Leading through Collaboration!
The mining industry plays a crucial role in the global economy, contributing to the extraction of essential raw materials used across various sectors. As the industry continues to face challenges related to safety, efficiency, and environmental impact, there is a growing need for innovative solutions that enhance operations while prioritizing the well-being of workers. Companies within the sector are increasingly focused on developing technologies and strategies that can address these issues, driving progress and ensuring sustainable practices. The industry is shaped by the efforts of dedicated professionals who understand the unique complexities of mining and are committed to driving progress within this essential field.
Mateusz Dworak, CEO of Compensus Sp. z o.o., is one such professional making a significant impact in the mining sector. Known for his versatile leadership, Mateusz has effectively combined various roles to push the boundaries of what his company can achieve. His approach is characterized by close collaboration with his team, ensuring that every decision is made with a deep understanding of the industry’s demands. Mateusz’s hands-on leadership style, where he works alongside his team rather than leading from a distance, has cultivated a culture of innovation and commitment. His focus on time efficiency and quick decision-making has further distinguished him as a leader who guides and actively shapes the future of mining safety and efficiency.
Compensus Sp. z o.o., under Mateusz’s leadership, has emerged as a key player in the mining industry. The company is recognized for its commitment to developing innovative solutions that enhance the safety and efficiency of mining operations. By prioritizing quick response times and cultivating a company culture that aligns with its core values, Compensus has set itself apart from larger competitors. The firm’s dedication to solving real-world problems in mining has earned it recognition beyond its home country, positioning it as a growing force in international markets. Through its continued efforts, Compensus Sp. z o.o. is contributing to the advancement of the mining industry and ensuring that safety and efficiency remain at the top of its operations.
Let’s explore Mateusz’s innovative leadership in the mining industry:
Enhancing Miner Safety and Efficiency
Mateusz believes that his history in the mining branch (a very specific one) is one of the strangest because, before Compensus, he was related to the finance/banking sector. After some time in a commercial bank, he decided to develop his own financial business. His activity led him to found an entire capital group, where he has remained to this day and is involved in the development of each of its branches.
His inspiration is his relation with heavy industry, where together with his team, they can deliver solutions that help all miners work more efficiently and safely. The underground world is something other and unique; he prefers to go 1000 meters underground than to the 100th floor.
Leading with Versatility and Dedication
It must be remembered that Compensus Sp. z o.o. is not a big corporation with thousands of employees, which is why Mateusz demands more from himself by combining several functions at once. The same applies to the employees he invites to the Compensus Sp. z o.o. team.
As the CEO of Compensus Sp. z o.o., he must combine duties unusual for this position, such as:
CFO, caring about the financial condition (being in touch all the time with the accounting department),
CTO, looking for new problems to solve or new needs that are invisible to other companies. In this regard, Mateusz is especially fortunate because Compensus Sp. z o.o. has the best technical team in the whole country, which has no problem stopping his crazy, often incorrect ideas, but sometimes there’s a method to the madness.
Hands-On Leadership Approach
Mateusz describes his leadership style in one word, which is “Teammate.”
A person who is always trying to do something with the team, not from behind the desk.
A person who is always close with the team and the customer—because without them, he would not exist.
Mateusz believes that thanks to this approach, the team feels that he is someone who lives what he does with his people and not just conducting and pointing fingers.
Embracing the Value of Time
Mateusz highlights the well-known saying—time is money.
Time always costs, regardless of whether the right decisions are made or not. It’s important to act. Unlike other (very often bigger than Compensus Sp. z o.o.) companies, they act immediately, facing all the consequences of their actions. Till today, it has been good for them, and he hopes it stays that way.
This approach is possible thanks to the people Mateusz works with because he knows that together, they will solve any problem they encounter—this gives him the comfort of acting quickly.
Building a Unified Company Spirit
For the team to remain motivated, innovative, and aligned with the company’s goals, Mateusz believes that first, “You must invite people to your company who are a bit like you. They should have similar values and approaches to your work.”
Additionally, “Everyone together believes that you are really creating something useful for other people—that’s how the common spirit grows, and you, as the head of the company, are almost home.”
He means almost because “You must remember that work-life balance and financial stabilization are fundamental for every employee.”
Efficient and Friendly Business Interactions
According to Mateusz, it’s not a strategy to stay updated with the latest trends and developments; it’s more like a habit—trying to be in every “mousehole” where one can find some customer need or problem to solve. By doing this, there is a chance to be not just a seller but a partner in business.
He highlights, “The point is to create a relationship in which the customer is calling you, not you to the customer. In the end, after some time, “the customer” becomes more like a familiar or friend with whom you can go for a couple of beers, and you are able to close all cases in the first 5 minutes, after which you forget about the job.”
Finding Balance with Support
Mateusz acknowledges that it is very hard or sometimes impossible to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Anyone who disagrees may be either mistaken or already well-established in their career with significant financial resources. In his case, when he is always in a rush, the unique, reasonable person is his wife, who, when necessary, brings him to order and always cares for him.
Empowering Team Members
Mateusz believes that in the industry, the unique recipe for success in long-term vision is the connection of youth and courage with experience and humility. He means creating a team based on young, enterprising people with those more experienced in life, often already retired, who pass on their knowledge.
Mateusz wants to be a leader who does not prevent his people from pursuing their goals.
Essential Rules for Aspiring Leaders
Mateusz shares his basic rules with aspiring leaders who aim to reach executive-level positions in their careers, which he has learned from his father:
- Be hardworking,
- Punctual (respect other people’s time),
- Never take shortcuts,
- Learn from other people’s mistakes,
- Save money!
In Mateusz’s opinion, these rules really work.
Expanding Global Presence
Mateusz always remembers how difficult the industry is. The most important for him are two things: to continue to develop the portfolio of proposed solutions and to build a position in foreign markets, ensuring that Compensus will be recognizable not only in Europe but in every country where the mining market is present.
