Grzegorz W. Kolodko is a distinguished professor of economics at Kozminski University in Warsaw, Poland. A leading architect of Poland's economic reforms, he is also a prominent public intellectual and politician. He served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Poland (1994-1997, 2002-2003), shaping key economic policies during critical periods of transformation.

A member of Academia Europaea, he is the Director of the Transformation, Integration, and Globalization Economic Research (TIGER) center at Kozminski University. Recognized as the most frequently cited economist from post-Communist countries, Professor Kolodko combines his academic expertise with an adventurous spirit--he is an avid marathon runner and a globetrotter who has explored 172 countries and even set foot in Antarctica.