Meet Stefan Kwiatkowski
Building a Bridge Between Education and Industry Through Technology
IBMers make a meaningful impact by volunteering their time, knowledge, and industry expertise to support students and educators. Whether mentoring student projects or delivering guest lectures, they play a vital role in shaping the next generation of technology leaders. In return, they gain valuable insights into emerging academic trends while deepening the connection between IBM and the academic community. It’s a powerful opportunity to grow, both personally and professionally.
Stefan Kwiatkowski, a Technical Account Leader at IBM Expert Labs in the United Kingdom, has embodied that mission for more than a decade. With nearly 30 years at IBM, Stefan has worked with clients and partners to deliver innovative solutions. But it’s through his volunteer work that he’s found one of his most meaningful ways to contribute.
Early on, his work in IBM’s Hursley Innovation Centre gave him the right mix of technical and design skills to guide students. “I think the work of engaging with partners and clients really helps hone those innovation skills,” Stefan says. “You need to really listen to the needs of the client and ensure that what you are creating is aligned with what is needed. This provides great experience in supporting and advising students on how to approach industry challenges, then use Design Thinking and artificial intelligence (AI) to address them.”
Stefan’s journey volunteering with university students began in 2016, alongside John McNamara, IBM’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Lead in Europe. They kicked things off with a bold idea: an AI-powered space probe created with IBM Watson—on a budget of just £500 (approximately US$650). It was actually launched into space. Learn more about the project in this interview with John.
That creative leap became one of the most popular demonstrations at IBM’s Innovation Centre. It also sparked a larger movement: “This became an integral part of how the Innovation Studio worked in Hursley—showcasing ideas that were maybe originally ‘five years out’ and seeing them come to life in a few months with IBM technology, in collaboration with universities such as Imperial College, University College London, and Durham University.”
Since then, Stefan has worked on a variety of projects that connect students, partners, and IBM technology to solve real problems. One of his favorites is Seeing Through Walls, a collaboration with students from Durham University and Visualise Info, an IBM Business Partner. The team created an augmented reality application, integrated with IBM Maximo, that visualizes hidden infrastructure—like pipes and cables—within buildings. “It was a real achievement,” Stefan says. “It was featured at a showcase in Hursley, with Arvind Krishna (IBM’s CEO) in attendance. Now it’s featured in the IBM Innovation Studio in London.”
Beyond the innovation, these projects help students gain real-world experience and enter the workforce with confidence. “After the project, Visualise Info has employed students that have collaborated with them to build projects,” he says. “It provides a great trajectory for the student from university to industry, and I’m very proud to be part of it.”
Intentional learning is a key part of Stefan’s approach. With support from IBM’s CSR team, he helps students select relevant IBM SkillsBuild learning paths. “We set out a learning plan that the student can follow, which typically includes Design Thinking and also AI courses such as Getting Started with AI and IBM Granite for Software Development,” he explains. “Learning with purpose is key to success for our students.”
His most recent project with Visualise Info and University College London involved using IBM Granite to build predictive analytics tools that can determine when infrastructure might fail. “I think that this is probably one of the most relevant learning experiences you can have when using AI—a specific learning experience that the students engage with, that directly supports them in innovating with an IBM partner to develop something groundbreaking.”
Through it all, Stefan sees lasting value in building relationships. “By volunteering, I’ve forged relationships with business partners, universities, and students,” he says. “And as a result, added a great deal of value to the business through that collaboration.”
And he’s far from done. “I’m on the lookout for the next great groundbreaking project,” Stefan says. “Something where I can help others while also stretching and expanding my own skills.”