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Kamila Stepniowska

Basic Info​

  • Location: San Francisco, CA
  • Role/Occupation: Community builder, AI policy researcher
  • Contact: OpenTeams Slack
  • Met: Applied AI Communities Sync call
  • Background: Polish, connected to Polish government and startup ecosystem

Professional Background​

Community Building Experience​

  • GCR Roles (Global Community for Women): Co-founder, started 2011
    • First chapter: Warsaw with 11 people
    • Took 7 months to launch second chapter
    • Once momentum hit: 4 new chapters in one month
    • Learned importance of documentation and preparation for scaling

AI Policy & Research​

  • Co-author of report on using AI for lifelong learning
  • Connected to Polish government AI initiatives
  • Engaged with European AI ecosystem development

Connections​

  • Polish government AI groups
  • Polish startup ecosystem
  • Startup Embassy (San Francisco)
  • OpenTeams/Applied AI Society network

Key Insights on Community Scaling​

Engagement Challenges​

  • Resources being available isn't enough; need active engagement strategy
  • Must develop clear "selling point" for chapter leaders
  • Building communities is easier than ever, so differentiation matters

Power Dynamics in Global Scaling​

  • Different regions have different expectations of what founders/team provide
  • Need clarity on responsibilities across global/local levels
  • Balance between openness and providing guidance
  • "How to save people that do what's working for your community and in the same time give some kind of guidance—there's always a balance"

Scaling Timeline​

  • Don't be afraid to take risks
  • Momentum can come suddenly after initial slow period
  • Documentation and preparation are crucial before rapid scaling
  • "Those days, it might be even faster because the demand for AI communities is very much there"

Transcripts​

Transcript IDDateSummary
2026-01-09-applied-ai-communities-sync2026-01-09Group sync on Applied AI Society Q1 strategy; shared GCR Roles scaling experience, offered Polish ecosystem connections

Strategic Value & Collaboration Areas​

For Applied AI Society​

  • Experience scaling communities from 1 to many chapters globally
  • Understanding of power dynamics in distributed organizations
  • European/Polish market insights and connections
  • Engagement strategy expertise

Specific Offers​

  • Feedback from Polish startups
  • Connections to Polish government AI groups
  • European ecosystem navigation
  • Community scaling playbook insights

Notes & Observations​

  • Thoughtful about nuances of global community building
  • Experienced the "not prepared" phase of rapid scaling firsthand
  • Emphasizes importance of engagement beyond just resources
  • Good at identifying potential challenges early ("planting seeds")

Key Quotes​

  • "Sometimes it's like the resources are there, but still, you need to think about the engagement"
  • "There are many nuances in terms of power dynamic... expectations of what actually founders of the community are providing are very different in different locations"
  • "Don't be afraid to take risk"