Femme Palette Mentee Karina Finds Confidence Through Mentorship

Meet Karina, a dedicated professional originally from Ukraine who has made Prague, Czechia, her home for the past 14 years. Over the years, Karina gained valuable experience working in various departments within the hotel industry. Today, she is part of the Risk & Compliance department at Mews, where she handles chargebacks. Karina believes that her professional and personal challenges are deeply connected. Through her mentorship program, she gained insights that have helped her navigate both areas with more confidence, significantly impacting her personal growth and self-awareness.

In this spotlight, Karina shares her journey of personal and professional growth, the impact of mentorship, and how she strives to balance confidence and emotional intelligence in her rapidly evolving career. She managed to rewire her brain from not to focus on failures, but rather to celebrate even the small wins and stop doubting herself.

Please tell us a bit about yourself and what you do. 

My name is Karina, and I am originally from Ukraine, but I've been living in Prague, Czech Republic, for the past 14 years. My career began in the hospitality industry, starting as a housekeeping intern at the Kempinski Hotel in Prague. Over time, I worked in various departments within the hotel industry, which was an incredible learning experience. Currently, I work at Mews in the Risk & Compliance department, where I handle chargebacks with our mini team. 

In my free time, I love spending time with my friends and family, traveling, cooking, hiking, playing board games, and indulging in film photography. I am interested in everything, so my hobbies often change weekly, keeping life exciting and fresh. 

When did you know you needed a mentor? 

I didn't realize it until I did! I kept hearing a lot of positive feedback from my colleagues about how having a mentor helps and offers a different perspective on both career and life in general. Their insights piqued my curiosity, and I decided to go for it. It turned out to be a pivotal decision for my growth.

What were your goals when you started the program? 

My primary goals were to build my confidence and learn how to better manage my emotional reactions. Since the company I work for, Mews, is growing so fast, my confidence was affected, and I realized the importance of emotional intelligence in navigating such a dynamic environment. I wanted to become more self-assured in both my professional and personal life, and improving my emotional intelligence was a key part of that journey. 

What goals did you achieve? 

I wouldn't say I've fully achieved my goals yet, as building confidence and emotional intelligence is a long-term process that everyone struggles with at some point in their life, both personally and professionally. However, what I have achieved is invaluable advice and meaningful conversations that have shifted my perspective and helped me think more broadly. These insights are instrumental in my growth journey. 

How did the program impact your life/career? 

I'm still in the process of learning, but I can say with certainty that I'm becoming more and more confident at work. The program has helped me rewire my brain not to focus on failures, but rather to celebrate even the small wins and stop doubting myself. It's a continuous journey, but the impact has been profoundly positive. 

Can you share a specific moment or breakthrough during your mentoring experience that was particularly memorable or transformative? 

To be honest, there wasn't just one specific moment that stands out. What I can say is that from my very first chemistry call with Tesa, I felt deeply comfortable and open. It was clear to me that she was someone with whom I could have genuine conversations and share everything in my heart that might be bothering me or affecting my productivity. Every session we had was impactful, memorable, and transformative. I truly appreciated how Tesa's advice wasn't just valuable for my job or career but extended to every aspect of my life. 

What was one unexpected benefit of the mentoring program that you didn’t anticipate when you first started? 

I was surprised by how much the program helped me with self-awareness. I didn’t expect it to impact my personal growth as much as it did. Talking openly with Tesa gave me insights into how my professional and personal challenges are connected. It’s been eye-opening to see how much they overlap and how this broader perspective can help me navigate both areas with more confidence. 

What are your future career goals, and how do you feel the mentoring program has prepared you to achieve them? 

The field I’m currently working in is completely new to me, which means I’m learning something new every day. I really enjoy the challenges it brings, but it also sometimes makes me doubt myself since I’m not as experienced as my colleagues. My main goal right now is to build confidence in what I’m doing. The mentoring program has been fantastic for that; I’ve been able to implement what I’ve learned into both my work and personal life. It’s helping me feel surer of myself and better equipped to handle the ups and downs. My long-term goal is to find a hobby I’m passionate about and see if I can turn it into a career.

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