London Inc. May-June 2023 - 52

Jerzy Smolarek
Co-founder and Partner, Siv-ik Planning and Design Inc. | 36
HOMETOWN: Miedzychód, Poland
Prior to co-founding Siv-ik Planning & Design in 2021, Jerzy Smolarek's career spanned over 11 years
as a municipal urban designer with the City of London. During this time his vision and design influence
has shaped major development projects across the city, including the Dundas Flex Street. Moving to the
private sector, he is now putting his vision, creative skills and accumulated knowledge to work to help
developers better plan and execute development projects through robust and innovative solutions and
strategies.
What would you say is your single biggest business
achievement, and why? Building a successful urban planning
consulting business from the ground-up by taking the
time to step back and evaluate the industry, forget
about how things have been typically done and
diligently come up with new ways of doing things
in an industry that has remained fairly stagnant
over the last couple of decades.
yg
n t
e
ain
des.
Knowing what you know now, what
advice would you give your younger
self? Life is not always linear, nor should
it be. Taking risks can bring big rewards,
I always found myself being risk-averse
growing up, especially in my career. After
college, I settled into a government job
with a good salary, benefits and a
pension for over 10 years. In 2021,
I walked away from all of that
w no
yo r yo
ne
my c
d a
In
that
h I
to start Siv-ik - and wish I
had done it sooner.
What about your
biggest business
obstacle - and how
did you tackle it?
Having only worked
in the public sector,
taking the leap to try
to build a successful
consulting business.
What are some
of your favourite
pastimes, outside
of your job? Going
to the gym or enjoying
anything outdoors, including
biking the entire Thames
Valley Parkway network on a
Saturday morning, or basking in
d
es
on a
king in
the sun at a local beach.
52|londonincmagazine.ca|MAY / JUNE 2023
g big re
at
er
, nor should
rds,
sk-aver
ter
ver men job
t
What's left for you to do - professionally or
personally? There's still lots to come. Professionally
we're hoping to continue to steadily grow
Siv-ik into the go-to planning firm in
Southwestern Ontario. Personally,
I just got engaged earlier this
year to the most amazing
woman and I am looking
forward to planning our
dream wedding in
Italyly!
Wha
le
or yo
es
s st ll lots to com
lly we're hoping to con inue to
Siv-i
into t e go- o plan
we
I ju t g
ye r to t
woman and I
or
A
rd to
re m w
And finally,
what's your
guilty
pleasure?
Doughnuts
and reality
TV.
n Ontar
ed
lly done a
s of doi g t ings
airly sta
After college, I settled into a government
job with a good salary, benefits and a
pension for over 10 years. In 2021,
I walked away from all of that to start
jg
pension for over 10 years. In 20
I walked away from all of that to
Siv-ik - and wish I had done
it sooner.
Siv-ik - and wish I had done
it sooner.
20 UNDER 40 * CL ASS OF 2023

London Inc. May-June 2023

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