Growth comes from deliberate support

Eight years, four EU institutions, and countless early-morning training sessions have taught Sylwia Wasilewska that sustainable excellence isn’t commanded. It’s cultivated.

 

Early mornings in Brussels find Sylwia Wasilewska already in motion; at the gym, running or planning her lifts. Training has been a constant since childhood, a disciplined routine built on clear goals and consistency.

Her work managing service delivery for various EU Institutions at Netcompany follows the same logic: build solid structures, maintain standards, and performance naturally follows.

Sylwia’s path into IT was unconventional. She built a strong foundation in communication, coordination, and service excellence. »It taught me how to build systems that work seamlessly behind the scenes,« she explains.

Since joining Netcompany Brussels in 2017, she has grown into a Service Delivery Manager. Her journey shows that a structured mindset and the right approach can matter just as much as a traditional technical background.

The European Commission’s Charlemagne building in Brussels.

»Working in Brussels is inspiring because it offers direct collaboration with EU institutions on projects that have genuine European reach.«

Leading in Brussels

Brussels is a truly international environment where institutions, cultures, and languages converge. For Sylwia, this has created a rare opportunity to collaborate with colleagues from vastly different backgrounds on projects that serve millions of citizens across an equally diverse Europe.

»Working in Brussels is inspiring because it offers direct collaboration with EU institutions on projects that have genuine European reach,« she reflects. »The city’s multicultural character makes the work dynamic. You’re constantly interacting with people from different backgrounds, each bringing their own perspective.«

That diversity has fundamentally influenced her approach. »Each culture brings its own communication style and expectations,« she notes. »What has pleasantly surprised me is how these differences, when properly understood and managed, lead to stronger collaboration and more creative problem-solving.

Her fluency in Polish, English, French, and Russian makes this complexity manageable. It eliminates friction, builds trust, and turns what could be challenging coordination into seamless collaboration.

Sylwia Wasilewska during an early-morning run in Brussels.

Forging a path for the team

Every leader faces a defining test. For Sylwia, it arrived during the COVID-19 pandemic while managing a complex framework contract. 

»We were midway through a high-stakes project when everything shut down,« she recalls. »I was responsible for maintaining service quality while simultaneously recruiting and onboarding new consultants, all of whom would be working remotely.« 

The biggest challenge wasn’t logistical. It was the sudden absence of the informal connections that normally hold teams together: hallway conversations, reading body language in meetings, the casual check-ins that build trust. When you can’t physically be with your team, structure becomes everything. 

Sylwia did what felt natural: she built frameworks. »I focused on establishing clear communication channels, setting precise expectations, and following up consistently,« she explains. »It wasn’t about grand leadership gestures. It was about creating reliable touchpoints, so everyone knew what was expected and had what they needed to perform.« 

The project succeeded because the systems held when everything else was uncertain. 

»It wasn't about grand leadership gestures. It was about creating reliable touchpoints, so everyone knew what was expected and had what they needed to perform.«

Reps and results

Managing a large, distributed team across EU institutions has reinforced Sylwia’s belief that excellence grows from deliberate support. Though weightlifting and running are individual sports, they taught her the power of consistency and the importance of having the right people around you. 

That perspective shapes her leadership. »What I find most rewarding is helping people perform at their best and creating a work environment where consultants feel supported, informed, and motivated,« she explains. As the main point of contact between HR, consultants, and institutional clients, she sees how clear communication and well-structured processes translate into real impact. »Seeing smoother onboarding, quicker issue resolution, or simply better day-to-day well-being is deeply rewarding.« 

The purpose behind this work is tangible. From Brussels, she ensures smooth, compliant service delivery across multiple EU frameworks and institutions. »Whether managing framework contracts, supporting large-scale programmes, or helping consultants feel confident and well-supported in their roles, knowing this work ultimately supports projects with genuine European impact gives my work a deeper sense of purpose,« she reflects. 

»What I find most rewarding is helping people perform at their best and creating a work environment where consultants feel supported, informed, and motivated.«

Permission not required

Sylwia’s progression to service delivery manager wasn’t accidental; it grew from Netcompany’s philosophy of enabling people to take ownership. »This unique structure lets you learn by doing,« she explains. »You’re not waiting for permission or a formal promotion to take on more responsibility. If you see something that needs doing and you demonstrate capability, you’re encouraged to step up.« 

That mindset aligned with her own leadership style. As she gained a deeper understanding of clients and internal systems, she was trusted with progressively broader responsibilities. Managers acted as coaches, colleagues shared knowledge openly, and she was given the autonomy and support that enabled real growth. 

»I’ve always felt encouraged to speak up, propose improvements, and take the lead on new challenges,« she says. »It’s a culture that rewards both curiosity and responsibility. You’re trusted to make decisions but also supported when you need guidance.« 

»It's a culture that rewards both curiosity and responsibility. You're trusted to make decisions but also supported when you need guidance.«

Structure that scales

The gym remains Sylwia’s anchor, a place where progress is measurable, control is absolute, and improvement follows consistent effort. Leadership with Netcompany has added an additional dimension to that sense of purpose: building structures where others can achieve their own version of that clarity, that progress, that success. 

Explore more stories