Author: Martina
The woman from Mars – a fascinating story by a Slovak astrobiologist
The path taken by the 32-year-old astrobiologist, Dr Michaela Musilova, to work with extremophiles (with organisms living in extreme environments) to achieve the goals set, above all the biggest one – to become an astronaut and to carry out space research, has not been easy. In the book The Woman from Mars, written by the publicist Lucia Lackovic and currently published by Artis Omnis, readers can learn about her life, her research, and the personalities of world science that she has become acquainted with during her studies, research, expeditions and conferences. In Michaela’s very open and honest confession, she describes her journey from a child with no significant financial background who dreamed of a dream of flying into space and endlessly follows it to a woman who is fulfilling that dream. The Woman from Mars is a book that describes the difficult conditions of women in science, and one of her aims is to encourage women to have the courage to speak up against conditions that disadvantage them in any way compared to men. The scientific world is riddled with discrimination “The scientific world is riddled with discrimination. It’s full of sexism and racism, men stealing discoveries from women, the elderly appropriating ideas, discoveries and youth work. However, something has changed. Women lose their inhibitions to speak up. And men are starting to get scared. Some … It also happens that the laboratory in which the women work is commented by certain men: At least I have something to look at.” There is still an unspoken rule that many scientists despise the research of laboratories in which many women work, or even a balanced number of women. One such area is, for example, astronomy. Elsewhere, women are routinely harassed and blackmailed. These men, as if they were unaware of the impropriety of their actions. It happens that some educated men group together to comment on a self-educated and successful colleague by saying that she is ‘preserved.‘ Follow us on Linkedin! How to set boundaries? “It’s not right. Changing the mentality of the elderly may not be entirely possible. They’ll probably never fully understand it, just accept the boundaries that have been set. But we have to set the boundaries! We must not be afraid to speak up! At the same time, young people must be led from childhood to understand these boundaries. Otherwise, companies will continue to exist, even in academic circles, where women will be measured by numbers. Not by their professional success, but by the subjective perception of their appearance by men. Woman’s reputation is partially protected. It doesn’t guarantee protection from everyone, but it acts as a filter for the most primitive. However, a woman is not only valuable because she is educated and successful. The rules of equality and respect set out must apply regardless of the educational background, the financial situation or the profession. They have to pay regardless of gender.” Dangerous field research She also describes the challenges involved in the field research, sometimes involving life itself. “When I pulled my hand out of the icy river, I saw that the needle went in one side of my finger and out the other. My hands were so frozen, I could barely feel it. All I could think of was that the blood would attract a polar bear. I went to the science tent looking for the first aid kit. I couldn’t forget to sterilize the gloves, and after basic treatment, I immediately continued the experiment. With a punctured finger.” The relentlessly high pace and commitment of work have also taken their toll on Michaela. In the book, she describes the process by which she has reached the limits of her power and offers advice to those who are on a similar path to her. “I couldn’t go to a hotel dinner, the prices were way out of my price range, so I went to the grocery store to buy food and at least ate something in a hurry to make it to the next Horizon 2020 meeting. In the evening, I was at the end of my rope, I had meetings and discussions to attend, so I took off my shoes and, as I was, I went to the beach next to the hotel. I found a more remote, but not too remote place, lay down in the sand in my dress, put my purse under my head, covered myself with my jacket, and immediately fell asleep. I dozed off for less than an hour, got up, dusted off the sand and returned to the presidential delegation.” “So, yes, I’ve always been willing to go all the way. But this time I’ve come to the limit of my powers. You can tell in advance. This condition is accompanied by a number of unmistakable signals which alert you to the fact that it is approaching. They can’t be overlooked, and one must either consciously suppress them or ignore them to drive them away. It’s a feeling that can be captured in time. It’s even hard to miss. If you register the condition, don’t underestimate it. No, I don’t think so. You’re not thinking about it. Oh, no. You won’t. Slow down! Slow down!” Inspiration for young people One of the important aims of the book is to give a flavor to young people who are thinking about a scientific career and to encourage them even if this journey is not straightforward. She said: “When I’m two years older, I hope to be half as good as you. I was surprised. It was at that moment that I realized that my study and career path