Why Our COO Left Banking for Samaná?
When things get complex, most of us at Samana Group turn to one person: Wiktor Buczek. With his ability to bring order to chaos, Wiktor is the operational brain of our company. And his journey truly reflects what draws people to Samaná – and what keeps them here.
From IT to international banking
Wiktor’s background is in IT – and like many great technologists, he’s self-taught. “I started programming before it was cool,” he jokes. His career quickly accelerated through major firms like UBS and Credit Suisse, where he navigated the intersection of tech and finance. Eventually, he moved from Poland to Switzerland – and while it might seem like a career move, the real reason was his true love: skiing. Drawn by the proximity of the Alps, he chose to settle in Zurich, where he still lives today (except when he’s in Samaná).
Chasing more than sunshine
After years in the corporate world, the classic white-collar grind began to wear on him. Switzerland, for all its order and beauty, can feel strict and office-bound – which can limit one’s sense of independence. “It’s a great place for discipline and career, but I craved more freedom – and sun,” Wiktor admits. The rise of remote work in IT opened a door. He began dreaming of something else: a part-time life somewhere warm, with a business of his own. He explored coworking concepts and digital nomad havens like Thailand and Bali – but something was always missing. “Those places are built for tourists. High turnover, party scenes, no real community. It was fun for a while, but I needed depth – and a place that felt livable, not just visitable,” he says.
Discovering Samaná
Samaná wasn’t even on his radar – until he read Chasing Black Unicorns, the book by our CEO, Marek Zmysłowski. One thing led to another, and Wiktor ended up volunteering with Samana Group – a hands-on due diligence trip, as he calls it. He was considering buying property and launching a coworking concept – and decided to use the volunteering gig as the perfect excuse to do some undercover scouting.
What started as a few weeks of helping out with IT quickly turned into supporting everything from systems to operations – and the deeper he got into the company, the more it resonated. “The people, the vision – it was bold, different, and I felt like I could build something meaningful here,” he recalls. His contributions became so essential that he was offered the role of CTO, and later COO.
Leading innovation
Today, Wiktor leads our operational strategy, team management, and all process implementation. “I’ve always believed that IT can change the world – and Samana Group is a startup where IT plays a central role. We’re not just deploying systems. We’re inventing new ways to revolutionize real estate,” he says. One of his standout projects? The Flat House Configurator – the world’s first tool that lets users design and purchase real estate online in an automated, user-friendly way. He’s also pioneering our work in blockchain and tokenization, bringing his passion for finance and Web3 into real-world application.
Beyond the screen
Wiktor often laughs that he’s a classic nerd at heart – deeply into IT, blockchain, crypto, finance, and… cats. But there’s life beyond the screen, too.
He’s a familiar sight on the Samaná coast, jogging in the mornings, and he’s just as passionate about motorsports, the previously mentioned skiing, and sailing. That’s why he’s especially excited about Samana Yachts – a new venture under our company that speaks to his passion for the sea. This year, it even gave him the chance to cross the Atlantic on a catamaran!
Whether he’s at the helm of a yacht or leading operations on land, Wiktor brings the same calm focus wherever he goes. We’re lucky to have him on board, as he keeps things running smoothly, balancing the dynamic Caribbean lifestyle with the rapid pace of startup life.
Thank you for being part of our team!