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What do you like most and least about doing business in Poland?
I have been doing business in Poland since the end of the 1990s and have always appreciated the way you can create and pursue business in this country. Compared to countries where I have worked before, such as in Scandinavia, Germany or Austria, you do not have so many barriers.
Who do you most admire in the real estate business?
There are no individuals that I admire as such in real estate, as success seldom depends on one person alone, but always on a number of factors that come together at the right time, such as brains and human capital or the willingness to take capital risks.
How did you first get into real estate?
I never planned to spend my working life in real estate. After university in Copenhagen I worked in London and was contacted by a bank that wanted to build up its operations in the CEE region and Scandinavia. I only figured out later that this bank was a mortgage bank and only dealt with real estate banking.
What do you regard as your greatest professional success so far? What is your greatest failure?
There are definitely ups and downs in business life, but I am not categorising any of those as the greatest failure or success. Things normally take time before you can see if they turn out to be a success or a failure.
What contribution do you think you have made to Polish society through your business activities?
I have had the pleasure of financing and investing in Polish real estate with foreign money and thereby have indirectly contributed to the development of this society.
Which major projects are you planning in the near future?
As a mid-sized player we are very focused and plan and carry out our projects very carefully. Hence, we would rather wait for the right project than filling up our pipeline with projects we are not convinced about. We are working on a couple of residential and office projects, but nothing we can go public about at this stage.
Which is your favourite building and why?
The Metropolitan building on pl. Piłsudskiego in Warsaw, for its unique and lasting location in the heart of the Polish capital.
Which living person do you most admire and why?
The 85-year-old former Pope Benedict XVI for his courage in being the first pontiff since 1415 to relinquish his post.
With which historical figure do you most identify?
Well, that is a difficult one, as there are many. But without identifying myself with anyone and putting this question into a Polish context, I strongly believe that Pope John Paul II played a crucial role in ending the communist era.
What is your fondest memory?
There are a few. I think one of those was the day when the Berlin Wall came down on November 9th, 1989.
What is your idea of a perfect day?
Thankfully, there is no perfect ideal. Every morning I wake up and think that this will be a perfect day!
Which is your favourite restaurant and why?
The Little Thai Gallery on pl. Dąbrowskiego.
Who is your closest friend and why?
This is a rather personal question, and I like to separate business from private life. I know who to call if I have to wrestle with a situation.
Which characteristic do you hate most in others?
Maybe hate is too strong in this context, but I like people to be optimistic no matter what the situation.
How would you like to be remembered?
I am not here to be remembered, but to make most of my time while I am here. But if I am remembered, well…
Jan Schwarz has been working for asset manager MF Capital and with White Stone Development since 2009. Previously he has held different positions in the real estate sector outside Poland, such as managing director of Raiffeisen Imobilien and head of investment for Deutsche Bank Real Estate. In addition, he has held supervisory board mandates for Polish developer Eko Park and Polish real estate fund MCI. ImmoVentures FIZ. Jan started his career at the German mortgage bank Depfa Bank (now Aareal Bank) and holds a master’s degree from the Copenhagen Business School.