had become something of an ideal for other students and that I was, in a sense, a role model for them. It was binding and, at the same time, it was gradually becoming clear to me that the female role model is also extremely important for other girls and women, not just those who go to university with me. That role models motivate the career path, the development of skills, the personality set-up, and that you never know who your words and life’s example inspires. Of course, everyone has different conditions and different potential but one can always try to get closer to a goal and sometimes, if one really, really, really tries and if one is lucky, then one can achieve it. I wish she wasn’t half as good as me. I wish she was better!” Fight, even when it fails “If everyone ended their efforts at a time when it is not and when things are not going smoothly and painlessly, we would never get anywhere. Situations tend to get complicated. Especially when there’s a lot at stake. The more variables, the more likely it is that something will go wrong. In any move, whether personal, scientific or social … It is essential to overcome a number of obstacles and to face situations which are not pleasant and which require self-restraint and energy, courage and activity. Follow us on Linkedin!
Head of IKEA’s department store: True equality starts right at home
The subject of domestic violence has until recently been heavily taboo. Several media outlets or companies are already starting to raise the issue. One of them is IKEA’s department store. We reached out to the director, Lucia Kleckova, who told us in the interview: why is it that their firm is dealing with this particular issue, what is domestic violence, how to educate society on this issue, how the working environment can affect the status of women, how can a woman who is exposed to some form of violence can defend herself? A conference on domestic violence was held recently. IKEA was one of the main partners. Why has IKEA started to address this issue? The answer is simple – because our vision is to create a better daily life for as many people as possible, and this, of course, is also linked to creating a safe home. We believe that home should be a safe place for everyone, which unfortunately is not always the case. That is why we have decided to actively help women experiencing violence and to motivate society to discuss together, as well as to find ways to prevent violence against women in partnership. Statistics show that the issue of domestic violence is also increasingly relevant in the context of the current situation of the spread of COVID-19. According to statistics, up to 70% of women have experienced domestic violence. What does this term cover? We know of many forms of domestic violence. Many people think of domestic violence, especially women or men who come in physical contact with the aggressor and then hide their bruises under sweaters or sunglasses. However, there is also an invisible form of domestic violence that is just as dangerous. Physical violence is also associated with mental or social violence. The victims are repeatedly blackmailed and psychologically manipulated, which leaves no marks on the skin, but it does leave significant marks on the soul. How much more has the pandemic exacerbated this problem? Do you have any statistics available? The way this problem is exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been able to see it since the first wave. At the time, the national hotline for women experiencing domestic violence reported twice as many women being called on the hotline for the first time. Households, where we currently spend more time than ever before, are stirring up another wave of violence. What are the main objectives of the Safe Home campaign? The objective of the two and a half year Safe Homes project is to contribute to improving living conditions in the home for each of us. We believe that society and the business community should take a proactive interest in issues that affect us all. In this context, we have made specific commitments through which we want to contribute to finding solutions to prevent violence and to help the women who experience it. One of the campaign plans is to earmark EUR 70 000.To which organizations will this money go? The money will go to non-profit organizations that help victims of domestic violence to provide them with the necessary help and accommodation. You are declaring equality of opportunity in IKEA. How do you manage that? We in IKEA believe that everyone has the right to fair treatment and equal opportunities, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. That is why we celebrate diversity at work and try to create a workplace where there is an atmosphere of inclusion. Our aim is to achieve true gender equality. This means ensuring equal opportunities for both women and men and achieving a 50 / 50 ratio at all levels of governance. Equality is simply a win-win situation. In order to achieve a 50 / 50 male / female ratio, we are aiming for more women to work in positions that are mostly held by men and vice versa. How do you try to raise awareness and educate society about this problem? In January, we did a survey on how the Slovaks perceive gender equality in society and how it manifests itself directly in households. The results were subsequently published through the Fair Homes campaign. We