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Polish Descent Team

Our story

There are millions of people living around the world who are connected with Poland through their bloodline. Some do not speak the language however their ancestors took part in creating an independent and strong Poland. As their descendants, the Polish law gives them the right to be recognised as citizens and have a Polish passport.

Not knowing if one can claim citizenship based on the bloodline, lack of clear information and the complicated administrative process discourages a lot of people from obtaining a Polish passport. Because of that, they are missing the opportunity of enjoying all the privileges of being a fully fledged EU citizen.

Boy holding old picture of his ancestors and two passports.

Our family is spread from South Africa to North America and we experienced firsthand the challenges of going through the bureaucracy of governmental processes. We underwent them successfully because our legal practice in Poland could support us.

We know not everybody is so lucky. This is why we created a dedicated legal service which focuses on helping Polish descendants and Polish families around the world. Our goal is to make citizenship application or registering your child birth certificate as easy as possible without the need of leaving your home wherever in the world it’s located.

Our team

Meet the team

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Angelika Michalik-Tylek
Legal - Attorney at Law
Co-founder and Partner
Co-founder and Partner
Legal - Attorney at Law

Angelika is a co-founder and General Legal Counsel at Polish Descent, expertly managing all legal matters within the organization. Backed by her own practice, Angelika Michalik-Tylek and Associates, she provides comprehensive legal support across every citizenship case, believing strongly that legal procedures should be clear and understandable for everyone—not only for lawyers. With over 14 years of professional legal experience, Angelika began her career in 2005 working within the court system as a judicial clerk and judge’s assistant, gaining deep insights into court operations that now significantly enhance her effectiveness in representing clients and preparing complex legal strategies.

Angelika holds a law degree from the prestigious Jagiellonian University in Krakow, where she actively contributed as a co-founder of the European Law Section of the Student Legal Counsel Association (TBSP UJ). She also co-organized a competition focused on Advocate General opinions at the European Court of Justice under the patronage of esteemed legal authorities. Today, she is an active member of the Cracow Bar Association.

Specializing in family law (including divorces and alimony), civil law (property divisions and inheritance matters), employment law, corporate support, and Polish citizenship recovery,  Her professional approach is characterized by personalized attention, empathy, and a determined commitment to each client's success.

Another passionate dog lover on the team, Angelika's dog "Mania" frequently brings extra joy and positive energy to the office, especially during long, busy days. In her private life, Angelika is also deeply connected to music, rooted in her early musical education at the Fryderyk Chopin Music School in Nowy Sącz. Though her cello-playing days are behind her, she continues to value harmony, both in music and her professional life.

Legal inquiry: Can a fencing champion born in Poland but raised in the U.S. represent either country in the Olympics?Legal opinion: Yes—because they have dual citizenship 😊.

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Ewelina Michalik-Duplaga
Client Support & Service Delivery
Co-founder and Partner
Co-founder and Partner
Client Support & Service Delivery

Ewelina is a co-founder and manages Client Support team at Polish Descent. She strongly believes that every case is a unique story, often involving family challenges, complex histories, or intricate legal matters. Recognizing the importance of a personalized approach, she ensures each client receives dedicated attention, empathy, and thoroughness, focusing on solutions tailored specifically to their circumstances.

Ewelina earned her master degree from the Faculty of Law and Administration at Jagiellonian University and completed postgraduate studies at Cracow University of Economics. Currently, she is further expanding her knowledge at Wyższa Szkoła Biznesu – National Louis University in Nowy Sącz, driven by the conviction that continuous development helps better meet the evolving needs of clients. Before joining Polish Descent, she spent over a decade in tax administration, leading teams and gaining extensive experience in managing complex cases and interpersonal relations.

Known for her direct, empathetic, and deeply engaged nature, Ewelina believes genuine professionalism extends beyond knowledge of regulations and procedures—it includes actively listening, analyzing carefully, and supporting clients through informed decision-making.

Outside the office, Ewelina is a dedicated mother to two sons. She has a passion for modern history and a lifelong love of classical music—she played the violin from childhood, developing patience, mindfulness, and consistency. These core values shape her approach to her work, ensuring clients feel supported and confident at every stage of their journey.

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Adrian Michalik
Client Experience and Research
Co-founder and Partner
Co-founder and Partner
Client Experience and Research

Adrian  is a co-founder of Polish Descent, focusing on assisting as many people as possible in obtaining Polish citizenship. Along with a dedicated team of researchers, Adrian diligently searches various archives to find records proving the citizenship of Polish ancestors.

Adrian firmly believes that acquiring a Polish EU passport helps individuals reconnect with their rich Polish heritage and fully experience what Europe has to offer. Adrian has consistently combined his passion for travel with his professional life, resulting in living on three continents and in five countries over the past ten years. His Polish passport has been invaluable, allowing him extensive freedom to travel internationally ✈️.

Adrian can communicate in Polish, English, and Spanish, and is currently working on improving his Russian and Latin to better decipher historical archives. "Kotlet Schabowy is better than Ribeye Steak every day of the week," Adrian jokes 😄. He enjoys embracing nature through ski touring during winter and scuba diving in summer.

