Groupon Employee Spotlight:
Greg Kabulski

In our December Employee Spotlight, we are excited to introduce Greg Kabulski, who has been with Groupon since 2015. From his start as an accountant in Poland to his current role as a Financial Data Engineer in the UK, Greg has seen and done it all! In this interview, he shares his journey, his passion for hands-on learning, the challenges he's overcome, and his commitment to continuously improving processes.

Greg also talks about how he balances high performance with physical activity, his love for cycling 🚴‍♂️, and a surprising fact about his twin brother, who used to work at Groupon!  👯‍♂️💻 

Discover below Greg's journey, the challenges he’s overcome, and what keeps him inspired to innovate every day at Groupon!

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at Groupon.

I joined Groupon in 2015 in Poland, Warsaw and moved to the UK, London in 2019. I’m a Financial Data Engineer in the Financial Systems & Analysts (FSA) team. We are working on providing data for Accounting, Finance and Tax.

How did you get started in your career, and what brought you to  Groupon?

I had 4 years of experience in outsourcing accounting prior to joining Groupon. I used to do statutory accounting and tax returns for entrepreneurs and corporations in Poland.
I started at Groupon as an Accountant and quickly advanced to Senior Accountant, Team Lead, and Accounting Manager.
I initially planned to stay only 2–3 years, but Groupon's dynamic environment and exciting projects like VFM, ILS, and the Voucher Directive kept me engaged. At Groupon, I was inspired by self-taught colleagues and gained exposure to SQL databases, which I quickly learned to use in my daily work. Fast forward to today, I’m maintaining global accounting data pipelines, optimizing Teradata CPU usage, and writing Python jobs to solve complex problems.

In your opinion, what are the key elements necessary for individuals and teams to excel and achieve high performance in a dynamic environment like Groupon?

At Groupon, we thrive on learning by doing—that’s been my experience too! The opportunity to challenge the status quo and improve processes is part of the daily routine. Cross-department collaboration inspires me to explore new technologies, which I then apply to my work. In 2024, managing workloads requires more than just proficiency in Excel. If you're not leveraging tools like ChatGPT, you're missing out! Online courses and studies have been helpful, but the real progress comes when you actively apply the skills you’ve learned.

How do you balance the pursuit of high performance with maintaining a healthy work-life balance?

I keep my mind sharp by staying active, dedicating 10–15 hours a week to endurance and strength training. Whether it’s a morning bike ride or a lunchtime run, these activities help me start the day with clarity and maintain focus. When I hit a programming roadblock, stepping away for exercise often leads to a fresh perspective and a solution!

As Groupon undergoes transformational changes, how do you adapt your approach to ensure continued success and contribute to the company's growth objectives? 

I believe in questioning the status quo. Just because something has been done a certain way for years doesn’t mean it’s the best approach. I approach every process with the mindset of finding ways to improve it—saving time, increasing efficiency, and making everyone’s work easier. This mentality helps me drive positive change and stay aligned with Groupon’s evolving goals.

How do you inspire and motivate your colleagues to embrace a mindset of continuous improvement and excellence in their work?

I like to joke that if I ever fully automate all our accounting processes and eliminate the need for my role, I’ll move on to a new job! Thankfully, that hasn’t happened yet, and after nine years, there’s still plenty to solve. This playful mindset often motivates my colleagues to think critically and embrace innovation.

What was the first Groupon that you even bought, or experienced?

Georgian Restaurant in Warsaw. There was so much food!  

What is one non-work activity or hobby that you're into?

Cycling and managing Communications and Social Media for the biggest non-commercial cycling club in the UK - Islington.cc. That goes well with my other hobby, which is photography - I often go to bike races to take pictures, but also enjoy wildlife photography. I post my pictures on instagram.

What’s one thing about you that surprises people?

I have an identical twin brother who also worked at Groupon. Despite starting in different career paths, we’re both now Data Engineers living in London! 

If you could swap lives with any fictional character for a day, who would you choose and why?

Indiana Jones - smart adventurer that goes on thrilling adventures around the world? Yes please! 🌍

What's the most adventurous thing you've ever done, and would you do it again? 

Cycling 500 miles around the Scottish North Coast (NC500) in 6 days. I’d love to do it again, but perhaps with less rain and headwind next time! 🚴

If you could have a dinner party with any historical figure, dead or alive, who would you invite and what would you all talk about?

Frederic Chopin. As my favorite classical composer, I know all his pieces by heart. Apart from my twin brother, he’s the only person whose birthday I remember without checking a calendar. We wouldn’t talk - I would ask him to play for me!

If you could instantly master any skill or talent, what would it be and why?

Playing any musical instrument 🎶. I’m passionate about music but have too many hobbies to commit the time needed. If I could master an instrument instantly, I’d join a string quartet without hesitation.

What's the most embarrassing song on your playlist that you secretly love?

Somehow among my Spotify full of Classical, Jazz and Death Metal, I oddly enjoy Reggaeton rhythm of Natti Natasha - Criminal 

And finally, what was the last Groupon you bought?

A sports massage at a clinic in North London. It was painful but exactly what my calves needed — 5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