Celebrate diversity month: Shifting the conversation with Agata Zmuda

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shifting the conversation

Celebrate Diversity Month: Shifting the conversation with Agata Zmuda

Agata Zmuda shares how embracing change, navigating ambiguity and staying determined can lead to unexpected growth and success.

At Sabre, we are committed to embracing and celebrating our diversity. In this inclusion & engagement series, Shifting the Conversation, our people share their stories to engage in open dialog and shed light on their broad, rich and unique perspectives. In honor of Celebrate Diversity Month, Agata Żmuda, People Business Partner Director and Site Ambassador in Kraków, Poland, shares how embracing change, navigating ambiguity and staying determined can lead to unexpected growth and success.

At the age of twenty-three I thought I had life all figured out. I was freshly graduated from the Faculty of Law at Jagiellonian University with a master's degree in law, I had big ambitions and imagined myself as a judge, settled into a secure, stable career with promising retirement benefits. Little did I know life had a different path in store for me, one that took me far from the courtroom I had once envisioned.

When I was rejected from a judge application training program, I suddenly found myself rethinking my entire career path. When searching for work, I accepted a position in the finance unit of a U.S. corporate company based in Krakow, Poland. What I thought would be a short detour turned out to be the beginning of a successful lifelong career in the corporate realm.

Over the years I worked my way up, transitioning from an employee to a manager, building deep expertise in banking and human resources (HR) operations. I had the opportunity to lead large, multi-location teams of over 100 individuals. Working for global companies allowed me to meet incredible people from all around the world and experience different cultures through travel. As the youngest female manager among a group of seasoned executives, I often felt like I was living a dream, on top of the world and soaking in every moment.

However, these big responsibilities brought real challenges. The demands of leadership eventually began to stretch me too thin, especially as a mother of two young children waiting for me at home each evening.

I hit a turning point. I took on a role managing a small processing center in Krakow for a UK-based company. The team was tight-knit, and operations were steady. But just before the onset of COVID-19, business changes created serious strain on our local operations. Technology issues, shifts in regulations and rising KPIs led to growing dissatisfaction and burnout. I did my best to support the team, but the pressure became unmanageable. The weight of constant complaints and the inability to turn things around began affecting my health negatively. That's when I knew it was time for a change.

With the support of my family, I made the difficult decision to leave the company, without another job lined up or a contingency plan in place. One thing I remember vividly is, each day, on my commute, I passed by the Sabre office in Krakow. When I saw a posting for a Business Operations Principal position, I applied. After three rounds of interviews and four weeks of anticipation, I was offered the job.

I accepted it with gratitude, but also with intention. I chose a non-leadership role, stepping away from people management because I knew I was not able to commit to it anymore. Before starting, I took a full month off to rest and recharge with the people I love most: my family.

Sabre gave me a fresh start and a new perspective.

The people I met here at Sabre are warm, encouraging and supportive. Slowly, I regained my balance. I found confidence again and began to focus on personal growth. I completed post-graduate studies, became a certified mediator and eventually returned to my HR roots as a Principal People Business Partner. Most recently, I stepped into a new chapter as Site Ambassador and was promoted to People Business Partner Director.

This time, I feel calm and optimistic about what lies ahead.

Looking back, I can see how every unexpected twist in my story brought me closer to where I was meant to be. Sometimes, stepping back is exactly what we need to move forward.

It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:

"Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." - Forrest Gump

Life is full of surprises. Just like each chocolate hides a different flavor, every moment, whether it's a challenge, a change or an opportunity offers something new to discover. We may not always know what's coming, but if we approach the unknown with openness and curiosity, we just might find joy in the unexpected.

For me, Sabre became one of those unexpected joys. A place where I could start again, grow again and feel like myself again.

Sabre is shifting the conversation with stories from passionate and bold inclusion group members. At the heart of our inclusion & engagement efforts, our eight inclusion groups, and counting, aim to amplify the voices of our team members and create a sense of belonging for all. Together, we celebrate diversity, applaud individuality and embrace unique perspectives to empower our global team members to bring their true selves to work every day. Learn more about our inclusion & engagement mission.

about the author

As a People Business Partner Director, Agata Zmuda is a key leader of our People Team, applying her values globally. She is responsible for the development and driving of companywide programs, partnering with senior leadership regarding talent management and acting as a strategic business partner. Agata is also a proud member of Sabre's global Sustainability Community of Practice.

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