The Laureate in the Second Edition of the Rafał Stepnowski "Creator of the Future"

The Laureate in the Second Edition of the Rafał Stepnowski "Creator of the Future" Competition for Students of the Faculty of Economics at the University of Gdańsk

On 6 July 2026, the Competition Committee met to select the winner of the second edition of the Rafał Stepnowski "Creator of the Future" Competition. The Committee consisted of dr Barbara Geniusz-Stepnowska, wife of the late Rafał Stepnowski and representative of the award founders on behalf of the family, together with the Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Professor Wojciech Bizon, and Dr Magdalena Markiewicz, Vice-Dean for Development and Cooperation with the Socio-Economic Environment, representing the Faculty authorities.

The winner of this year's competition is Ms Julia Łaska, a second-year Economics student specializing in Logistics.

Julia Łaska has demonstrated outstanding engagement with the University of Gdańsk community and has fulfilled all the competition criteria specified in the regulations. These include active involvement in organising university events, projects and initiatives, promoting the University's positive image, participation in outreach, social, charitable and volunteer activities benefiting the local community, originality and innovation in addressing social challenges, the ability to build partnerships within and beyond the University, including cooperation with social organisations, NGOs and public institutions, as well as the effectiveness and long-term impact of the projects undertaken.

Her achievements include coordinating the activities of the Student Scientific Logistics Club, organizing the Student Logistics Conference, the University Cycling Rally and Hiking Rally, participating in numerous academic events, seminars, conferences and debates, representing students on the Faculty Council and the Senate of the University of Gdańsk, and contributing to the Student and Doctoral Activity Centre.

We warmly congratulate Julia Łaska on receiving this distinction.

Her passion, determination, and ability to inspire others to work together have earned her recognition from the Competition Committee.

We wish the laureate continued success and many inspiring projects that will make a meaningful contribution to the community and help shape a better future.

The official award ceremony will take place during the inauguration of the 2026/2027 academic year at the Faculty of Economics on 5 October 2026.

About the Competition

The Rafał Stepnowski "Creator of the Future" Competition was established to recognize students of the Faculty of Economics at the University of Gdańsk who demonstrate exceptional commitment to social engagement and community service.

The competition honors the memory of Rafał Stepnowski, an entrepreneur, innovator, and graduate of the Faculty, and a member of its Advisory Board, who passed away in 2023. The award is presented to students who, like Rafał Stepnowski, demonstrate leadership, vision, and a strong commitment to creating positive change in society.

The prize recognizes outstanding contributions to the University of Gdańsk, the Faculty of Economics and the local community.

The award carries a monetary prize of PLN 6,000.

More information, including the competition rules, is available on the Faculty of Economics website.

About Rafał Stepnowski

Rafał Stepnowski graduated from the Faculty of Transport Economics at the University of Gdańsk (today's Faculty of Economics), where he specialized in International Trade. He also served as President of the Faculty Student Government in 1989 and later completed an MBA in Program and Project Management at Gdańsk University of Technology.

He served as President of Boeing Poland and began his professional career in the IT industry, co-founding C-Map Poland, a company that developed digital marine navigation charts and later became part of Jeppesen, a Boeing company.

Thanks to his efforts, Gdańsk has become Boeing's largest location within the European Union, employing around 800 specialists in aviation navigation, software development, engineering and related fields. He also made significant contributions to civil aviation safety, including supporting the introduction of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner into LOT Polish Airlines' fleet.

Rafał Stepnowski also played an important role in strengthening Poland's defense capabilities, contributing to the acquisition of Apache AH-64 helicopters and supporting the modernization of the Polish Navy by implementing digital navigation systems.

From 2011, he served on the Faculty of Economics Advisory Board, actively supporting the Faculty through his expertise and engagement. He regularly delivered lectures for MBA programs and taught as an external practitioner in both Polish- and English-language courses covering international monetary policy, capital markets, business strategy and professional skills development.

He was a speaker at numerous international conferences, including the Open Eyes Economy Summit and the Government Relations Forum for Central and Eastern Europe.

Committed to education and innovation, he helped establish Newton Room educational centers in Poland to encourage secondary school students to pursue STEM subjects. As an active member of the "Grow with Us" Foundation, he supported children of soldiers who lost their lives during peacekeeping missions. He also founded and chaired the Jeppesen Foundation, supporting education, culture and charitable initiatives.

Throughout his career, Rafał Stepnowski worked to advance the economic development of Poland, the Pomeranian region and the city of Gdańsk. As a member of the Board and Vice-Chair of the American Chamber of Commerce, he actively promoted Polish-American cooperation.

He remained deeply committed to every initiative he undertook and continues to inspire future generations of students and leaders.