have called on people to exchange roles at home so that they can better understand their partners and build a happier home together. True equality starts at home, and the time has come to break many stereotypes. We are also trying to point out that the perception of gender equality in society has a huge impact on the issue of domestic violence. Violence against women is the most serious impact of inequality. The EU directive makes it clear that women are particularly vulnerable to victims, as they experience violence precisely because they are women. We are fully aware that in order to achieve full equality for women in society, we must first pay attention to this most serious impact of inequality. What other companies or organizations have joined your initiative? Our aim is to bring together all those who care about the subject, have something to offer and are willing to share their experience and resources to help women who experience violence. The round table with the US Trade Commission, which was attended by representatives of the private, public and non-profit sectors, was intended, on the one hand, to show companies that the issue of violence against women is important and that there are specific areas in which the private sector can help. We also wanted to send a signal to the public sector that companies are actively interested in the issue, that they see it as important and that they are ready to work with the state on specific areas to combat violence against women. We trust that, in addition to the nonprofit sector, other companies will join us and together we will contribute to improving the situation of women in Slovakia. Follow us on Linkedin! How do you perceive President Zuzana Chaputova’s involvement in this issue? We very much appreciate the President‘s involvement and support, and we see this as an important signal that violence against women is an issue of concern to society as a whole and one that is also being addressed by the highest authorities. Try giving three pieces of advice to women on how to act when they feel threatened. Each case of domestic violence is different, so women should certainly find out more about their options as a first step and contact, for example, Fenestra at 0911 440 808 on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or the non-stop National Line for Violence against Women at 0800 212 212. If a woman is at risk of life or health, contact the police immediately at 158. It is important to speak up about the problems, even if it is extremely difficult. Any woman who chooses to fight domestic violence is also an inspiration to other women that the situation they are currently in may not be their lifelong story. I truly believe and hope that the situation with regard to domestic violence will also begin to improve thanks to our campaign in Slovakia. Not only we, but the whole of society, have a long and difficult road ahead of us, but we are not going to give up. We are for a safe home that deserves every single human being. Follow us on Linkedin!
In the streets of Bombay, they made a unique gesture to women, to strengthen gender equality
Bombay installed a female figure in traffic lights. It is a small but very effective signal. This step helps dispel the notion that there should be only men in public. Bombay became the first city in India to introduce female figures at its lights. This move was very much welcomed by activists as a step towards greater inclusiveness. Authorities are trading green and red male figures for females at over 100 pedestrian crossings. This is taking place as part of a plan to improve pedestrian accessibility. Kiran Dighavkar of the Bombay City Council states: ‘ The label reflects the nature and character of the city … believes in gender equality and supports the empowerment of women. This is just the beginning.‘ In the campaign for equality, she said that the change may seem small, small, but in fact it is very significant. In many Indian cities, you don’t see many women on the street. Women belong to the public “If a generation of young girls see a woman’s figure on traffic lights, it will send them a small but clear signal that women belong to the public,” says social scientist Shilpa Phadke. “The presence of such symbolism in the public domain could disprove the idea that the person represented on the street is a man … in the long term it is a very important element,” says Phadke, co-author of the book ‘ Why Loiter? Women and risks on the streets of Bombay ’. Follow us on Linkedin! One of the most dangerous places The financially most important city in India already has reserved transport for women only, such as trains in peripheral districts and reserved seats on buses. It is widely regarded as one of the safest places in the country. Women in India have to deal with a number of security issues, such as poorly lit alleys, overcrowded public transport. However, steps have been taken in recent years to improve the accessibility of public spaces. According to the 2018 surveys, India was ranked as the most dangerous country in the world (Thomson Reuters Foundation). Last year, Delhi allowed free public transport for women to increase their mobility. Several Indian states give girls free bikes. They want to make sure that the lack of suitable, safe and accessible public transport does not prevent them from finishing school. Follow us on Linkedin!
