Joanna Ciezka on Building Irish Socksociety and Living a Life of Passion
Joanna Ciezka, cofounder of Irish Socksciety, shares her journey from selling stones on a Baltic beach to creating fun, stylish socks in Galway, blending passion, humour, and love for Irish culture.
I absolutely love mornings and if possible, I try to have a minute for a peaceful coffee. But that's not the case most of the time with the morning routines, getting the kids lunches ready and convincing them that Lego all over the house is not the best plan for the early morning. If it's Monday however, whatever happens I find the time for an episode of Esther Perel's podcast Where Should We Begin?
I get to my office everyday and I feel extremely happy and free. I'm lucky to run my own business, work with Alex with whom I've been business partners for the last 12 years, be flexible in my work and private life and do things that I genuinely love doing.
Everything I experienced in life from an early age brought me to the place that I am in now, and to what and how I live life. From selling stones at a beach on the Baltic Sea as a hive-year-old, through 5 running a student's union in college, holiday jobs painting houses in Norway, my wonderful years at McGuire’s Daybreak where I experienced the Irish culture at its core, working in the Polish School in Galway and establishing three of my own businesses here l learned that cop on, enthusiasm and curiosity will make every circumstance an experience, and that in time this becomes The Experience.
When I first heard the Irish language being used casually in a shop I fell in love with it. Coming from Poland I deeply understand what it means for a country and its culture to lose its language. I firmly believe language is the spine of a culture.
Communication is a key part of my role. I work on marketing, product development, sustainability and mostly the business strategy. I find listening, talking and researching the most valuable.
It was quite surprising how complex the process of designing and producing socks is. There's so much that needs to be carefully administered so the socks not only look lovely, but are also comfortable.
To run a business it is crucial to have your core values straight and never compromise on them. A sense of humour and not taking yourself too seriously helps greatly along the way. As does authenticity - and a bit of banter.
Food, eaten together with no phones or other distractions, is one of the most important things in my life. When in the office, whenever possible we try to order some local food and sit all together for a chat and a Socksciety family meal.
Communication and vocabulary shape our reality, therefore Ireland wouldn't be the same without Gaeilge. Its poetic energy and storytelling beauty are what make this nation so good at socialising.
Our evening schedule changes daily. With two kids and two businesses in one home things can be chaotic, so there's definitely no repetition. At times it is intense and difficult to make sure everything is done but the moment we all sit down for a chat and a meal, or go for a walk or a swim or read our goodnight books, know I'm the luckiest person in the world.
I arrived in Ireland for my friend's wedding and was planning to stay here for a week, on a short holiday - that was 17 years ago. Galway had me at hello. Irish culture, and most of all the people here, became my true passion, and I cannot have enough of it.