TVN24
The Business Without Barriers Foundation, founded by Adrian Furman, was a charity partner of the Run across the USA. The
Who am I ?
Who am I ?
Stephen Hawking of business – that's how the media call me. Above all, I try to be a good person. I don't know much about black holes or quantum gravity like him, but I know how to do business. Disability did not prevent me, and even added strength for me to find my place on the market for new technologies. This is how the Grupa AF was founded, which is currently the largest company in Poland employing experts with disabilities. I had to work hard to be able to say that now. To have a more effective impact on improving the quality of life and working conditions of people with disabilities in Poland, I decided to join the Civic Platform party (Pol. Platforma Obywatelska – PO). I believe that together with a larger group of people with similar goals, I will be able to implement even more projects for social inclusion and empowerment of people with disabilities, with particular emphasis on the development of accessibility.
'Indeed you have forged your inborn weakness into your strength' - these are words from the letter I received from madam Georgette Mosbacher, the United States Ambassador to Poland. These words are my daily motivation. The letter was a response to my article "Disabled for export" in the WPROST weekly. In the article I examined the possibilities of expansion into the American market for Polish entrepreneurs with disabilities.
From the Minister of Investment and Development, Jerzy Kwieciński, I received a special award "Polish Investments of the Future" for my unconventional approach to business and work for the community of people with disabilities.
Aktywność Biznesowa
My activities
Grupa AF Next
#BusinessConsulting #IT #MarketingSolutions #MedicalHealthcare #CostOptimization
Business Without Barriers Foundation
#PeopleWithDisabilities #Accessibility #Empowerment #AccessibilityBox
Member of the Civic Platform party
#Entrepreneurship #SME #Inclusion #Innovations #PolishCommunity
MASZ INNE POMYSŁY NA BIZNES? JESTEM OTWARTY NA PROPOZYCJE I WSPÓŁPRACĘ
DO YOU HAVE OTHER BUSINESS IDEAS?
I'M OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS AND COOPERATION.
private equity and venture capital funds, startups, artificial intelligence, medical technologies, politics, diversity, equity, social inclusion
Mission
Mission
I promote a world of equal opportunities in which people with disabilities who do not have the strength to lift a cup of coffee can change this world, make their dreams come true, have a job that satisfies them, run their own business and be successful. I am the best example of this, so I want my actions to inspire others who are shy about their own business. I want to give them strength and say: go and be rich!
A golden thought? Only good relationships with other people pay off, and not only in business.
Establishing the Business without Barriers Foundation was a big step in the implementation of my mission. With my activities in the field of professional activation of people with disabilities, I prove that an expert with a disability does not slow down the company, but only contributes to its development. Competence and experience counts, not physical limitations. That's what we bet on, and that's what we mainly do.
The Foundation also supports initiatives promoting social openness to people with disabilities. There are many problems with the accessibility of public space, which is why the foundation conducts various accessibility audits, including architectural and digital audits.
How did it all start?
How did it all start?
Beginnings
When you sit in a wheelchair since childhood, dependent on another person, as in my case, the society perceives you as the underdog, literally doomed to failure. There are two options: accept it and be inactive, because you were born that way or say NO and turn everything upside down. I chose the latter. The first time I didn't accept reality was at a chess tournament on vacation. I was 8 years old. I didn't like the result of the draw, which was extremely unfavorable for me. I dropped out very quickly. I took advantage of some organizational shortcomings to re-qualify. This time I made it to the match for the third place and I won it. Seriously, at the age of 8 I experienced that it is not the strongest one who wins, but the smartest.
High school and studies
During the high school years I became fascinated with history - especially ancient history. I was, and still are, interested in the profiles of leaders such as Caesar and Augustus. And the fictionalized biography of Napoleon Bonaparte by Max Gallo absorbed me completely and created my male identity. The words spoken by the French Emperor himself became my motto: "Death... I'm not afraid of him. I challenge him. Why live if I don't have to fight?”. However, before I realized that my (plump) hands predispose me only to be the CEO, I... became a security guard. Just after I started the first year of my studies, this valuable episode clearly showed me that if I am to give my life a quality, I must take fate into my own hands and not be a pawn on someone else's chessboard. After 3 months, I was dismissed from work, reportedly for not performing my official duties. I wasn't even upset about it. A plan was already arising in my head ...