Female athletes who have broken barriers in typical male sports
What is common in today’s sport was unthinkable a few decades ago. Not so long ago, many of the most popular sports activities for women were totally taboo. Today, the situation is different, and women can easily take their place in typical male sports. Women’s non-participation at the top level in a number of sports sectors lasted only until female athletes appeared in front of the audience determined to change the ‘rules of the game’. They must have faced a double challenge. In addition to surmounting their own limits and rivals on the playgrounds or in the arenas, they also fought against the then social conventions. Women and Sports in History: In ancient times, sport was a male domain, women practiced only marginally. In the Middle Ages, sports activities were totally unacceptable to women. greater attempts to break down barriers came in the 19th century, but failed the first Olympic Games in 1896 were not held by an athlete the first 19 women fought for medals up to 4 years later at the OH in Paris the International Federation of Women Sport was founded in 1921. the first Women ’ s World Games were held in Paris in 1922 in the second half of the 20th century, the first women appeared in typical male sports. Jackie Tonawanda (USA) “Female Ali,” as Jackie Tonawanda was nicknamed, had to fight to win the chance to compete against almost all of them. Her desire to enter the professional ring ended only in court, where she achieved a change in the rules allowing women to compete. To make matters worse, in 1975, she went up against boxer L. in Madison Square Garden. The Rodanians. After beating the shit out of him in the second round, it was clear that women deserved a fighting chance. Manon Rhéaume (Canada) Women currently have their own NHL, so it is not necessary to chase a puck on one slide with men. However, Manon Rhéaume did try this feeling in 1992. Even though it was an exhibition match and it only captured one third of the game, she became the first and only female goalie ever to join the NHL. She’s even been given this chance twice. Follow us on Linkedin! Danica Patrick (USA) Despite the fact that Danica Patrick has broken barriers in motorsport too, many women do not appear in motorsport as yet. This, too, contributes to the fact that, after 13 years, the American racer is still the only female winner in the prestigious IndyCar series. In addition to the success of the series, she managed to get into NASCAR Cup or to win senior positions in other competitions where she faced male competition. Kelly Kulick (USA) In the bowling world, the Tournament of Champions, which is part of the PBA Tour series, is the ultimate competition. By 2010, he had failed to win any women. Besides, the women couldn’t even attend it before. Kelly Kulick is thus, historically, the first female bowling player to enter a male competition and to win one. https://www.instagram.com/p/B9MxAynBtJR/ Carissa Moore (USA) Surfing has never been a typical male sport, yet many competitions were initially organized with male representation only. Such events included the Triple Crown of Surfing competition. In 2011, however, Carissa Moore, who had several notable achievements at the time, including winning the World Championship in surfing, was introduced as the first woman, thanks to a wild card. Gertrude Ederle (USA) Barriers standing in the way of gender equality in water sports began to crumble long before C. Moore. It happened in 1926, when Gertrude Ederle sailed the whole area of La Manche. Despite the bad weather, she did it in 14 hours and 32 minutes, breaking the male record of the time in about two hours. Billie Jean King (USA) Twelve grand slam doubles and a long-standing position with the World Team made Billie Jean King one of the world’s most successful tennis players. However, contrary to the above, the female athlete did not go down in history as a woman who broke the barriers in typical male sports. Women’s tennis was a common competition issue during her active career. She was more famous for winning against ex-tennis player B. Riggs, who she defeated in 1973 in the so-called ‘Sex Battle’. There is no longer any top sport where women cannot compete. Nevertheless, in some cases, they do not enjoy exactly the same conditions as men. The problem is mainly the lower financial remuneration, the weaker media attention or the weaker interest of sponsors, which is why women’s sport is developing much more slowly. Follow us on Linkedin!
