Jana Šimurdová Bastien - For the Female Mind, Body and Soul
www.posiv.cz ǀ 15
WOMAN
This approach significantly cuts down on
unwanted effects and provides a more
natural look. Another trend this year is
lips, but unlike previous years, we are
now more focused on dissolving them to
a more natural size rather than fillers. Our
preparations are often done online through
lectures held at congresses by foreign
experts. If we cannot stay on our toes and
follow the newest trends, we would be
quickly left behind.
What role does your medical career play
in your creative process in music and
vice versa? Do you feel a connection
or pathway for inspiration between
these two worlds?
I think medicine really helped me develop
as a person, as it makes you realise that
the pedestal belongs to the clients, and
that my role is that of the listener, of the fan,
cheering on their transformation. I came
to see that compliments such as “you
are beautiful,” or “you are looking good
today” have a therapeutic effect, and are
something the clients deserve. In the same
way that support after a performance
helps me feel confident, I would like to
give that energy back to my clients as well.
Music makes me feel at home. Ever
since I was young I used to sing in front
of the mirror imagining crowds of people
listening to my voice and the music
I write. When I am on stage, everything
else stops existing for the length of that
performance. It is like I enter a trance
where I become completely anchored
in the present moment in a very similar
way to when I am focused on a medical
procedure with a syringe in hand. I believe
another bridge between the two worlds
is introspection. In medicine, I try to
connect with my clients and understand
why they might want the extreme or
minimal procedures they opt for, while
in music I express my own inner self and
emotions through lyrics. My lyrics often
reflect romantic drama and tragedy. Even
though the music that accompanies vocals
in many different songs may be rhythmic
and sound energetic, upon reading
the lyrics, you might find that the story
the piece as a whole is tragic.
Women are my main target audience,
as I often tackle the issues of female
confidence and struggles. In the doctor’s
office we focus on raising the self esteem
of women through smoothing wrinkles
or filling lips, as that makes women feel
more beautiful. While in my music I try to
show compassion through my lyrics, to tell
women they are not alone in their battles.
My newest album, titled #9 is dedicated
to women. I might even call myself
a “doctor of the female heart,” (laughter).
How are you managing your work and
personal life balance when you are so
involved in these vastly different fields?
I don't really have a personal life. My
parents and friends know how hard it
is to schedule a meeting with me. Of
tentimes we only get to meet for work
or at the office, where we can take some
time after hours to have a quick “botox
party” over a donut and some coffee. My
schedule is always packed six months in
advance and new tasks and meetings are
always flying in. I came to a realisation as to
just how bad the issues with my schedule
are when I was looking through my daily
tasks and found the note “task #5: Date.”
One of my three managers even has to
remind me of my name day and birthday.
She works with me in all of my projects,
throughout five different companies,
which employ over 70 people and I am
the sole owner along with the executive
management. I actively engage in all
fields. The amount of work and pace
at which it has to be done is crazy, and
so a little while ago I made the decision
that, in order to preserve my own health,
I will step away from practising medicine
and instead focus on educating doctors,
mentoring, leading companies and mainly
music. I love my drive and the career
I built, and I am not afraid to show it.
During the last interview you did for
us as part of the project “The Ženy”
you mentioned that fear and doubt
can be strong motivators. How did you
overcome your uncertainties and what
advice would you give to women that are
afraid to go into business?
I still stand by what I said. Fear can serve
as strong motivation, but you need to be
careful so that it does not consume you. It
is important to focus on victories or at least
maintain the upper hand. Not having to
face everything alone and having a team or
a group of friends that will support you is key.
If you do not have a group of people to hold
you up, then at least a partner that will always
be by your side. This is how I overcame my
uncertainties and doubts. I also accepted
that I am, afterall, just a person and that I am
bound to make some mistakes. It is always
good to build a network of experienced
managers, salespeople or lawyers that can
help you avoid pitfalls. Conducting business
without information is a mistake. Business
is not for those that do not have the drive
to research and listen to new information.
Absorbing the wisdom of smart and
experienced people is the secret to
becoming a successful businesswoman.
Who or what was your biggest
inspiration and how are you trying to
inspire others?
I cannot put a finger on just one thing that
inspired me. I grew up in an entrepreneurial
family and always found myself on
the organisation team of balls, magical
forest adventures or camps, so I often had
people “working under me.” I believe that
leadership is something you are born with
and is kindled by the environment you
grow up and live in. I was never too good
with authoritative figures and respecting
rules I saw no value in. Eventually, I started
improving things to fit my vision. When
I became completely independent, that is
when I felt like I was in the right place.
I don’t commonly think about whether
or not I inspire my fans and colleagues,
however, I have received a couple
messages that read something like: “Dear
doctor Jana, I am sorry for my doctor,
who made a video with the same content
as one you had already made. I told her to
be careful in the future,” or “my colleague
left his job as a moderator and is now in his
fifth year of medical school.”
Often I receive this sort of news in
a roundabout way and have no clue
something like that has been happening.
I don’t see it in a negative light, on
the other hand I am glad as it is proof that
I am doing something meaningful that
can have an impact on the world. I was
also faced with opinions saying that I am
bolstering my competition when I mentor
other doctors in aesthetic medicine and
tell them to run instagram accounts.
However, I was once on the receiving
end of such information, I do not have
exclusive rights to it and so I want to share
it and inspire my colleagues to follow their
talents and work on their dreams.
I am currently organising a symposium
of aesthetic medicine in Morava, THAC
2024, which will be a two day event where
novice doctors and dentists will gain their
certification to work within aesthetic
medicine. I am overjoyed to be able to
help shape the world in this way.
Jana, thank you for the interview.
“
Compliments such as “you
are beauful,” or “you are
looking good today”
have a therapeuc eect,
and are something the clients
deserve.
”