Founders

The competition THE CZECH BUSINESSWOMAN AWARD – OCP was founded in 2008 by Ms. Jana Švenková, the partner of the Mazars Audit company and by Ms. Helena Kohoutová, the managing director of Agentura Helas, with the goal to point at extraordinary, professionally successful women.

What does this project mean to you?

HK: It´s very important for me. I perceive it as a thanksgiving to all the people – women and men, who have helped me on the way to my dream. With the time, I realize even more that open communication, cooperation, and reciprocal support, with keeping the ethic rules of behavior in personal and working life, are the basic pillars for success.

JŠ: It means a lot. Personally and professionally. Same as Ms. Kohoutová, I´m strongly realizing how important nowadays mutual support and cultivation of the entrepreneunial atmosphere is.  Real life´s stories give strength to other people. By this project I´d like to express my support to all the women, behind whose success stands mainly responsibility, character and respect to others.

Has the founding of the OCP competition and the fact of being the co-founder of such a project influenced you in any way?

JŠ: Yes. And again it was confirmed that anything one does with a full heart and strech makes sense.   A strong motivation and trust in the idea of the project as well as a certain  obstinacy, meaning not to let yourself to be discouraged,  gave me the possibility to take a part on a socially highly useful project.  The first two years have brought us a number of beautiful human stories and positive reactions. It has made me richer.

HK: I personally highly appreciate the fact I can co-create and influence a project which stands on positive values. Each successful firm, in our case the founder, deserves recognition, appreciation. This competition is offering all of that. I´m keeping my fingers crossed and wish all the women a lot of joy, success and understanding.

What do you appreciate about businesswomen the most?

HK: Personal effort, responsibility, enthusiasm. The ability to manage work, family and interhuman relations.

JŠ: The ability to realize their idea. The persistence and responsibility. Optimism. Simple human decency.  But even the ability not to sacrifice your own interests or family life for your profession. Once making a career, that is very hard,  but at the same time so important for every individual. I would like this project to glorify all of these values. I do believe that people may be very successful and yet not lose anything from their humanity. Let´s be humanly richer as a society!