Director Valeria Schulczova: In theatrical circles, it was thought that women could not master this profession
The personality of the Slovak cultural scene, screenwriter and director Valéria Schulczova, is a co-author of several plays. In addition, she was involved, for example, in the series “Odsudene” and “Za sklom”. As a producer, she subscribed to the series “Horúca krv” or “Ordinácia v ružovej záhrade.” In the interview, she told us: Why direction is the domain of men, what she considers to be the most challenging work which serie is her favorite, what is unique about the Anómia 21 project, what makes exceptional Theater P. O. Hviezdoslav exceptional You’re a director and a playwright. How did you get into these professions? Was it your dream? In a way, it was my childhood dream. When I was 10, I wanted to be an opera director, which turned into a drama during high school. So I knew all through high school that I wanted to go to University of Art. There are more men than women in your profession. Why do you think that is? Because traditionally the theater was man’s business, even in the Elizabethan theater, both men and women played. Actresses are now self-evident, dramaturgists and stage artists too, and directors are gradually becoming the standard. Even during my studies at university, the Slovak theater circles were of the opinion that women could not master this profession. That they don’t have enough authority, or talent or lack the temperament. What do you like best in your work and what is the most difficult for you? My favorite one is the variety and social prestige that the theater can and should have. The intense energy is sometimes difficult, and it is striking. In the theater, it’s the dress-rehearsal weeks that are exhausting even mentally. And when you write scripts, they’re often gallows dead. It’s beautiful in the theater that you work with people and it can also be a stumbling block. If you do not meet someone mentally, do not meet the way of working together, communication and thinking can be an insurmountable problem. You’ve also worked as a creative producer on several TV shows. Which one do you like to remember? I think I like remembering “Odsudene”. It was my first series in Slovakia after returning from Prague. It was interesting both in content and in form, and we felt that we were creating something new, changing the paradigm of Slovak serial creation. Unfortunately, that was not the case. “Odsudene” was left alone with the swallow. What kind of actors do you like best? With those who have an opinion, intellect, humility and the will to work. Follow us on Linkedin! How did you manage the coronavirus period? I don’t think it’s harder than other people. The problem in the theater is that we have consistently stopped all activities, we have only been able to do project preparation. I worked as a screenwriter, but with uncertain prospects, because no one knew when and if it would start shooting, and therefore no one knew if they actually needed ‘back-up’ scenarios. You’re the author of the Anómia 21 project, try to introduce it to our readers. How did this idea come about? Anómia 21 arose as an effort and a need to reflect what the pandemic has done to Slovak society. What effect it had on us, what trials it had accelerated, what it had uncovered mercilessly, and what it had changed. That is why we have reached out to seven authors to help us name this new reality of ours. This led to the creation of the original games and, subsequently, to the creation of seven staging teams, which in the course of June premiered seven new productions in the DPOH. This view of our presence is, in a way, cruel in its truthfulness, but it often takes the form of a humorous view, a viewer having the chance not only to think, but also to laugh. What did you want to express about these projects? Can I take that as a criticism of the company? It’s not primarily about criticism. It is an attempt to name our patterns of behavior, attitudes, tendencies and often animosities. Expose our fears, our anxieties and also what we are subject to, how we let ourselves be manipulated, what we believe in, and who we hate, and what we hate. Where we lie to each other and how we like to stick to the idea that taking responsibility is over-work. What kind of actors can we see in these seven games? Since the DPOH does not have its own set, we have reached out to actors from all the Bratislava theaters and all the students of the SCM. The cast is composed of familiar and less familiar faces, but they all accepted the offer