IamBartoszewicz

I am a trends analyst in the field of urban development and its impact on the quality of life for residents. I am also passionate about new technologies and their application in urban growth, provided that the well-being of residents is always the top priority.

From the very beginning, I have been co-creating the Happy City Index. We established it to promote good urban practices and monitor the changing expectations of residents regarding urban structures, ensuring public services that are beneficial and focused on their well-being. In particular, the sense of happiness, which is the most important aspect of our lives, regardless of where in the world we live.

EDUCATION
I completed my PhD in Political Science at the University of Gdansk in 2022, passing with honors. My dissertation, titled "Smart City Conception in Urban Developmental Policies," focused on how modern cities can adopt "smart" technologies to enhance governance and urban development strategies.

In 2013, I earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Higher Bank School through a joint program with the University of Northampton. This degree broadened my understanding of both political science and business, equipping me with a versatile skill set.

Additionally, I completed specialized courses in project management, which have been instrumental in my work. With my academic background and professional experience, I've also reached a qualification level that allows me to teach as a lecturer at the university level, sharing my knowledge with the next generation of students.

WORK
I began my professional journey at a very young age by getting involved in non-governmental organizations. I developed professionally by managing companies in the field of new technologies while also holding positions in local government.

For 8 years, I served as a city councilor, and for the next 9 years, I held the position of Deputy Mayor of City of Gdynia (PL), overseeing the education system, healthcare policy, and the city's development in the smart city area. As Deputy Mayor, I made decisions about the city's most significant investment, which is the education system, finding a beautiful connection between two areas: new technologies and analytics with the crucial, sustainable development aspect of broad relationships. These relationships ensure prosperity and a sense of happiness, and urban policies in many areas directly influence the quality of our relationships.

At the same time, I expanded the city's e-services sector, implementing innovative solutions within the smart city concept. I share my knowledge and experience by conducting training sessions and lectures.

I was also responsible for major projects and events, coordinating the work of the organisational office for the Red Bull Air Race World Championships and one of the largest film festivals in Poland.

SMART CITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Implementing smart city solutions, due to my prior experience with new technologies, has made me eager to dedicate most of my professional time to these issues. While deepening my knowledge on the subject, I ultimately wrote a doctoral thesis entitled “Smart City Conception in Urban Development Policies”. By analysing the activities of over a hundred cities worldwide and the outcomes of various implementations, I identified 5 themes and 24 areas of city activity that have a tangible impact on the quality of life for residents.

As Deputy Mayor for Quality of Life, I put many of the theoretical findings into practice, turning them into operational actions. I always considered three elements to be key in directly influencing residents' sense of happiness:
1. Saving time (through streamlining services).
2. A sense of calm (regarding what surrounds us today and in the future).
3. Good relationships (between all participants of city life and within the local community).

Many actions taken by city decision-makers have a direct impact on these areas of residents' lives.

After completing my work as Deputy Mayor, I now advise urban structures in co-creating urban policies and sectoral strategies.

FAMILY AND LIFE
I am the father of three daughters, and my goal is to show them the beauty of the world around us and help them discover their passions and interests.

I've always enjoyed travelling and immersing myself in local cultures. Though these are two different worlds, I have covered countless kilometres through national parks, forests, wilderness, and... cities. I've been fascinated by cities for over 15 years—their structure, the behaviour of their inhabitants, the organisation of life, their needs, and their development.

I love learning new things and have experience in very diverse activities, such as skydiving, aerobatic flying, completing Iron Man triathlons, and long-distance swimming competitions. A few years ago, I started learning to play the piano, which stems from my deep love for music that has always accompanied me in my work and travels. For the past year, I've also been writing a book, which aims to contribute to the debate on the role and significance of cities in improving the quality of life for both current and future generations.

Bartosz Bartoszewicz