Meet the people behind the mission of the Open Future Institute.
Katarzyna Kieszkowska
I believe that true success is measured not only by results, but also by the impact we have on the lives of others.
For over 30 years, I ran and developed my own business – Lang LTC, a foreign language school. I created it from scratch and transformed it into one of the most respected educational brands in the Polish market. As an entrepreneur, manager, and linguist, I built an organization based on quality, innovation, and long-term client relationships. Under my leadership, the company trained employees of the largest Polish and international companies, developed educational programs, and earned prestigious accreditations and quality certificates.
I concluded this professional phase with a sense of satisfaction and pride in what I had achieved. Today, I utilize my extensive business experience in social activities, believing that effective management, responsibility, and entrepreneurial thinking are just as necessary in the third sector as in the business world.
Over the years, I have been involved in various educational and social initiatives, supporting projects that develop competencies, equalize opportunities, and strengthen local communities. I am particularly passionate about initiatives that help people regain self-confidence, discover their potential, and boldly reach for new opportunities.
I currently serve as President of the OFI Foundation, an organization focused primarily on action. At the Foundation, we focus on creating concrete solutions that address real-world needs, building partnerships, and implementing projects that deliver measurable social impact.
I believe that the experience I gained over decades of running my own business has taught me the most important thing – that every lasting change begins with courage, consistency, and a willingness to take responsibility for my ideas. Today, I pour that same energy into the development of the OFI Foundation, because I know that the best projects are those that not only inspire but, above all, change reality for the better.
Katarzyna Łukawska-Biernacka
I don't believe in help that creates dependency. I believe in help that empowers people.
For over 30 years, I have been creating and implementing social projects, educational campaigns, and corporate social responsibility initiatives aimed at empowering people, building conscious communities, and implementing lasting change. I combine experience gained in the non-governmental sector, business, and public administration, effectively building partnerships around socially important issues.
As Vice President of the FIRST Foundation and Task Force Consulting, I was responsible for the development and implementation of nationwide social programs supporting women, children, youth, and people in crisis. I co-created the "I Can Change It" program, which helps women regain independence in life and work, as well as the research project "The Situation of Women in the Treatment of Alcohol Addiction"—one of the first studies in Poland devoted to this topic.
In the area of prevention and social health, I implemented the campaigns "AlcoSfery. Drinking in Business Class," "ReAkcja," "Melange. Expectations vs. Reality," and the nationwide "Log Out to Life" campaign, promoting a healthy balance between the online and offline worlds. The success of the first edition of the campaign was so significant that Robert Lewandowski and Wojciech Szczęsny, among others, joined its ambassadors, and the project has since been revived, becoming one of the most recognizable educational initiatives on digital hygiene in Poland.
Projects supporting children and families hold a special place in my work. I coordinated the "Parent Zone. Budimex for Children" program, which created friendly spaces for children and their caregivers in hospitals across Poland, improving the comfort of their stay during treatment. I also co-created the nationwide "Community Centers – Meeting Places" program, the goal of which was to develop modern standards for working with children and young people at risk of social exclusion.
I have also implemented educational campaigns for public institutions, including the award-winning Ministry of Health campaign "Organism in a Good Mood," which was recognized in prestigious industry competitions for the effectiveness and creativity of social activities.Today, as Vice President of the OFI Foundation, I use my experience to create projects that not only help people survive difficult times but, above all, regain agency, self-esteem, and the courage to change. I believe that the greatest strength of any community lies in the people who have been given the chance to believe in themselves—and the greatest value of social projects lies in their real impact on the lives of others.