Adrian’s ambitious goal for Polish Descent is to help 1,000,000 people secure Polish citizenship before he retires, fostering deeper connections to Poland's vibrant culture and heritage.

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Jillian Seymour-Michalik
Customer Experience and Citizenship
Co-founder and Partner
Co-founder and Partner
Customer Experience and Citizenship

Jillian is a co-founder of Polish Descent, dedicated to ensuring our services bring satisfaction and joy to every customer. Having personally navigated the complexities of residency and citizenship processes, Jillian deeply understands the challenges non-Polish speakers face when interacting with Polish consulates and governmental offices. Her firsthand experiences drive her commitment to designing clear, straightforward, and approachable administrative processes tailored specifically for those living outside Poland.

Bringing significant international expertise to the team, Jillian previously served as a project manager at a television station in South Africa and successfully operated her own international trade business. She was among the youngest women to complete the prestigious Advanced Management Programme at WITS Business School. Currently, Jillian is pursuing her Bachelor of Law at Arden University in the UK while simultaneously mastering the Polish language.

In Poland, since all female names traditionally end with the letter "a," Jillian affectionately became known as Jillianka 😊.

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Paweł Michalik
IT & Operations, Marketing
Co-founder and Partner
Co-founder and Partner
IT & Operations, Marketing

Pawel is a co-founder at Polish Descent, where he makes sure everything runs smoothly and securely. He is a big believer that well-designed processes help everyone—reducing mistakes, keeping things consistent, and making the team's job easier and more enjoyable.

He brings extensive experience in operations, data security, and automation technologies from his past roles at UBS Bank and Google. Pawel takes cybersecurity seriously, constantly working behind the scenes to ensure customer data stays safe and secure.

Outside work, Pawel loves spending time in nature, especially mushroom picking and exploring the outdoors with his two adopted dogs🐾. He's also a true tech enthusiast, fascinated by server technologies, automation, AI, and distributed systems. Pawel is also known for his amazing cooking skills. His Golabki are legendary, and he playfully promises unlimited supplies to his colleagues, joking that it’s the real reason he got his position 😊. His culinary interests go beyond Polish dishes—he also enjoys making and eating delicious Neapolitan pizzas and Arabic tagines.

Despite getting older, Pawel stays young at heart, thanks to his ongoing passion for techno and drum & bass music—he likes to joke it's his secret to staying forever young😊.

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Lucyna Michalik
Citizenship Specialist - Application Preparation and Monitoring
Client Support
Client Support
Citizenship Specialist - Application Preparation and Monitoring

Lucyna, also known as Lucy at Polish Descent, brings warmth, enthusiasm, and a strong commitment to client satisfaction to our team. She earned her bachelor's degree in dietetics and master's degree in public health from the prestigious Jagiellonian University, specializing in health prevention and research focused on both the mental and physical well-being of elderly individuals.

Lucy gained valuable professional experience working in public administration, particularly focused on monitoring and combating infectious diseases. She is known for her effectiveness, dedication, and diligence, always focused on finding practical solutions and implementing them efficiently. Her strong command of English helps her clearly communicate with clients, ensuring they always feel informed and understood. Additionally, Lucy's exceptional document research skills and analytical abilities allow her to efficiently gather, analyze, and apply crucial information, enabling her to successfully handle even the most challenging citizenship cases and consistently achieve positive outcomes.

Privately, Lucy is passionate about traveling, nature, and animals, caring for two adopted dogs. Family is at the core of her values.

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Krystyna Michalik
Civil Records Registry and Voivodeships
Client Support
Client Support
Civil Records Registry and Voivodeships

Krystyna invaluable support to Polish Descent by helping navigate official matters with various institutions in Krakow. Her most significant contribution, however, is raising the four founders—Angelika, Adrian, Ewelina, and Paweł—guiding them to become compassionate, entrepreneurial, and driven individuals.

Drawing on her extensive experience in geriatric care, she developed a special talent for connecting with people and understanding their perspectives. These interpersonal skills have proven especially helpful when communicating with offices and institutions, as she naturally finds common ground with everyone she meets. Fluent in German, she also supports our research and communications with German archives and authorities.

In her private life, she is a beloved grandmother to four grandchildren and enjoys exploring good cuisine. Although she is mindful of her energy levels, her enthusiasm for dancing remains strong, and she takes pleasure in dancing whenever the opportunity arises.

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Kamila Pyrz
Citizenship Specialist - Application Preparation and Monitoring
Client Support
Client Support
Citizenship Specialist - Application Preparation and Monitoring

Kamila is a dedicated member of our client support team at Polish Descent, bringing over a decade of professional experience in customer care. Her extensive background enables her to navigate even the most complex cases with patience, empathy, and professionalism. Kamila firmly believes that every client interaction is an opportunity to not only solve problems but also to genuinely connect and understand each individual's story.

Driven by her passion for personal and professional development, Kamila is currently expanding her expertise by pursuing a second degree in law, further enhancing her ability to support clients effectively.