because they were enthusiastic and tried with great enthusiasm and enthusiasm. It was no one’s duty, they worked with joy. And it’s not a phrase. The theater came to life after a long time and the meetings in the common areas had always had a certain kind of enthusiasm that it was possible to work again. Right now, your plays are being played in Theater P. O.Hviezdoslav. What makes this theater so special to you? It’s a great theater building. One of the best in Central Europe. And it’s also the theater where I saw my first play of my life. At the same time, I saw some of the best performances in the studio, and it shaped me as a future professional. So it’s a combination of a certain sentiment and the realization that I have the opportunity to create a really great theater, even though it’s not in the best shape right now. A lot of money needs to be invested in the building, as it has not been reconstructed for decades. It is also in an alarming state of theater technology. Who do you personally think is a great director? There’s a lot of them. I don’t have one idol, nor poetics. When someone presents themselves in public, they sometimes also encounter negative comments or dishonesty. Have you been there? Of course, I have. When you speak to the public, the public also speaks to you. Sometimes it’s hurtful, sometimes it angers you, and sometimes you try to get something constructive out of criticism. You think about what the audience is trying to do to you, often in anger or in rain. Not necessarily whether they’re right, but what really irritates them about your work. What are your plans for the future? Do you have any dreams you’d like to pursue? I have specific dramatic plans for the next season, and my dream is to make them happen. It sounds corny, but if the third wave of the pandemic comes, this dream will be bold, too. What kind of activity can you relax or relax in? On the road. Walking the dog and doing nothing. That’s what I like. The problem is, I can rarely afford one. Dolce far niente is currently being postponed indefinitely. Try giving us three tips on how to achieve your dream. Believing in what I do, doing it to the full and not reliving yourself too harshly. Follow us on Linkedin!
Where does Slovakia stand in the ranking of countries with the best working environment for women?
Sometimes it can be difficult to be a working woman, from wage differentials to discrimination in the workplace and obstacles to progressing beyond the career path. The fact that women often do not feel valued, or are confronted with the fact that their superiors are unable to enable them to advance in their careers, can have a negative impact on the involvement of women in companies. And that has a direct impact on the whole of society. However, the situation varies from country to country, so where is the best place in the world to be a working woman? And how is Slovakia compared with countries all over the world? The SmartSurvey has compiled a ranking of countries based on a number of factors, such as the gender pay gap, how many women are part of the overall workforce and in senior positions. And here’s the result: Slovakia is in terms of occupation 10th best place for women in the world. For example, SmartSurvey research, which reveals the best places for women to work, found that Norway is the number one most ideal country for working women. And Mexico got the lowest score. Top 10 countries in the world for women in employment: Norway Denmark Finland New Zealand Sweden Portugal France Canada Greece Slovakia Follow us on Linkedin! Interestingly, seven of the top ten countries are in Europe, namely Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Portugal, France, Greece and Slovakia. Four of the five best countries for working women are the Nordic countries: Norway, Denmark, Finland and Sweden! The Czech Republic is ranked 15th. Slovakia scored highest in terms of the average number of weeks of maternity or parental leave, which was the highest in the whole table, 164 weeks. The overall percentage of women in employment was also quite high, at 45.38%, almost half of the population. The lowest-rated countries in employment for women: Mexico South Korea Poland Columbia Japan Italy Israel Austria Chile United States Three of the worst countries are in South America: Mexico, Colombia and Chile. These are three of the worst places in the world for women in employment. The US has the highest gross domestic product in the world but it is one of the worst countries in the world for women in business. Follow us on Linkedin!
