Women’s history month: Shifting the conversation with Antonina Krol

Shortly after earning my degree in Chemical Technology at the Cracow University of Technology, I became a mother to two daughters. While taking them on strolls, I often walked past the Sabre office building in Kraków, Poland, admiring the company logo and its reputation as a “Great Place to Work.” However, I believed it was too ambitious for me and that I would never find myself working there. 

Just as my family was finding stability, my husband lost his job, our primary source of income. With our youngest daughter still an infant, we decided to job hunt together, alternating childcare and interviews. Our deal was simple: whoever got hired first would work while the other stayed home with the children.  

During the Christmas season, I received a job offer at a leading company in the publishing market. Within days, I had to abruptly stop nursing my second daughter, travel to sign the contract and, after years of not driving, take the wheel of a brand-new company car in front of my managers. Navigating several hundred kilometers home through winter conditions was both daunting and symbolic—one of many milestones that tested my resilience. After months immersed in household logistics, I didn’t feel confident negotiating my employment terms with high-level executives, but this moment marked the beginning of a new chapter. 

Over the next few years, I gained experience working with clients, developing sales skills and acquiring knowledge in both soft and technical skills. Conditions changed, companies changed, new opportunities arose, but so did new challenges. During this stage of my journey, I gave birth to two more daughters, which gave me a new perspective on the skills I needed both professionally and personally. It was fascinating to discover how crucial resilience is in all areas, and how every experience shapes me into a person who can draw from those skills in any situation.  

As my maternity leave came to an end, it became clear that a nomadic lifestyle wasn’t sustainable for my family. A friend of mine, Agnieszka, believed in me and introduced me to a program supporting mothers re-entering the workforce. With her encouragement I retrained, earning a position at a global telecommunications company. Though I started in a technical role, my soft skills proved invaluable and led me to transition into a Scrum Master position. I gained more experience, faced new challenges and after some time, an opportunity at Sabre appeared. 

I could hardly believe that after all those years of passing by the Sabre office while walking with my children, I was now stepping inside. It was incredible to realize that all the steps, events, experiences and trials had led me to this moment. Nothing happened by accident and every step of the journey was important. 

Now, six years into my Sabre journey, I’ve helped teams mature, strengthen Agile practices and bridge the gap between developers, product teams and executives. I’ve never hesitated to step in where I could add value. However, my path wasn’t without struggles. Throughout my time at Sabre, I’ve faced difficult moments in my personal life. The support and understanding I received here were profound and for that I am deeply grateful. 

Today, as CIAS teams grow in maturity, I’m expanding my impact, developing project management skills and leading key team development initiatives. Despite the never-ending workload, my passion for improving team efficiency and driving business value keeps me motivated. Soft skills, often underestimated in the technical world, have proven to be the foundation of strong teams and successful projects. Communication, trust, courage and adaptability aren’t just “nice to haves.” They are what keep organizations moving forward.  

Looking back, I am proud of my journey. The challenges, setbacks and triumphs have shaped who I am today. I am grateful to those who believed in me even when I doubted myself and to my own willingness to embrace the unknown.   

Sometimes I pause to remind myself of how far I’ve come, to shake out my wings which I sometimes forget I have, and second to express gratitude to all those who gave me opportunities, believed in me more than I did in myself and supported me when I needed to hear: Keep going Antonina, you can do it. 

Sabre is shifting the conversation with stories from passionate and bold inclusion group members. At the heart of our inclusion & engagement efforts, our eight inclusion groups, and counting, aim to amplify the voices of our team members and create a sense of belonging for all. Together, we celebrate diversity, applaud individuality and embrace unique perspectives to empower our global team members to bring their true selves to work every day. Learn more about our inclusion & engagement mission.