Michael Stolarczyk
Uses Emotional Intelligence
By Tim Terman
and Laura Spitznogle
His company exports Legos, lumber, pilsner beer, Ikea products, and more. No, he's not based in New Jersey or Florida. He's in the Czech Republic. Michael Stolarczyk is managing director of Maersk Sealand, a division of the A.P. Moller Group, in Prague. The company is a shipping giant. With over 300 offices in more than 100 countries, A.P. Moller is one of the largest liner shipping companies in the world.
Stolarczyk,
originally from Ohio, graduated from WVU in 1986 with a bachelor
of science in business administration. His education, he says,
taught him to use his emotional intelligence. "People drive
business through customer interaction and through relations with
coworkers. At WVU, I learned consensus management during two
years as student body treasurer and within the Mountain Honorary.
Plus, I was a bartender for a few years in Morgantown, and that
job focused my ability to read people in many situations. So,
it was a practical education."
His practical education and a lot of hard work landed him with A.P. Moller Group, and assignments in Charlotte, NC; Danbury, CT; Madison, NH; Hong Kong, and now Prague.
Although a long way from home, Stolarczyk and his family enjoy Prague and its cultural and historical dimensions. "It's a very safe and magical country. It's vibrant and dynamic," he added.
Maersk Sealand was about to become a vibrant company as well. The company's annual turnover has more than quadrupled from 1999, when Stolarczyk arrived in Prague, exceeding $100 million (in U.S. dollars) this year.
How did Stolarczyk orchestrate such a turnaround? By teaching others to use their emotional intelligence. "When I arrived, the staff here in Prague lacked confidence and had no visibility at the corporate level," he explained. "The organization—20 people—was within a framework of the largest transportation company in the world with 70,000 employees and 300 offices in 100 countries. The Prague employees simply thought controlling their own destiny was impossible."
Stolarczyk created the STAR formula (speed, trust, accountability, and relationships), and the staff gained confidence through their customers. All decisions and actions were made from the customer's perspective. The formula was embraced, the local staff gained confidence, and new customers were inked.
Last year, Stolarczyk was named one of Fast Company magazine's "Fast 50" innovators because of the enormous success Maersk Sealand has experienced under his leadership. Now that business is thriving, Stolarczyk is bringing some of his success back to WVU. He and his wife have created an endowment for Mountain Honorary and sponsors an internship for the College of Business and Economics. His first intern, Brian Harold, loved the job so much and was so successful that he stayed. Harold has been with the company for two years now. "WVU produces people that can work in groups, blend in, and be productive. If you can't communicate and lead yourself, you're not going to succeed," Stolarczyk said.
Stolarczyk thrives on the diversity of his job. "Having the chance to lead diversified groups in the USA, Hong Kong, and now in Prague, is a dream come true. Then add to this the day-to-day interaction with global Fortune 500 companies in trying to create total transportation solutions for their clients and customers . . . it just never gets old. There are plenty of opportunities to be creative and lead through example. My career also has provided great opportunities for my family . . . we have seen so much of the world, my kids are getting an excellent education (inside and outside of the classroom). It is just very rewarding in so many facets," he said.
Because his job description is broad and constantly evolving, Stolarczyk's next big change will come this summer as he will probably be transferred again. He could end up in Vietnam, Russia, Germany, the U.S., or just about anywhere else in the world. But, his goal is to land in a dynamic and evolving market and maintain an assignment that is general in nature. "I would like to have a chance to lead in an acquisition or expanding market environment," he explained.
Stolarczyk and his wife Pamela have two sons, Maxwell and Nathaniel, and one daughter, Eva Pilar.