Helena Kohoutová - Recognition of Czech Businesswomen, Leaders, and Exporters
98ǀ POSITIV WOMAN
ŽENY
How did the idea to create a business platform
and projects supporting women come about?
The idea to create a platform supporting women in
business began in the 1990s when entrepreneurship
wa s ra pidly d eve loping. I e st ab lished a social club b ack
then and, 25 years ago, launched the Cosmopolitan
Ladies Club, inspired by first-republic women’s clubs.
I felt the need to create a space for women eager
to bring their ideas to life and work with passion.
With a vision of mutual support and shared energy,
the Czech Businesswomen Awards (OCP) was
born. I sought partners who could lend credibility
to the project, one being CRIF Czech Credit Bureau,
our expert guarantor. They select nominees from
the entire Czech business registry, making our
nominations truly top-tier and unpurchasable—you
either receive it or you don’t.
Could you introduce us to the main objectives
of OCP?
The mission of OCP is to highlight the strength and
impact of Czech women, especially businesswomen,
and to support and cultivate the business
environment. Women are significant employers,
and their approach enriches the business and
social fabric of our country. We emphasise their
social responsibility and contributions to the Czech
economy, societal stability, and their ability to
manage extraordinary circumstances, balancing
roles as mothers, wives, and entrepreneurs.
As the founder, I feel a responsibility to encourage
women, to honour and respect them, by offering
an environment where they can gain perspective
and access professional knowledge through events,
conferences, and the unique Helas Business News
online updates. For those on the entrepreneurial
path, here they have a chance to meet potential
partners they might not otherwise encounter, which
I believe is the highest added value they gain.
How do you perceive the role of women in Czech
business? What are the greatest challenges Czech
businesswomen face?
Businesswomen are strong individuals who don’t
need quotas or competition; they follow their own
paths, whether driven by their character or life
Recognion of Czech
Businesswomen,
Leaders, and Exporters
Culvang the Czech business environment, supporng and honouring Czech companies
with an emphasis on ethical business pracces.
Since the 1990s, Czech entrepreneur Helena
Kohoutová has been bringing her visions to
life through her own projects, gathered under
the Business Plaorm Helas – Helas Ladies Club and
compeons such as the Czech Businesswoman
Awards – Leaders – Exporters, united by the moo
“Building a Proud Czechia.” She is the sole owner
of Agentura Helas s.r.o., which in 2024 was invited
to manage and lead the restoraon of the unique
spaces of the Monastery of St. James in Prague,
where a new centre for culture, social events, and
business is being established. She organises bespoke
local and internaonal events and creates her own
products under the brand Eternal by Helena.
“
I felt the need to create a space
for women eager to bring their ideas
to life and work with passion.
”
ní Českých Lídrů, nebo Ocenění Českých Exportérů,
a kluby – Helas New Encounters Club a Helas Ladies
Club, které vytvářejí velice silnou komunitu schopných
lidí, v níž jsou soustředěni odborníci a významné firmy,
které dokážou být silným a důležitým konzultantem
pro rozvoj podnikání. A to je obrovská přidaná hod-
nota, kterou účastníci Ocenění Českých Podnikatelek
a dalších uvedených projektů získávají. Společným
mottem všech projektů je slogan „Budujeme hrdé Čes-
ko“ a cílem pak kultivování českého podnikatelského
prostředí, podpora a ocenění českých firem s důrazem
na etický byznys.
Heleno, děkujeme za rozhovor.