Kohoutová: The Power of Community and the Vision of a ‘Proud Czechia’
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WOMAN
The Power
of Community
and the Vision
of a ‘Proud Czechia’
What drives Helena Kohoutová forward, why she believes in the power of community, and how
personal as well as professional crises have reshaped her view of leadership and life itself?
As the founder of the Helas Agency—behind presgious awards for Czech businesswomen, leaders
and exporters, and the “Building a Proud Czechia” plaorm—she seeks not only results in every
project but, above all, a deeper sense of purpose and meaningful connecons between people.
Your name is inseparably linked with projects
that recognise Czech businesswomen, leaders,
and exporters. What keeps you motivated
to continue after so many years – and also to keep
moving forward?
After twenty-eight years in the field of organising
social and professional events, I no longer feel
the need to create them for myself. What I find truly
meaningful is a sense of positive hope—that things
within a community make sense, that people can
be connected in a way that allows them to support
one another, find opportunities for collaboration
and harmony, and even discover new business
possibilities.
In our awards and competitions, I see great added
value in the fact that someone can discover your
company based on your actual results—and that
selection process is incredibly rigorous. It includes
every company in the Czech Republic that meets
the criteria of the given category. It cannot be bought
or bypassed in any way. The project is not based
on feelings, but on measurable achievements—though
the final evaluation is, of course, influenced by the
jury. A story alone cannot win, but at the same time,
we recognise the uniqueness and distinctive qualities
of each project, which is why every one of our
competitions includes a special, unique category.
Your projects share the motto “Building a Proud
Czechia.” What does this motto represent, and what
stands behind it?
The Helas Business Platform is a place where not only
business relationships are formed, but also where
genuine human connections and collaborations
are formed. This exceptional group of purely
Czech companies, verified by the expert guarantor
CRIF Czech Credit Bureau, holds great strength. Thanks
to this shared motto, we can better realise that we are
all part of a greater whole—one that we influence
through our actions and inactions, through our spoken
and unspoken thoughts.
Individuals may reach remarkable heights on their
own, yet it is only when their work and success touch
the lives of others and consciously influence society
as a whole, that we begin to see the true added value
of a person. That is when we can speak of social
responsibility and the ability to be part of something
larger than ourselves.
What I nd truly meaningful
is a sense of posive hope—that things
within a community make sense.