Jobs where women are paid better than men
The long-term effort to eliminate unequal conditions between men and women in terms of pay is bearing fruit. In some countries of the western world, including Slovakia, women already earn as much as men in several areas. In addition, there is a gradual increase in sectors where women’s earnings are higher than those of their male colleagues. While some jobs have always been more women’s jobs, which is also the result of better income, in others women have had to earn higher incomes through their skills and work. The result is earnings that men do not achieve in their individual positions. According to statistics from a number of consultancy companies, the list of these sectors is extended every year. An example is the six jobs where women currently earn an average of several tens of euros more. Health Advisor Health is one of the five sectors that have been at the top of the rankings of areas where women can earn more than men for several years. For the time being, this is only possible in selected positions. This includes a health adviser whose job is to coordinate hospital facilities. This activity makes the operation of hospitals more transparent and much more in line with the so-called medical codes. Follow us on Linkedin! Financial Advisor Women can also earn better in the financial sector by providing advice. In this case, the attempt by top financial institutions to attract more women to this area is behind the offer of higher wages. As financial advisors can influence their income by working results, the most successful ones can earn up to several hundred euros more than men. This is particularly true in the field of insurance. Assistant to the Research Agency The main task of assistants employed by the research agencies is data collection and subsequent evaluation. Many of these assistants also have telephone contact with their respondents in the job description, for which, according to expert studies, women are better suited. In addition, assistants in these agencies may perform various administrative tasks for managers or directors, thereby also replacing secretaries. This is also why they are rated higher for this versatile workload. Photo: www.pixabay.com Speaker The amount of a speaker’s income depends on the area in which she is active. The highest salaries are paid to spokespersons for top officials and large multinationals. In the latter case, they are often also in charge of developing PR campaigns and branding. This now inevitably includes the sympathetic faces of women, which attract the attention of customers. Deliberative speakers must not be missed at the forefront of the world’s largest firms. Interpreter Interpreters are also a similar case to speakers. These can earn around €100-200 more than men working in the same position in Slovakia. In Western Europe, these salary differences are even greater, especially when practicing a profession in top-level state or international institutions such as individual bodies under the European Commission or the UN. Psychologist In Slovakia, most of the chairs are occupied by women in psychological consultations (not only). Although higher salaries are not the only reason for women’s increased interest in the profession, they, along with several other factors, significantly increase interest in psychology studies and subsequent work in the profession. Psychologists tend to get better value for money mainly because of their strong empathy and ability to empathize with their clients, which is why they get great results in this job. Lower or higher salaries are not always a matter of discrimination against women or men. This is often linked to the hiring of specific positions, on which the amount of the employee’s or employees´ income also depends. In some sectors, women tend to occupy lower positions, while in others they are sought directly at the top of the corporate or employment hierarchy. The occupation of a particular position is then automatically reflected in the level of their earnings. Follow us on Linkedin!
Michaela Kralikova: I don’t like when people or brands play games
You may know Michaela Kralikova as the great cook on the Masterchef TV show but her culinary skills are far from being the only thing she attends to. Michaela is an incredibly versatile woman – she has set up her own café, published two books, is involved in personal development, marketing, runs seminars, is educating and does mentoring. Besides, she’s the mother of three. In the interview, she told us: When her relationship with cooking began, which was the most difficult thing to do in business beginnings, how her pandemic thwarted the plans, in which area of her activities she felt the best, which webinars she was preparing and for whom they were meant to help. You’re known from the MasterChef cooking show. When did this become about culinary art? I grew up in a village near Trenčín, where there was always a lot of good cooking. I was raised by my mother and grandmother, who had a profound influence on my relationship to cooking and to life in general. Ever since I was a little girl, I used to spend time in the kitchen and help make homemade apricot jam all the way up to Christmas baking. To this day, I remember making my mother’s first cake for her 40th or New Year’s Eve dinner, where I wrote four menus on the decorative paper myself. Then you published a recipe book and started your own bakery. What was the most challenging thing about starting a business? I think my entry into the gourmet