. The number one example is the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator).

Jung's theories have been used by sciences other than psychology. The best example of such an application is the brand archetype used in advertising, marketing, and sales. It represents a set of specific characteristics and speaks about the character and main brand values. It also includes patterns of human behavior that reflect lifestyles. Recently, this approach has gained popularity in branding and brand management.

Today, we will explain Carl Jung's Archetypes and describe in detail the personality types he developed. We will also explain the differences and elaborate on the four main periods of human life he defined. Finally, we will present five keys to human happiness that he fervently believed.

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Tags: Behavioral Science, Culture, Mental Health

Ubuntu - Afrykańska filozofia jedności. Czego może nauczyć liderów?
Empowerment Coaching
May 05, 2026
Ubuntu to afrykańska filozofia relacji międzyludzkich wyrażona w zdaniu „Jestem, bo jesteśmy”. Zakłada ona, że człowiek rozwija swoją tożsamość poprzez relacje z innymi ludźmi oraz poprzez uczestnictwo we wspólnocie.

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Tags: Culture, Leadership

Relacyjne przywództwo – przyszłość leadershipu opartego na relacjach
Empowerment Coaching
May 03, 2026
Relacyjne przywództwo to podejście do zarządzania, w którym skuteczność lidera wynika przede wszystkim z jakości relacji budowanych z innymi ludźmi.

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Tags: Leadership

World Happiness Report 2026: Co liderzy i HR muszą wiedzieć o szczęściu
Empowerment Coaching
May 02, 2026
World Happiness Report 2026 pokazuje, że wellbeing pracowników staje się kluczowym czynnikiem efektywności organizacji. W szczególności rośnie znaczenie emocji, relacji społecznych oraz wpływu środowiska cyfrowego (w tym social media) na zaangażowanie i zdrowie psychiczne. Dla liderów i działów HR oznacza to konieczność przejścia od zarządzania wynikami do zarządzania doświadczeniem pracownika.

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Tags: HR, Leadership

Socrates - the first good coach in the world?
Ryszard Skarbek
April 27, 2026
Socrates (469-399 BCE) is, next to Plato and Aristotle, considered the greatest philosopher of antiquity. He was such an important figure that periods in the history of philosophy are divided into pre-Socratic and post-Socratic.

The Socratic Method, ascribed to him, is a way of unveiling the truth through dialogue. The principles are valid today, and you can quickly note the connection to modern coaching.

So, could he be the world's first good coach? Let's take a closer look at his biography, philosophy, and work style.

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Tags: AI Governance, Behavioral Science, Coaching

Zjawiska psychologiczne i błędy poznawcze - kompletny przewodnik
Empowerment Coaching
April 25, 2026
Zjawiska psychologiczne i błędy poznawcze to systematyczne odchylenia w myśleniu, które wpływają na sposób interpretacji informacji, podejmowania decyzji i oceniania innych ludzi. Powstają jako efekt uproszczeń (heurystyk), które pomagają szybko reagować, ale często prowadzą do błędnych wniosków. Zrozumienie tych mechanizmów pozwala podejmować lepsze decyzje, budować relacje i zwiększać skuteczność w pracy i życiu. k

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Tags: Behavioral Science, Leadership

What is coaching leadership style? A way to engage employees
Ryszard Skarbek
April 19, 2026
The coaching leadership style is an approach that creates a high-performance culture at work. It also ensures a safe work environment and supports individual satisfaction. The hallmarks of this culture are collaboration, empowerment, and personal and professional fulfillment.

Collaboration is the most important of these characteristics and often contrasts with a "command and control" approach, aka autocratic style. "Command and control" behaviors suppress individual potential and enforce a high-pressure work environment. Today leaders need a better way to motivate and lead their teams.

In addition to explaining what a coaching leadership style is and where it comes from, we will also provide an example of a coaching conversation with an employee and demonstrate its impact compared to traditional leadership.

You will also find links to supplementary information, for example, to a comprehensive study entitled Leader as a Coach, which includes, among others, examples of specific questions and tools that a manager can use in conversations with an employee.

At the end of the article, you will find a link to a free ebook that helps leaders in building psychological safety. This is achieved thanks to the technique of asking powerful questions.

Full text is available on Empowerment Coaching Krakow website.

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Tags: Behavioral Science, Coaching, Leadership

Reverse mentoring program. Reverse mentor and mentee.
Empowerment Coaching
April 16, 2026
Many organizations struggle with high employee attrition and turnover rates among younger employees. Millennials are the demographic most likely to leave their jobs. It's no wonder, then, that many employers struggle to retain millennial talent.

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Tags: Coaching, Leadership, Management

Marilyn vos Savant - A person with the highest IQ recorded in the Guinness Book
Ryszard Skarbek
March 26, 2026
From 1986 to 1989, Marilyn vos Savant (born Marilyn Mach) was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the person with the highest IQ in history. This world record category was then removed from the book, and the IQ record achieved by Marilyn has not been broken to this day.

The highest test result that Marilyn vos Savant achieved (and she took IQ tests many times) was 228!

Full text is available on Empowerment Coaching Krakow website.

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Tags: Behavioral Science, Culture, Diversity and Inclusion

Mentoring Program: How to Design Mentor-Mentees Relationships
Empowerment Coaching
March 23, 2026
In today's business world, we talk about mentoring programs more than ever before. They're no longer just academic business incubators or the creation of alumni-student communities, but much more.

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Tags: Coaching, Leadership, Management

The Lewis Model. Culture triangle and cross-cultural communication
Ryszard Skarbek
October 25, 2021
Handling change is challenging, and managing a multicultural team through change makes it even more difficult. That can be particularly challenging for the team leader. So, how can you ensure success in such a situation?

