Janusz Idczak first joined JDE Peet’s in 2015 as Sales Director for Poland, and later left to pursue an opportunity as General Manager at Mondelez. However, he returned to JDE Peet’s in 2019 to take on the role of General Manager for Poland and the Baltics, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a renewed passion for leadership.

Reflecting on his return, Janusz shared, "I basically joined JDE Peet’s twice. In total, I know the company for ten years.” His decision to come back was driven by his belief in the company’s culture and the strong relationships he had built in his organization. "I like the culture of JDE Peet’s a lot, and I like the team. We have created a very nice atmosphere, and I didn't want to miss that opportunity."

One of the core aspects of Janusz's leadership philosophy is empowerment. "I like empowerment a lot. I like being empowered, and I like empowering people," he explained. He values a culture where employees are encouraged to take ownership of their work, make their own decisions, and grow through proactive engagement. This philosophy has shaped his leadership style, allowing him to focus on mentoring and creating an environment where his team can thrive. "I'm rarely making decisions; I'm rather guiding people, giving broader perspectives and telling them these are the boundaries—navigate yourself because you know better."

Janusz embraced the TrueYOU initiative from its inception, and his passion for inclusion has played a crucial role in shaping the workplace culture at JDE Peet's. He has been actively involved with the DE&I Champions in Poland, helping to drive initiatives that make inclusion a fundamental part of the company’s operations. "We have a group of Champions—eight associates from the office—who are dedicated to DE&I efforts,” he explained. “It’s a significant number given the size of our office, and it shows the enthusiasm within our organization."

One key initiative Janusz spearheaded was addressing low engagement in inclusion events by taking a more personalized approach. "We realized some people felt these topics weren’t relevant to them, so we reached out individually to show how DE&I is embedded in daily behaviors and not just posters on the wall," he said. Together with the HR team, they created short discussion materials and visited each team to foster meaningful conversations about inclusion. The Activation Toolkit facilitated Janusz’s personalized approach.

Janusz Idczak, General Manager, Poland & Baltics, JDE Peet’s

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