business has made it easier for me to get the press out of my part in the Masterchef TV show. It helped my brand and the cafeteria chairs fill up faster than if I opened an anonymous business. Nevertheless, I was very afraid that it would work in the long term. The responsibility for the employees, their salaries, their families and, of course, my own has been great and heavy. The most difficult thing for me was to combine the roles of mother and entrepreneur. Sometimes the kids had to go to work with me, and I remember my daughter falling asleep on the night shift at the cafe when the staff could not come to work or I went straight from the maternity ward to decorate the cake for the production because the candy maker got sick. The coronavirus pandemic interfered with your business plans, as you took it? In the best of times, we had 3 Kralikova Cafe (Malacky, Stupava, Záhorská Bystrica) bistro-café and production – the Kralikova Manufacture manual for cakes and small snacks. It imported not only our cafés but also other cafés throughout Slovakia (e.g. Panta Rhei, Yeme and others.). We had over 20 employees and the management was really demanding. COVID and the divorce, however, conflicted plans and I decided to withdraw from the business. It wasn’t an easy decision, I saw the café as my fourth child but I realized there was a part to letting go and letting go. The cafe in Malacky is still there but it no longer bears my name, and I have closed the factory for good. You recently became a certified trainer for business and soft skills. When did you develop this desire for marketing education? Did you also take advantage of the experience of your own business? I’ve had a relationship with education since I was a kid. I come from a teacher’s family, so maybe I inherited a little. I taught English when I was in high school, and at university I gave Greek and Hebrew lessons to my classmates. I’ve always enjoyed teaching and moving people around. During my one-year internship in the United States, I dealt with the subjects of discipline and mentoring. When I thought about what to do next, a lot of people told me that it would be valuable if I continued to share my experience in business, management, but also personal growth, combustion, EQ, soft skills, etc. That’s why I decided to spy on Google’s trainer, where I eventually succeeded. What do you bet on building a personal brand? Branding or brand building is a strong issue today. In the first place, I want to focus on authenticity and honesty. People already see me as a brand, too, and I only did that by being myself. I don’t like people or brands playing games. Many world brands have realized that it is not enough to start a business and earn money but that the brand must become personal for the customer and need to establish a relationship with it. Every brand is like a person — it has its style, it has its language, its values, its colors, its personality. Follow us on Linkedin! You are a versatile woman – you write books, teach courses, lecture, mentor and excel in the kitchen arts. Besides, you’re the mother of three. What part do you feel best about? It’s true. I do a lot of things and some activities are quite different. Last weekend, I was cooking for 300 people in the High Tatras for an experience dinner, and this week, I have mentoring on social networking, brand building but also recording video courses on burn-outs and publishing skills. But which position do I feel best in? I feel best when I can be myself. I like to balance my program. I like company and lectures, but I can enjoy solitude, spend time with myself and, for example, write books or creative copywriting for different brands. I like my flow. What’s your favorite part of the job? Is there anything you don’t like to do in business? My favorite thing about my job is freedom. I can choose projects that I like and that make sense to me, but I can also refuse an offer that is not in line with my values and my mission. I do not like to deal with technical matters, accounting and paper, but I am used to “eat the frog first”. What can the participants of the web-based Marketing Mixture be looking forward to? We will talk about the basics of marketing, about different formats, channels and types of advertising. Mixing the right marketing mix is kind of alchemy. We’re gonna talk about what Brand is and the performance ad, and what the difference is. And what will the ladies learn on your web site, Public Records? Ladies learn that some things are genes, but rhetorical skills (verbal and non-verbal) can also be learned. The most powerful tool of any speaker is authenticity. We’re gonna tell each other how to prepare, how to practice, how to keep a positive mindset, how to drag in an audience and still be ourselves. What are your plans for the future? I have more personal and work plans, and I will be happy to implement some of them. I would like to focus more on projects that make sense to me and make me happy, because I can do my job. The priority, of course, are my three children, who are of an age when they most need my time and mentoring. I am working to move forward in the areas of mentoring, soft skills education and creative writing. I’m writing another book, and I’m also planning a whole new project — a new brand that should see the light of day in the autumn. Try giving us three tips on how to achieve your dream. Have faith and don’t doubt yourself. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. It’s never too late to start over. Follow us on Linkedin!