Businessman
In 2011 I founded my first company Grupa AF. However, it was not, and still is not, the peak of my big dreams. A few years later, I shared some of my authority. I promoted some of the most talented local people, and some of them became my partners. This allowed me to develop and establish a company in the United States - Poland IT-Lab LLC.
United States
In 2019 I opened a new page in the history of my life entitled The expansion overseas. The tour that started this stage covered three cities: Toronto, Chicago and New York. Crazy time. I literally threw myself into deep water and I forgot to buy adapters for the power plugs; in Anglo-Saxon countries they have a different kind of plugs. Do we press the gas pedal? Of course! Right in early 2020 I flew to Miami to receive an award for Inspiring Professional Development for People with Disabilities; it was presented to me by Lady Blanka Rosenstiel. This grand ceremony was held during the 48th International Polonaise Ball. I received the award in the presence of such personalities as Marcin Gortat or Rudolph Giuliani. A real firecracker!
I'm not slowing down
If there is such a need, I work even 16 hours a day, and when my friends tell me "Adrian, slow down" my answer is: "Take it easy, I will have a good sleep, but after my death". If someone asks me what all of it is for, then I quote John Fitzgerald Kennedy, who said that the choice to go to the Moon and do other things was "not because they are easy, but because they are hard".
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Honors
Polish Investments of the Future
A special award from the Minister of Investment and Economic Development, Jerzy Kwieciński, for unconventional approach to business and his work to support disabled people.
Amember of the Accessibility Council
which substantively supports the Accessibility Plus Program. The project is implemented by the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy. Its main goal is to make every public service or building available to all citizens, without any barriers and obstacles, no matter their age, health condition or kind of disability.
Ambassador of the Unites States to Poland
Ambassador of the Unites States to Poland, Georgette Mosbacher, in her official letter, expressed her appreciation and approval for his business achievements, wishing him good luck with development of his company in the U.S.
A special distinction for inspiring the professional development
A special distinction for inspiring the professional development of people with disabilities, awarded by the American Institute of Polish Culture in Miami during the 48th International Polonez Ball in Miami (presented by Lady Blanka Rosenstiel)
Media o mnie
Media About Me
FORUM G2
Adrian Furman spoke in the panel “The use of new technologies in unleashing the professional potential of people with disabilities
MIGAM
Adrian Furman talked about entrepreneurship, his companies and foundation, which operate in the area of accessibility and in which he
RADIO ŁÓDŹ DEBATE
The topic of the debate was the key assumptions of the government strategy for 2021–2030 for people with disabilities. Adrian
RADIO OPOLE
Adrian Furman was a guest of Radio Opole „Face to Face” broadcast. With the host of the programme, Joanna Matlak,
BRIEF
An interview with Adrian Furman, president of the AF Group, was published on the Brief.pl website as part of the
BANKIER.TV
The BANKIER.TV portal (one of the largest Polish websites focused on business and finances) invited Adrian Furman, the CEO of
TVP ŁÓDŹ
How to run a business during the coronavirus crisis and how to deal with these times, difficult for the economy.
RADIO RAMPA NEW YORK
Can the CSR activities of Polish business, following the example of American enterprises, create real value for the community of
SUPER EXPRESS POLISH AMERICAN WEEKLY
In an interview with Marta Kosecka I was asked what is the recipe for success and whether the ‘Stephen Hawking
STAND OUT OR DIE
“Stand out or die” is a reportage created as part of the “Depth of Focus” series.
BUSINESSMAN
The interview was conducted by Marcin Leśniczy. We talked about my development plans for the American market and the ethical
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