Lada Brunova is a doer - you come to her with an idea and she turns it into reality. But it has to be a meaningful project, one that makes a real difference to people’s lives, because she puts heart into everything she does. We spoke to Lada about her experience with the Czech startup environment and what makes a successful company. (Not) surprisingly, it isn’t turnover.
A common misconception I hear is that I am a founder. I am not. But I have been fortunate, a couple of times, to be approached by people with greats who invited me to join in. However, the credit for the idea goes to them, I am their partner in crime from the start. I craft strategy, define the target audience, establish partnerships, create a brand, choose tonality, …
I often wonder why people think of me as a founder. It is probably because when I believe in something, I give it all - my time, my energy, myself, … Put simply, I act as if it was my own project.
Some time ago, I realized that according to the traditional dichotomy of doer - thinker, I am a thinking doer. Share your idea with me and I will make it happen - from brainstorming and drafting a plan, to facilitating and completing a project. I have always leaned towards thinkers who are a great match for me (probably because I tend to surround myself with what I’m missing). In the beginning, it was hard for me to make peace with it. I wanted to be ‘the creative one’ but then I realized that one cannot exist without the other and that even a thousand ideas are useless if they are not turned into reality.
Lada Brunova and David Prochazka, www.donio.cz
What is the most important thing you learned in a startup?
I first experienced the startup environment when I met David Prochazka, the founder of a crowdfunding platform Donio. Last autumn, when he was starting Donio, David was looking for a partner and he picked me. Thanks to him I entered a whole new world - I saw what it means to work with an investor, build a team, meet KPIs, … From the beginning, David made sure I was a part of various processes and that the cards were always on the table, so I could learn something new every day.
The start-up environment is specific in many ways, it is super-fast to start with. Today, more than ever before, I realize that you cannot choose people based on their performance metrics. What I see as important is how they match the firm’s DNA, whether they think critically and what energy, will, and reach they have. Our team is very different from the one we had at the beginning. We are all unique, strong individuals who are always learning from each other and developing personally as well as professionally. I believe that results aren’t everything. Results come when people are enthusiastic, passionate, and motivated - from the inside-out.
Lada Brunova and David Prochazka, www.donio.cz
A couple of years ago, I met Katerina Vackova (a Femme Palette mentor) who was then starting Loono. We met at a party, arranged breakfast together, and for a few months became inseparable - personally and professionally. Katerina had a clear direction in which she wanted to take her organization, and I had a few more experiences in some useful areas.
Initially, I wanted to help Katerina with the PR but everything fell into place and we ended up collaborating on numerous levels. We kept discussing things and pushing them forward, working hard to make them happen. Everything happened on the go, it was very exciting and thrilling, and the adrenalin kept us going! We now look back and smile at implementing spreadsheets to Loono or wrapping gifts in the middle of the night for our donors from the crowdfunding campaign, shipping them the next morning, and thinking whether the lady at the post office wants to eat us alive.
Along the way, we realized several things - together and independently, we were learning through trial and error. It was and still is fascinating for me to have SUCH a strong woman by my side. Katerina is always searching for ways to make the world a better place, without playing hardball. It is hard to tell how I’d feel about start-ups without her influence.
Besides, Katerina organizes informal meet-ups of Female Founders, which I am fortunate to be a part of. Thanks to them I get to see many smart and capable women who are fantastic managers - goal-oriented and strong, but also humble and human. I personally never came across rivalry among women. Instead, I am lucky to be surrounded by women who are selfless in helping and supporting others. I sense wonderful and supportive energy. The people you meet are key.
What is holding women when starting a business?
Personally, I find the division between men and women unfortunate - as if women were a group of people who need special care. If I compare it to the Olympics, it is as men were competing in the main race and women in a special discipline - like the Paralympics.
What is holding us back? Excuse my brevity, but very often it is the voice inside our heads.
And so, cut the excuses and get down to business. Whether you have a business plan in your head or want to help someone else start their own, apply for the Femme Palette Startup Challenge and, just like Lada did, turn a dream project into reality. And remember, don’t let the inner voice hold you back!
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