English“Where’s your office?” I asked on my first interview in a cafe in Vienna. “We don´t have any. Our consultants work exclusively at our clients’ offices,” smiled Petr Mahdalíček, the managing director of the company. But I was not so smiling. The only thing I had always been afraid of was working from home.
At that time I was working for an educational firm in Austria. The environment was lovely, my salary was generous and I got regular bonuses. Just the job wasn’t much fun. What did Simplity offer me? Petr talked about challenge, risk, the opportunity to make a difference. Bonuses and benefits? Those were forbidden words. I remember his enthusiastic talk about data management products. “Either it’ll work out or it won’t,” said Petr. But if I want I could come the following week to help to set up tables and chairs. Who could turn down an offer like that?
Have you ever worked day-and-night, had very little free time, but didn´t mind at all, in fact you were enjoying it? That was my start at Simplity. Surprisingly, I didn’t even mind that I ended up working in my living room. The furniture I helped to set up the other day was unfortunately for somebody else. On the other hand, meetings in various Viennese cafes had their charm.
From the Cafes of Vienna to Coffee Houses of Brno
Six months later I moved to Brno and had to set up once again in my living room. I knew I´d soon go crazy but encouraged myself. I am the first woman at Simplity so I have to make it. Fortunately it didn’t last long. Another half-a-year I could find a small office and a new co-worker. Soon we had to move on to larger offices, opened a branch in Prague, and the newspapers were running headlines about Simplity being the fastest growing technology company of the year. So has it worked out?
Mostly yes, but not totally. We have a nice place to work, but there’s still room for improvement. My enthusiasm is steady. I enjoy my work, I’m growing professionally, and I have the support I need. Best of all is our team and the atmosphere. I still kind of feel the café aura. It´s pleasant, relaxing and exciting.
Jana Krčmářová
Finance Specialist
[email protected]