The Events Business Through the Eyes of an Event Lady
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WOMAN
Do you remember the very first moment you stood
in front of an audience and had to speak?
What was going through your mind?
I remember many recitation contests from primary
and grammar school, when as a little girl I always had
a lump in my throat. I delivered my prepared recital
exactly as my teacher had taught me, and then stood
on stage holding a certificate. So my beginnings
on stage really date back to a long time ago.
Where do you find the courage to stand in front of so
many people, to create your own scripts for projects,
podcasts, and interviews? What’s the hardest part
for you in those moments?
Courage? I wouldn’t really call it courage — it’s more
about self-confidence and, above all, mainly about
responsibility. When I make a promise, it is necessary
to comply with it and deliver the expected output
or result.
The hardest part for me is not forgetting anything once
the event or recording is underway. Every podcast,
report or event requires thorough preparation —
it wouldn’t work without it. Once everything is in motion,
I have to focus on the smallest details: remembering
to mention everything from the prep, not skipping any
important text, partners, or instructions, and so on.
And if I really were to speak of courage, I owe that
to my dad, who often pushed me out of my comfort
zone as a child — and that’s probably where I gained
a good part of my bravery.
Today you’re involved in running the software
and consulting company QVAMP, which digitises
the events world. How did this project actually come
about?
The idea originated with the KV-Production company
I joined in 2017 as a freelancer to help with sales
in Slovakia. Over time, the multimedia agency, which
organised private events, grew, and another offshoot
was created — the podcast studio PodcastOva.
And just as that was up and running, Covid hit and shut
down the events industry. So we rolled up our sleeves
and came up with QVAMP — a tool for the European
events business that helps wherever event managers
are short on time or efficiency.
Was there a strong, defining moment in your career
— whether positive or difficult — that significantly
moved you forward?
Yes, it was the period when I left my first and only full-time
job and went to the employment office, where I declared
that I was going to start my own business and no one
would ever tell me what to do or when to do it (laughs).
At the time, I was on my own, living in a rented flat,
and had no idea what would come next. Then, almost
out of the blue, events appeared — something that fulfils
me, excites me, and supports me. And precisely at that
moment, I had to step out of my comfort zone.
What’s the most powerful story or experience you’ve
taken away from organising an event — something
that really touched or inspired you?
Whether it’s an event, a podcast, or another project,
I take away countless experiences. But what matters
most to me are the people. I love when I meet someone
new at an event or during a recording, and we connect
so well that we eventually become friends. Those are
the moments that carry emotions.
If you could give just one piece of advice to your
younger self at the start of your career, what would
it be?
Say “no” when you feel it’s right — or when you rationally
know that the only correct answer is no.
What’s the biggest challenge for you in business right
now? And where are you heading — what’s the dream
or goal that keeps you moving forward?
At the moment, we’re expanding our biggest project,
QVAMP, across the Czech Republic and gradually into
Central Europe. As a salesperson, I’m constantly learning
to find new and different ways to reach the target
audience — to understand what resonates and how
to approach them.
My biggest challenge is trying to accept that there are
people who want their work to be easier but aren’t
willing to change the way they work. In other words, they
keep doing everything the same and expect different
results. That just doesn’t make sense to me.
Thank you for the interview.
As a child, Anička loved recitaon and the stage. Then
came the university, and from a pragmac viewpoint
the Faculty of Economics at VŠB-TUO in Ostrava
won out. Numbers are ne, a promising job on the
horizon — but the emoon was missing. Aer two
years in a dull job a sudden change came : the world
of events, which brought the spark back into her
life. Today she’s fully at home in the events world,
and together with the enre QVAMP team she’s
working to digise the European events business.
Say “no” when you feel it’s right.
I quit my only full-me job, went to the
employment oce, and declared
I’d start my own business so no one
could tell me what to do.