We Don’t Have to Wait for the Perfect Moment On Being a CEO and a Mum
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THE ŽENY
You became an ambassador for The ŽENY
project. What personal challenge did you
have to overcome, and what inspired you
to start helping other women?
A major challenge for me was overcoming
my own self-doubt. For a long time, I felt
I wasn’t experienced enough or ready
to take on major responsibility. Over time,
though, I realised that almost all of us
share these fears – and that the only way
to overcome them is to face them head on.
That experience is what led me to support
women who are standing before those
similar decisions today. I want to show
them there’s no need to wait for a “perfect
moment”, because growth and self-
confidence arrive with the steps we take.
What has been the hardest business
decision for you so far and what did you
take away from that situation?
The hardest decisions for me have always
been those where I have to part ways with
people—whether due to restructuring,
or simply because our paths diverged. It is
never easy.
What have I taken from it? That fair
and open communication is key. Even
difficult news can be delivered with
respect and humanity. And that a good
leader must never forget there is a specific
story and a fate behind every job.
What would you recommend today
to young people who want to grow,
lead others, or take responsibility for
something bigger—whether within
a company or in their own business?
To stay curious and take an interest in the
world around you, in people, and in
new approaches. Leadership isn’t just
about having the answers; more often
it’s about the ability to ask the right
questions. We don’t need to be 100%
ready for a leadership role—much of it
is learnt in practice. At the same time,
you must be willing to take responsibility:
for yourself, for the team, for the whole
company. Without that, growth doesn’t
happen.
Have you ever reached a point where
it all became too much? Did you come
close to burnout or tell yourself that
things couldn’t go on like that? What
lesson did you take from the experience?
Given that I’ve held CEO roles since
the age of 32, it has been too much many
times—especially when I had a small
child. I’ve thankfully never faced outright
burnout, but there was a period that took
a toll on my health. It taught me to respect
my body and set boundaries that are not
wise to cross—or at least not too often.
Thank you for the interview.
Kateřina Bílly Danyšová graduated from the Faculty
of Finance and Accounng at VŠE in Prague. She has
devoted her career to managing companies in healthcare.
Since 2018 she has headed SYNLAB CZ&SK; previously
she worked in the AGEL Group and served as CEO
of Lloyds Pharmacies. She also serves as Vice-Chair of the
QualityLab Associaon and is a member of the Donors’
Council of the Vlček Family Foundaon. Kateřina places
strong emphasis on prevenon and public educaon
in the eld of healthcare.