The year-long Viking Leadership Academy, a bespoke development program created by Kozminski University for Viking’s Kitchen (Kuchnia Vikinga, Wschodni Front), came to an end with a formal diploma ceremony. The program was designed as practical support for leadership development within an organization operating in a demanding, fast-paced operational environment, where effective decision-making, stable processes, and well-prepared managers are of critical importance.
Viking’s Kitchen (Kuchnia Vikinga) is the largest ready-meal provider – a brand built on a passion for balanced, regular eating. It is a rapidly growing company for which effective management and capable leaders are among the foundations of further growth. This is precisely why Viking’s Kitchen (Kuchnia Vikinga) and Kozminski University established a partnership covering a broad range of educational activities and development programs for the company’s managerial staff.
The central element of this cooperation was the Viking Leadership Academy – a comprehensive development program for managers, structured into two tracks: one for shift managers and one for section and plant managers. Both groups took part in intensive workshop modules complemented by project work, and the entire program was planned in close alignment with the company’s business needs and development strategy.
The program focused on competencies that directly translate into management quality in day-to-day work: effective communication, building managerial authority, conducting development and corrective conversations, motivating and engaging teams, planning, and delegating tasks, as well as resolving difficult situations and conflicts. Participants also developed skills essential in a production and operations environment, such as process management, work optimization, and decision-making under time pressure and responsibility for results. The program also included elements that support managers in representative and internal organizational roles, including negotiations and public speaking.
“The Viking Leadership Academy is not only a development program, but above all practical support in building modern leadership. It was designed to support leaders where pressure is greatest: in everyday decisions, teamwork, and responsibility for results. I am pleased that participants are completing the program equipped with concrete tools they can use immediately in their own areas,” says Klaudia Fatah, Director of Training and Corporate Programs at Kozminski University.
The cooperation between Kozminski University and Viking’s Kitchen (Kuchnia Vikinga) is an example of synergy between education and business: it combines academic quality and expertise in designing programs for organizations with the real needs of a fast-growing company. The completed Viking Leadership Academy strengthens managers in the areas essential for effective management, building strong teams, and further business growth in a world of constant change.
