Jan Fridrich: My Interest in the Industry Was Sparked by My Grandfather
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What skills and knowledge did you take from
your studies and how did you put them into
practice during your internship?
There are plenty of these skills; certainly, it is not
just accounting knowledge, communication, and
presenting. For example, language is a huge advantage
for me. Even though Tatra is a purely Czech company,
it also has shares in companies abroad, for example,
in India, and these balance sheets and accounts are in
English. In such cases, my knowledge of accounting
terms in English is extremely useful. However, we had
a lot of courses in the first two semesters at school
that often automatically translate into day-to-day
work and problem solving, whether it is business law,
effective communication, or IT skills.
What are your career goals after graduation? Do
you plan to stay in France after graduation? Would
you return to the Czech Republic or perhaps work in
another country? Why?
Since I was young, I have always had two career
paths, one in the direction of law and the other
in the direction of finance and economics, and
now, thanks to my internship at Tatra, I can say
with a calm heart that I am heading in the right
direction. In the future, I would like to combine
a career in the management of an industrial company
with the management of my own company, which
I founded a year ago. This company specialises
in the manufacture and installation, specifically
of aluminium accessories for houses, from pergolas
and fences to sunrooms. So whatever path I take,
my dream combination of finance, management, and
industry awaits me. As for where I would like to pursue
a career or even settle in the future, again, there are
plenty of options. One is constantly evolving while
abroad, and I personally almost always feel comfortable
in a foreign country; there is always something new to
discover—cultural customs, beautiful places, whether
in cities or in the countryside, or perhaps tasting
traditional dishes with new local friends. However, in
terms of the future, I do not think it will be France. I am
a huge fan of Italy, so I would not be surprised if my
journey would take me there. I am already in talks with
some companies about the possibility of an internship
in the north of Italy during the next year. In the end,
however, I still think my heart will stay true to my native
Wallachia after a certain time abroad.
What would you recommend to students who are
interested in studying abroad?
Do not be afraid. I know a lot of people who are simply
afraid of what awaits them in a foreign country, but in
most cases, it is just fear of the unknown, and these
people are missing out on a huge opportunity. It does
not have to be a whole bachelor's degree abroad,
but I would definitely recommend everyone to take
advantage of the Erasmus+ program. We have a Czech
group in Grenoble, for example, where there are both
permanent students and Erasmus students, and we
meet regularly. I would recommend studying foreign
languages, at least English, because you can speak it
everywhere nowadays, even in France (laughs). Then
I would recommend doing a lot of extracurricular
activities, because that is what sets these students
apart from the rest, and nowadays it is really not
only about good grades; often the experience
outside the classroom is much more valuable. Last
but not least, if one wants to significantly increase
the chances of being accepted, I would recommend
doing the IB Diploma Program, just like me and my
classmates did. It is not just the certificate itself but
also the course of study, which is remarkably similar
to the university one, both in the discipline required
and the content.
How do you spend your free time and how do you
manage to balance your work and personal life?
I am an athlete in both body and soul, as demonstrated,
after all, by my decision to study at the foot
of the French Alps. I am incredibly lucky to have
friends there because they are, with exaggeration,
as crazy about mountain sports as I am. I spend every
spare moment either on skis, as Grenoble's position
offers the possibility of skiing from the second half
of November until mid-April, or I wander around
the mountain ranges in my hiking boots accompanied
by chamois and marmots. Back home in Wallachia, it
is no different, even though the mountains are much
smaller, but here I mostly spend my time in the saddle
of my mountain bike or travelling with friends. Then
I spend the whole summer organising my own festival
called Veselá Fest, which I have built up with my team
over five years, from 150 people in the first year to
a total of 1200 in 2023. I am a highly active person,
so I don't stay at home too much; rather, I am always
trying to find ways to put every day on the calendar
so that it counts and so that there is something to
remember.
Honza, thank you for the interview.
“
I believe that the key ingredients for
success are determinaon, openness to
new experiences, and a constant desire to
queson. Pushing my own boundaries and
striving to learn from every opportunity
has led me to versality, exibility, and
a deeper understanding of context, which
I believe has prepared me for an ever-
evolving career.
”