Tribute to Wojtek 

Wojtek passed away unexpectedly on Christmas Eve, 2024. This is a tremendous loss for us, both personally and professionally. Below you may find our tribute, with some photos of Wojtek, and memories we shared during his funeral ceremony. We think it’s a good way to honor him.

Paula:

I met Wojtek in 2001 at Motorola in Kraków. He caught my attention with his demeanor – his openness, directness, and deep engagement in conversations when he chose to have them. He couldn’t stand small talk. I had to persistently offer him help – he thought I shouldn’t waste my time organizing his business trips or handling formalities and always tried to manage these things himself. He was always equally embarrassed when I managed to take care of something for him.

In 2007, after returning from maternity leave and deciding it was time for a career change, I learned that Wojtek had become the Director of Google’s new engineering office in Kraków. I emailed him, offering my help. The timing was perfect – he was just drafting a job posting for an administrative position. After a series of interviews, I joined Wojtek’s team. For years afterward, he joked that I came to the interview clearly stating I didn’t intend to stay in the position I was applying for because I wanted to grow, and I also made it clear that serving coffee at meetings would not be part of my duties. It turned out I struck a chord with him – he valued ambition and the desire to learn, and he considered using anyone for simple administrative tasks, or any menial tasks, as akin to slavery. Developing the people he worked with was always crucial for him. As a manager, he did everything to ensure we could train and advance in our careers. As for coffee – he made it himself for his guests and expected the same from the entire team.

Wojtek lived and breathed technology. He was proud of the projects we developed in Kraków, enjoyed working with the brilliant people he hired, and always repeated Google’s principle of hiring smarter people than oneself – meaning, as he often joked, that he was the dumbest person in the office.

Wojtek was a charismatic leader. People followed him, admired him, and respected him. He readily engaged in deep, substantive discussions, possessed an incredible knowledge of many fields, and had what he called a “pathological memory.” He also had a great sense of humor and self-awareness. He didn’t compromise on critical matters. When he found out that headquarters planned layoffs in the Kraków office, he boarded a plane to California the same day to put a stop to it. This happened more than once, and eventually, they had to let him go to carry out the layoffs.

Of the many new job offers, Wojtek chose Allegro, where he became the head of technology. When he assessed the workload, he asked me to join him to help build the company’s technological image and attract talented engineers. It took us two years. We met many amazing people during that time, with whom we remain friends to this day. However, Wojtek already had an idea for his own business. Back in the 1990s, while working at CERN, DESY, and MIT with the biggest names in quantum computing, he had developed methods to accelerate the utility of quantum computers. He shared this vision with me and Witek Jarnicki during our time at Google. Wojtek and Witek had a ritual: Wojtek would explain a method to Witek, who, as a mathematician, would work on a proof. If the method failed, Wojtek paid for sushi. In 2016, Witek paid for the first time. That’s when Wojtek applied for a grant for an R&D project based on this idea and invited Witek and me to join him. This marked the beginning of our adventure with BEIT, which continues to this day.

Everyone who knew Wojtek knows he was a remarkable person. He demanded a lot from himself and others. He didn’t waste time on superficial relationships. When something piqued his interest, he gave it 120%. He often saw what others couldn’t and had a way of inspiring others with his vision. He believed that growth only came from stepping out of one’s comfort zone, and since I told him I wanted to grow, I practically stopped returning to mine. It was a challenging experience, but I’m incredibly grateful for it because it shaped me. Importantly, I could always count on his support.

Since I found it easy to thank him for his help but hard to apologize when I made mistakes, he would laugh and say he preferred to hear “one apology for ten thank-yous.” So, stepping out of my comfort zone once more, I’ll say: Wojtuś, I’m sorry for everything I should have done but didn’t, for everything I said but shouldn’t have. And I’ll also say thank you – for believing in me, for everything you taught me, and for your friendship over the past 23 years. See you someday, on the better side.

 

Andrzej:

If you are here with us today, it means that at some point, your path crossed with Wojtek’s. Each of us carries a unique and powerful memory of knowing him because Wojtek was not someone you could simply pass by without notice. In my mind, he will always remain a bold and unyielding personality, and I believe he has left just as strong a mark on your hearts. The memory that stands out most vividly for me is our very first meeting – which, in fact, began with a confrontation. A heated debate, an exchange of strong opinions during a discussion about startups, where Wojtek represented Google. The emotions ran so high that Paulina had to step in afterward to mediate between us. But even then, I sensed that we had more in common than we had dividing us – because despite our sharp debate, substance and intellectual rigor always came first. And that was something Wojtek deeply valued. Soon after, Paulina arranged another meeting, and that was when we not only reached an understanding but also forged a friendship – and a shared determination to change the world of startups together.

This speaks volumes about Wojtek’s incredible mindset – he could be stubborn, but he was also open to dialogue, always curious about other people’s perspectives. That was the beginning of our seven-year journey – or rather, mission – of supporting entrepreneurs. I say “mission” because with Wojtek, nothing was ever done halfway. His friends, partners, and family all know this. Each of us felt his boundless energy, which drove him to take action and continuously push himself forward. And I truly believe that what we started together will continue to live on, bearing fruit for a long time to come. Wojtek had many talents. He often repeated one of his favorite principles: “Underpromise – overdeliver.” For me, this phrase will always be synonymous with him. That’s exactly how he lived and worked.

I also remember the time he casually mentioned that he was a sailor and had sailed with Captain Baranowski – he spoke about it with not a hint of boasting, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. It wasn’t until I read “Żeglujmy Razem” that I discovered that in the 1980s, Wojtek was the youngest certified Master Mariner in Poland! Classic Wojtek – incredible achievements, spoken of with humility, never seeking attention. He was also a passionate practitioner of Japanese martial arts and culture, yet I never even knew that he had attained the title of Shihan Okuyama Ryu. A man of many passions, yet so rarely speaking of them.

That was Wojtek – open, honest, dedicated. A man you could “steal horses with” – someone you could always count on. He will remain in our memories as a friend who embraced life at full speed, infecting others with his energy and his unwavering belief that great things can be accomplished. Let us remember him that way. And although today, it is hard to accept that Wojtek is no longer with us, his spirit, his energy, and everything we started together will live on.

Thank you, Wojtek, for being with us and for changing our lives in such a profound way. Rest in peace.