"Sometimes, the best decisions come from simply taking a leap...now I finally feel at home.” 

As Product Manager for Clusters and Teat Spray Solutions at DeLaval, Paulina plays a crucial role in transforming the milking process for dairy farmers. With a focus on enhancing teat health and optimising milking clusters, she ensures that farmers have the right solutions to improve efficiency and care for their cows. After all, when it comes to milking, every cluster and every drop counts. 

Her responsibilities cover the entire product lifecycle—from development to end-of-life—addressing quality issues, technical queries, product improvements, and cost reductions. The role requires collaborating with cross-functional teams to meet customer needs, combining technical expertise with the ability to navigate the complexities of a multinational business. Through this, Paulina ensures DeLaval’s products continue to meet the evolving needs of the dairy industry.

But how did Paulina end up in this exciting role? Let’s take a closer look at her journey and the experiences that led her to where she is today. 

From concrete to country: carving out her career path 

Paulina spent much of her early life in flats, first in Rybnik and later in Wrocław, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of city life. However, she always felt a pull towards the countryside, influenced by visits to her aunt and uncle who lived there. In particular, her uncle, a forest guard with pigs, poultry, pigeons, a cow, rabbits, dogs, and cats, shared Paulina’s love for nature and deepened her appreciation for animals and the countryside.

In conversations about careers with her uncle, animal husbandry was one idea that stuck with her, helping shape the path she would eventually take. This led her to Wrocław Agricultural University (now the University of Life Sciences), where she specialised in Zootechnics. “I loved the studies,” Paulina recalls. “I learned a great deal about animals, their physiology, anatomy, and many other fascinating subjects. It was a truly enriching experience.” She also remembers her lecturers often discussing the benefits of DeLaval’s milking equipment, a conversation that planted a seed in the back of her mind.

After graduation, Paulina’s career veered in a different direction. She began in outsourcing, mainly in customer service and finance, and later managed a team handling customer complaints. Although these roles provided valuable experience, something was still missing.

After seven years in customer service and management, Paulina realised she was ready for a change. That’s when she remembered DeLaval. Curious about available opportunities, she checked their job vacancies, and one role stood out. It required a background in agricultural animals and experience in multinational companies—both of which she had. Product management was a new challenge, and she didn’t have experience in that area, but she thought, Why not give the job application a shot? The worst they can say is no. She took a leap, and it paid off, with DeLaval realising her potential.

Finding her home at DeLaval 

Upon joining the company, Paulina was immediately struck by the unique atmosphere. Colleagues were friendly, supportive, and encouraged high levels of independence and decision-making—qualities that made a strong impression on her and were in tune with her values.Ten years later, she still believes the people and the atmosphere they foster are DeLaval’s greatest strengths. 

“There’s no unhealthy competition, no pointing out each other’s mistakes, no tug-of-war or fighting,” says Paulina. This culture of mutual respect and teamwork suits her perfectly. “I have finally found a place where I feel at home.” 

That inclusivity is reflected in the team itself. “Our team is really cool—until recently, we were exactly half and half, but now we’ve even hired another woman, so there are more women than men. Girl power is taking over!” she says with a laugh. 

Paulina thrives in this collaborative environment, where support and knowledge-sharing are at the heart of the culture. “I love how at DeLaval we work hand in hand, supporting each other. If you don’t know something, you find someone who does, and together we get it done. Challenges are seen as opportunities to learn and improve. Even with different agendas, we all know it’s for the bigger picture, and everything falls under the same umbrella.” 

This supportive atmosphere has been key to her growth over the years. Despite working in the same department, with the same products, and the same superior, she has never felt the weight of monotony. “I am loving it!” she says. Along the way, she transitioned from an Application/Technical Specialist to a Product Manager, taking on new challenges and responsibilities. Her daily work now involves a variety of tasks: from actively participating in projects for new products and implementing them for sale to providing technical training, preparing instructions, solving quality issues, and collaborating with different departments. She also plays a key role in setting prices, developing assortment strategies, testing, and supporting markets. 

“There’s always something new. A lot of unexpected things happen. We go to farms, see animals, talk to people, and meet other cultures while travelling abroad.” 

And it’s not only her human colleagues that she enjoys working with: “I also work with goats and sheep, not just cows. They’re really cool animals—a bit crazy and cheeky—but that’s what makes them fun,” she says with a laugh. 

In particular, Paulina says the following the favourite parts of her job: 

• Products – These are located closest to the cow and the milker, so apart from technical aspects, there are also considerations of physiology, biology, anatomy, ergonomics, human factors, and the management of a global product range produced across three continents. 
• Cooperation with colleagues, suppliers, and clients – She is very happy with the independence, decision-making, and work based on networking. "We are one team with a common goal." 
• A supportive team and supervisor – Paulina values a team that supports her and a supervisor who is present, but also allows her the freedom to act independently. 
• No boredom or monotony – "At DeLaval, we have new challenges all the time, and every day is different." 
• Delegations, especially trips to farms – She loves travelling, especially when it involves seeing non-tourist areas, meeting farmers, tasting local specialties, and, thanks to DeLaval, visiting many interesting places like China, Cyprus, Greece, Norway, Canada and many more. 

A normal work day

Paulina's days can vary depending on the tasks at hand. "Some days might be full of calls, while others are focused on quiet, undisturbed work—like writing instructions, figuring things out, or creating article numbers. Then, of course, there’s the travel to farms, which I love. I enjoy meeting with people and seeing how farming is done in different countries. It’s the same animals, but people do it differently. It’s always nice to see them, talk to them, meet their culture, and taste the food." 

The future of farming

Looking ahead, Paulina is excited about the changes happening in farming. With a focus on sustainability, she sees a future where innovation and new products are key to addressing the challenges farmers face. 

"Farming is definitely going to change, and it already is. It’s fun to be a part of that journey—developing and innovating new products and figuring out how the world is going to change. The focus is shifting towards sustainability, which is exciting, especially for someone like me who likes to stay busy with new things. Working more with sustainability, I think about it even when selling a product or packaging it. We’re going to work more on helping farmers do more with less. It’s all about making sure it turns into profit, while benefiting the planet and saving resources. And of course, making sure we’re delivering better results for farmers." 

Her other interests

Outside of work, Paulina stays active and enjoys spending time with her family. She does Zumba with her daughter, goes horse riding with her son, and they all enjoy cycling together.

Paulina also loves reading and manages to fit it into her daily routine, even with a busy schedule. “I’m a big reader. I juggle two books at a time—one on my headphones while walking the dog, cooking, or driving, and the other as a physical book. Last year, I read 120 books—about 10 per month. It took a few years to get back into it, but now I’m on track! I read all kinds of books—crime, reportage, novels, classics, and non-fiction—but I’m not so keen on fantasy, romance, or history.”

Paulina’s journey shows that sometimes, taking a chance and embracing new challenges leads to finding your true calling—and, in her case, a place where she truly belongs.

• Interested in working at DeLaval too? View our career openings here: Careers - DeLaval