This blog post was created in partnership with Wunderman Thompson and contains paid promotion.
Many people want to know how to support women—in their careers, in their work, and in their lives. It’s a great question to ask, but it would be too bold of me to answer it myself.
I’m proud to say that, at Wunderman Thompson, we are committed to supporting women and pursuing a more equitable future where everyone has the opportunity to be who they want to be. So, I was inspired to take this question to women in our agency, to discover what their work means to them and find out what support they received here at Wunderman Thompson that made a significant difference in their career advancement.
From technology to creative, from 1 year with the company to 14+, I sought out insights and advice from women who represent the full breadth of our business on a truly global scale. These talented women identified 6 key items that enabled them to pursue their goals and maximize their potential within our agency.
I hope that you are inspired by their words and that they help you with your career journey.
Kateřina Růžičková, Account Supervisor, 13 years with the company
When I started my career at Wunderman Thompson in 2008, I was still studying at university. My job became my second family, providing me all the opportunities of working for a global agency with the benefit of a personal, supportive environment. My scope of work is always varied, so I’m able to gain diverse experience and advance my professional career. A significant milestone for me was the birth of my son almost six years ago, when no "home office" models were common, but even then, I was offered a lot of flexibility and I was able to slowly and gradually return to the work that fulfills and energizes me. In this way, I managed to effectively combine my family life and work life and move forward in both roles.
Valentina Malievskaia, Team Lead of Content Editing, 3 years with the company
Right after university, I started at Wunderman Thompson with an entry-level position and was promoted to a managerial position in less than 2 years. It would have been impossible to do so without the constant support and encouragement of my colleagues, especially my team leader. He is a professional, friendly, open person who inspires by his own example, and most importantly by sharing honest feedback with me. I am motivated by my team members as well; as I grow as a manager, I see them becoming happier with their job, more engaged, and eager to develop their careers too.
Zuzana Křivánková, Senior Solution Consultant, 10 years with the company
I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to work on projects where I am not a “perfect fit”. This has enabled me to learn new skills, get to know new work processes, and mainly to constantly push my boundaries. I also value the support I receive when I need to learn something new. Either there is a colleague who can teach me, as there are so many specialists here, and if not, trainings are organized. No learning is ever off the table.
Markéta Nováková, Back Office, 1 year with the company
As a student, I was interested in pursuing a position in human resources, without any experience in this area. Nevertheless, my colleagues were willing to give me their time and offered me opportunities where I could expand my work horizons. My advice is to try working across different departments, to benefit from a rich agenda and move a little further ahead. I see these experiences, which Wunderman Thompson continues to provide me, as the most valuable thing that a person can get after school - gaining new, practical experience that cannot be obtained only through study. So, I consider the greatest support to be the openness of the people who work at the company.
Kristina Marinovová, Social Project Manager, 3 years with the company
I have been working here since the beginning of my professional career. It started as a temporary position and turned into a career that has absorbed me. It would have been impossible for me to continue my education, my work, and be an effective member of the team as much as I am without having the right combination of flexibility and trust that I have found in Wunderman Thompson. What seems to be an infinite number of learning opportunities is just the icing on the cake. I’m grateful to my leaders for meeting my needs, creating a win-win situation for all of us, and giving me much needed support and opportunities to grow, improve, and discover my potential.
Zuzana Marounkova, Strategic Planner, 14 years with the company
Two years ago, I found myself in a difficult situation. I had to prioritize my family matters, but my managerial position was demanding, and I could not keep up without burning out. And so, after long consideration, I decided to leave the agency after 12 years. My manager listened to me, and the next day offered me a different position with a decreased workload and less stress – on the condition that I invest time in learning, to become an expert. Yes, every change is stressful, but I have a job now that I enjoy while keeping a healthy work-life balance.
Part of any journey is celebrating the progress made along the way. I invited you to take a closer look at how inspiring women — at Wunderman Thompson and beyond — are creating a more equitable future where all people can be exactly who and what they want to be.
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There are almost 400 of us in Prague, juniors and seniors from all around the world. At Wunderman Thompson, we are part creative agency, part consultancy and part technology company. We inspire each other, actively building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where we make sure that everyone feels welcome, valued, heard, and treated with dignity and respect. We support employees’ personal and career development. It is important to us to create a healthy family-work/life balance. We believe that this commitment inspires growth and delivers equitable outcomes for us and our people, as well as the clients and communities we serve. If that´s something you´re looking for, come and join us!
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