Vindy Krejčí - The ŽENY: Open Stories of Courage and Inspiration for Future Generations
20ǀ POSITIV WOMAN
ŽENY
In addition to last year’s events, you’re
also planning a new event called
Mentoring Day. Who is it for, and what
is its significance?
I’d like to invite all readers who
have a child or student in their life
to join us on November 14, 2024,
at the Gong multifunctional hall in
Ostrava, specifically in the Small Hall,
for Mentoring Day. At this event, you
will have the opportunity to meet our
inspiring ambassadors, such as Veronica
Biasiol, Tereza Mašková, Denisa Dovala,
and Veronika Stará. You can look forward
to panel discussions, meet-and-greet
sessions, artistic performances, and
interesting workshops.
Our goal is to offer children and young
people a space where they can try out
various activities and crafts that may spark
their interest in further development.
Whether it’s painting with Hamaka
Studio, braiding hair with Kiki, dancing
on an interactive floor with Gridy, floral
design with Fleur 21, fashion design with
Marva de Luxe, or creating prints with
the Private Business Academy and more.
We spend an average of 30% of our lives
at work, and that’s why we want to show
children the wide range of professions and
activities out there – and how they can
find a future career that fulfills and excites
them. You can find more information in
our Facebook group or on our Instagram
@thezeny_official.
What does working on The ŽENY project
mean to you personally, and what are
your visions for its future development
in the coming years?
I wish there were more stories of young
people who have worked hard and strived
for a better life – regardless of what they
were given or what their starting point
was. Especially in the Moravian-Silesian
Region. The purpose of The ŽENY is
to create a safe social environment
where it’s okay to openly discuss topics
like mental health, bullying, or social
exclusion. We give young people hope for
improving their life situation, overcoming
their limitations, and confronting their
demons. I see it as a way to support
those who might hesitate to take a leap
into the unknown. I believe that if we
create an environment full of the right
opportunities, it will bring positive
changes not only on an individual level
but also across society.
My vision is to create new and interesting
opportunities for young people in
the Moravian-Silesian Region, to support
their individuality, and at the same time,
highlight the stories of people who can
positively influence their surroundings.
Finally, let me ask for your personal
perspective. How do you evaluate
the current position of Czech women
in business? In which areas do you see
the most progress, and where do you
feel there is still room for improvement?
How can your project contribute to this?
From my perspective, the position
of Czech women in business has
significantly improved in recent years,
especially regarding their representation
in leadership positions, entrepreneurship,
and technology. The Czech Republic
has several inspiring examples
of successful businesswomen. The most
significant progress can be seen in
areas like the startup scene, technology,
e-commerce, and the creative industry,
where women are increasingly developing
their own projects. I’m not a feminist,
and I don’t support pushing women into
positions they may not even want to be
in. However, I am a proponent of creating
opportunities and providing equal access.
I’m excited by the work of women
like Ollie Ivanova, who is the Gaming
Marketing Lead for Xbox in Central and
Eastern Europe, Michaela Chaloupková,
a member of the board at ČEZ, or Věra
Murínová, CEO of the Reprofit clinic.
And these are just a few examples. All
these women use their high positions
to support the next generation of girls
and women, helping them improve their
standard of living through education and
personal development. They are creating
opportunities to increase qualifications,
reduce the gender pay gap, and support
the confidence and mental health
of young people.
Vindy, thank you for the interview.
She was born in Havířov
but has been living in
Ostrava for several
years, where she
completed a master’s
degree at the University
of Ostrava. Throughout
her career, she became
the face of several
adversing campaigns
and achieved success
in beauty and modeling
compeons. Later, she
hosted a morning show
on Radio Helax and is now
a host of the show Sama
Doma for Czech Television
in Ostrava.
“
My vision is to create new
and interesng opportunies
for young people in
the Moravian-Silesian
Region
”
Ředitelka projektu: Mgr. Vindy Krejčí Šmehlík
Fotograf a kameraman: Adam Michna
Makeup: Kristina Dittrich
Hairstyling: Ing. Ellen Sýkorová
Styling: Luděk Šmehlík, DiS.
Grafika: Bc. Tereza Maštalířová
Backstage fotograf: Dominika Mlýnková
Backstage kameraman: Jonáš Moj
Webové stránky: Ing. Nikola Adámková
Produkce: Bc. Vanesa Hardt
Director of the project: Mgr. Vindy Krejčí Šmehlík
Photographer and cameraman: Adam Michna
Makeup: Kristina Dittrich
Hairstyling: Ing. Ellen Sýkorová
Styling: Luděk Šmehlík, DiS.
Graphics: Bc. Tereza Maštalířová
Backstage photographer: Dominika Mlýnková
Backstage cameraman: Jonáš Moj
Website: Ing. Nikola Adámková
Production: Bc. Vanesa Hardt
TEAM THE ŽENY