It is essential to remember that combining various nationalities and social groups can be a complex matter heavily influenced by national characteristics. We often neglect this on a day-to-day basis.

The most significant differences lie in expressing emotions, verbally and non-verbally, establishing relationships, approaching hierarchies and authorities, and ultimately dealing with goals and people. All are rooted in mentality, including both formal and informal norms.

Full text is available on Empowerment Coaching Krakow website.

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Tags: Change Management, Culture, Diversity and Inclusion

Co wspólnego z rozwojem osobistym ma Teoria Względności?
Linkedin
January 25, 2021
Każdy z nas na pewno zna słynne równanie Einsteina: E=mc2 W każdej szkole na tym świecie znajduje się ono w programie zajęć z fizyki. Zwykle towarzyszą mu zadania związane z podróżami kosmicznymi, prędkością światła, sławnym przykładem bliźniaków starzejących się w innym tempie …

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Tags: Change Management, Management

O Asertywności inaczej
Linkedin
January 13, 2021
"Pewnego dnia król zwierząt, lew, stwierdził, że jest już za stary, aby polować i uganiać się po lesie za zwierzyną. Wydał wobec tego dekret, w którym ogłosił, że od poniedziałku kolejno każdego dnia do zjedzenia zgłoszą się: sarna, jeleń, dzik, itd... aż do końca miesiąca.

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Tags: Change Management, Coaching, Leadership

Przed Nowym Rokiem - czy znasz wartość swojego czasu?
Linkedin
December 29, 2020

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Tags: Business Strategy, Management

Cisza
Linkedin
December 20, 2020
Czasami potrzeba ciszy, żeby dobrze siebie usłyszeć. Zwłaszcza wtedy, kiedy czekają na nas trudne decyzje. Czasami trzeba się zatrzymać, zrobić krok do tyłu. Po to, żeby potem móc zrobić kilka do przodu. We właściwym kierunku.

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Tags: Innovation, Leadership

Czym wypełniona jest Twoja głowa?
Linkedin
December 14, 2020
"Pewnego dnia, jak zwykle po ćwiczeniach szkoły walki, mistrz odpowiadał na pytania i wątpliwości uczniów. Tego dnia było ich sporo, bo wczoraj wszyscy wrócili z miasta, gdzie spotkali się z uczniami innych szkół na dorocznych zawodach.

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Tags: Management, Sustainability

Jestem zajęty, więc jestem
Linkedin
December 09, 2020
"Pewnego dnia uczniowie zauważyli, że mistrz jest wyjątkowo skupiony. Z ogromną uwagą przygląda się im, jak ćwiczą, medytują, wykonują codzienne obowiązki. Po kilku dniach przy wieczornym posiłku jeden z uczniów odważył się zapytać:

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Tags: Business Strategy, Management

Co wspólnego ma cisza z Diversity & Inclusion?
Linkedin
December 02, 2020
"W czasie zajęć wykładowca zapytał studentów jak wyglądałaby ich aktualna lista 7 cudów świata. Po gorących dyskusjach grupa przedstawiła następujące zestawienie:

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Tags: Culture, Diversity and Inclusion, Leadership

Things aren’t always what they seem
Linkedin
November 17, 2020
"The two traveling Angels stayed overnight with a very wealthy family living in a comfortably furnished mansion. The family was very unpleasant and refused to let the Angels stay in one of the many available rooms. Instead, they offered them a piece of flooring in a cold basement. When the Angels went to bed, the older one noticed a hole in the wall and decided to seal it.

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Tags: Leadership, Management

1 Founder
Founder and Managing Partner
Empowerment Coaching Krakow
March 02, 2020
Empowerment Coaching is a Krakow-based company specializing in executive business coaching for companies and individuals.

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Tags: Coaching, Leadership, Management

2 Industry Certifications
Design Thinking Certificate by University of Virginia
Darden School of Business University of Virginia
May 14, 2017
Ryszard Skarbek - Design Thinking Certificate by Darden School of Business University of Virginia

Credential ID 66UPQSHVL9KV

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Tags: Agile, Creativity, Design Thinking

Executive Coach and Performance Coach Certificate
Institute of Leadership and Management
September 27, 2012
Executive Coach and Performance Coach Certificate

Credential ID NB120034724511

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Tags: Coaching, Leadership, Management

1 Infographic
Top 50 Cognitive Biases
Ryszard Skarbek
April 08, 2026
We often do not realize that we are subject to unconscious mistakes, that affect our judgment and behavior. 

What is a cognitive bias? It is a persistent, irrational error in our thinking that affects our conclusions, emotions, and ultimately decisions, attitudes, and behavior. 

Each cognitive error is a limitation for the correct perception of the reality that surrounds us. 

​On Empowerment Coaching Krakow website you will find the list of infographics describing the 50 most common cognitive biases. These graphical cards are free to download and use freely. 

In addition to the Graphical Library of 50 Cognitive Biases, you will also find more detailed descriptions of the five cognitive biases that I believe are the most common in the 21st-century Western world. 

At the end of this study, you will find specific tips that explain in five steps how to identify cognitive biases, how to eliminate them, and how to avoid them in the future. 

And one extra surprise awaits you, too! 

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Tags: Behavioral Science, Coaching, Leadership

1 Membership
Project Management Institute (PMI) Membership Certificate
Project Management Institute (PMI)
April 21, 2022
Ryszard Skarbek - Project Management Institute (PMI) Membership Certificate

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Tags: Project Management

1 Mentor
Project Management Institute Mentor Certificate
Project Management Institute
April 27, 2022
Mentor Ryszard Skarbek - Project Management Institute (PMI) Certificate

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Tags: Leadership, Management, Project Management

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