Originally trained as a dietitian, Kamila maintains her enthusiasm for healthy living, sports, and cooking. Colleagues often joke that her culinary skills help keep the team's morale high—especially when she shares her famous healthy treats! An animal lover with a deep interest in animal behavior, Kamila spends much of her free time exploring nature and engaging in outdoor adventures with her dog 🐾, humorously referring to him as the team's unofficial mascot and her "personal fitness coach." Her vibrant energy and curiosity ensure she's always ready for new challenges, adapting seamlessly to any situation she encounters.

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Klaudia Raźna-Gdula
Citizenship Specialist - Application Preparation and Monitoring
Client Support
Client Support
Citizenship Specialist - Application Preparation and Monitoring

Klaudia is warm, empathetic, and naturally skilled at building genuine relationships with everyone she meets. Her friendly personality and authentic interest in others make her a cherished and approachable member of our team.

After finishing her education, Klaudia gained significant experience working closely with clients, quickly learning how to truly listen and find practical solutions tailored to individual needs. Her thoroughness and attention to detail ensure every task she handles is done reliably and with great care. Klaudia is particularly relentless when dealing with Polish administrative offices, effectively overcoming bureaucratic challenges to achieve positive outcomes for clients.

In her personal time, Klaudia loves to travel, exploring new cultures and gathering inspiration from each adventure. She has always been active and passionate about sports—initially through dance and now through playing squash regularly. During summer, you'll often find her on her motorcycle, enjoying the sense of freedom and discovering new perspectives.

At Polish Descent, Klaudia is also famous for her exceptional baking skills. Her lemon cheesecake and cinnamon donuts 🍩 vanish as quickly as they arrive, confirming her status as the team's unofficial pastry chef 🍪!

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Nikola Osika
Citizenship Specialist - Application Preparation and Monitoring
Client Support
Client Support
Citizenship Specialist - Application Preparation and Monitoring

Nikola is detailed-oriented, friendly, and always ready to lend a helping hand. Currently studying psychology in management, she uses her insights to connect genuinely with clients, quickly understanding their needs and making interactions both easy and meaningful. Her studies help her communicate clearly, creating a supportive environment for everyone she works with.

Outside of work, Nikola has a genuine passion for culture—she loves watching films, reading books, and exploring art history. These interests keep her inspired and always eager to learn something new. She's also become fascinated by digital marketing, blending her psychological knowledge with creativity.

Nikola also loves traveling, seeing it as an opportunity to discover new places, meet interesting people, and experience different cultures firsthand. These adventures continually shape her understanding and appreciation of the world around her.

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Judyta Dziewońska
Citizenship Specialist - Application Preparation and Monitoring
Client Support
Client Support
Citizenship Specialist - Application Preparation and Monitoring

Judyta is an accomplished lawyer who earned her law degree from Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University. She has extensive professional experience spanning both public service within civil administration and the private sector, specifically in commercial law companies registered with the Polish Financial Supervision Authority.

She specializes in commercial law, real estate markets, and property and life insurance. Her expertise ensures that she handles every case with precision, reliability, and a comprehensive understanding of complex legal environments.

Outside the professional realm, Judyta has a wide array of interests that reflect her dynamic personality. She enjoys art and music, finds peace and inspiration in mountain hikes and travel, and takes pleasure in gardening, nurturing her passion for nature.

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Michał Bień
Citizenship Specialist - Application Preparation and Monitoring
Client Support
Client Support
Citizenship Specialist - Application Preparation and Monitoring

Michał is ambitious, detail-oriented, and great at keeping cool even in challenging situations. With nearly twenty years of experience in customer service and team management, he's skilled at quickly adapting to new tasks and ensuring everything runs smoothly.

History fascinates Michał, especially the intriguing stories of the medieval period. Sports are another major part of his life, with volleyball and tennis topping the list of his favorite activities. However, his most unique hobby is breeding decorative pigeons—a pastime that demands patience, dedication, and a lot of knowledge, but brings him immense joy and satisfaction. He's even a judge at pigeon-breeding competitions.

Friendly and outgoing, Michał easily builds strong relationships and thrives in team settings.

Fun fact: What connects Polish Descent and boxing legend Mike Tyson? It's Michał's passion for pigeons! 🐦😊

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Łukasz Duplaga
Document Research & Genealogy
Research
Research
Document Research & Genealogy

Łukasz conducts genealogical research at Polish Descent, helping clients uncover fascinating stories about their ancestors. His role involves meticulously searching through archives and government offices and maintaining regular communication with clients to provide the fullest possible picture of their family history. For Łukasz, genealogy is more than a job—it's a true passion. He treats every case as a unique story waiting to be discovered. Thanks to his exceptional ability to create coherent narratives from fragmented pieces of information, Łukasz brings the past vividly to life for his clients.

Łukasz is also famous among the team for his unique sense of humor, regularly bringing everyone to tears of laughter. He is deeply dedicated to his work and always puts his heart into everything he does.

Outside of his responsibilities at Polish Descent, Łukasz actively produces music and has been a long-standing member of an alternative underground band blending electronic sounds, guitar riffs, and a punk vibe. In his spare time, he enjoys experimenting in the kitchen and attempts gardening—though he humorously admits that significant success in this area is still on the horizon.

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