Slawomir Krupa: “There is no true success without staying true to yourself”

[interview published in March 2022, updated on May 23, 2023]

Slawomir Krupa is Chief Executive Officer*of Societe Generale Group. He has been working with Société Générale since 1996, holding leadership positions such as Deputy General Manager, Head of the Global Banking and Investor Solutions, Chief Executive Officer of the Americas, Chief of Staff for Corporate and Investment Banking, and Head of Strategy and Corporate Development. Originally from a Franco-Polish background, Krupa completed a degree in International Relations from Sciences Po, graduating in 1996. He reflects on how the complexity of Sciences Po helped propel him to where he stands today.

Sciences Po’s reputation for academic excellence and its multidisciplinary approach motivated Krupa to attend the university. He values the depth of analysis that classes fostered, and the deep understanding of complex issues that arises from Sciences Po’s multi-lensed approach. “I remember it to this day, how challenging from an intellectual perspective it was to look at different political postures, historiographic postures—the importance of very specific topics and the incredible depth that we looked at these topics with. [Sciences Po] challenged us to not look at situations simplistically, but to recognize that most of the situations we face in life are potentially complex and certainly have many faces to them,” he says.

Krupa also speaks highly of the methodological ground Sciences Po imparted on him. “Beyond learning about one specific topic, it empowered you to apply this methodology to problems and problem solving as a citizen, as an executive. This perspective changed my life, I would say.” He continues to apply this unique methodology in his current career and life. “When I approach a problem or opportunity, I don’t see it in black and white. I see it with all the colors that it has… This is fundamentally thanks to what I learned at Sciences Po.”

Krupa was also extensively involved in extracurricular activities at Sciences Po. He wrote for the school publication L'Independant, commenting on the energy of his comembers and the paper. Krupa honed his writing skills while writing for the paper and within his classes, which is a skill he deems particularly useful. Sciences Po granted Krupa the ability to write and present in a way that analyzes, condenses, and sheds insights on complex issues all while remaining concise and coherent. “This is an absolutely key ability… and specific to Sciences Po,” he says. 

Additionally, Krupa spent time on the Central European Forum, studying world events during the turbulent and hopeful post-Soviet time period. “There was a thirst for discovery and exchange, exchange about ideas and discussions around the past and future in this new Europe and the war in Yugoslavia… Sciences Po taught me a lot about how to approach my life.”

After successfully completing his undergraduate studies, Krupa immediately joined Société Générale as an Inspector. From 1999-2002, Krupa founded an e-finance startup at the dawn of the Internet in Eastern Europe. After this project, he returned to Société Générale and continued his dedicated career in banking and capital markets.

The sophisticated, complex, and global issues of the banking industry align with Krupa’s skill set and interests. “You have all these multidisciplinary situations in banking, which is an intrinsic feature of our business… These things make it a challenging and interesting industry,” he says. Krupa has succeeded so highly in his field because of his specific talents, alongside his true passion for the global work. 

Krupa imparts advice for younger students. “You cannot be successful without doing something that gives you intellectual satisfaction… Don’t choose banking for the wrong reasons. Choose banking for the intellectual kilos of the job every day and the quality of the relationships you are able to build… Make sure you always stay true to yourself and your values. There is no true success without staying true to yourself.”

* Slawomir Krupa was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Societe Generale Group by the Board of Directors after the General Meeting on May 23, 2023