Meet Jana, Program Director of the HelpMate/Pomocník project and an eternal optimist.
“I especially appreciate Jana’s courage to take on new challenges and projects and to face the unknown. That is also made possible by her unwavering optimism and sense of humor, which we both share. So far, I haven’t seen anything that would stop her,” says Karolína Kubicová, creator of interactive elements in the HelpMate project.
Jana, could you briefly introduce yourself?
I’m someone who has connected education, development, and working with people’s potential throughout my entire professional life.
I studied at a secondary pedagogical school, then social work, and later Economics and Management with a focus on Human Resources Strategy. However, I believe that more than formal education, it was experience that shaped me. Throughout my career, I’ve worked in HR, project management, team leadership, and educational projects – both in the Czech Republic and internationally.
I help organizations set up strategies that truly work and design educational programs that genuinely make sense.
What convinced you to join C4C?
I’ve always wanted to work on things that carry a deeper meaning. When I first became familiar with the HelpMate program, I knew this was exactly the kind of initiative that could have a real impact – supporting people who work in truly demanding environments. And when I then met my new team, I felt certain I was in the right place.
Today you serve as Program Director of C4C’s HelpMate program. What does HelpMate mean to you?
In the HelpMate program, we work with caregivers in children’s homes. We design courses that provide not only tools, but also space for sharing and reflection – because their work is extremely demanding, both emotionally and humanly.
For me, HelpMate is about trust. Understanding that change doesn’t come from pressure, but from support.
It’s also about newly formed friendships and people who genuinely care about children who didn’t exactly have an easy starting line.
What would you like participants to take away from HelpMate?
I would like them to take away confidence.
Confidence that their work matters, even when results aren’t immediately visible. Confidence that challenging behavior in a child is not failure, but often just another way of asking for help. And confidence that they are not alone.
And if HelpMate helps them one day remain calmer, more patient, and kinder – even when it’s hard – then it has fulfilled its purpose.
Part of your life also took place abroad. What did that experience give you?
I lived in the United Kingdom for several years. I sorted clothes for second-hand shops, delivered flyers for a Kurdish restaurant, and later started working in the office of College for International Co-operation and Development. It was an intense experience – I learned to work with people from different cultures, led seminars across Europe, and recruited volunteers for developing countries.
Later, I spent several months in Malawi as a volunteer with DAPP Malawi. I focused on developing education, collaborated with local schools, and helped set educational standards. In cooperation with the African Library Project, I helped equip several libraries, where I also led workshops for local teachers.
Africa taught me humility. It also taught me that education is not a given. When you see children walking miles to school with younger siblings on their backs, your perspective on what truly matters changes.
Where does your need to help people grow come from?
I think I was probably born with it. My mother, who is an excellent teacher, influenced me greatly, and my experiences abroad strengthened it even more. In England, I worked with people preparing to go abroad as volunteers – many of whom didn’t believe they were capable. Then a few months later, I saw them standing in front of a classroom somewhere in Africa, leading a community project.
In Malawi, I saw children and teachers working with minimal resources but enormous inner strength. I realized that potential is not about the environment. It’s about support and belief – in yourself and in others.
It has always mattered to me that education has meaning. That it’s not a course for the sake of a course, but a program that truly creates change. In the past, that meant a leadership-focused alternative development program or The Great Academy for Municipal Representatives. Today, it’s HelpMate.
The topics and target groups may change, but the principle remains the same: creating meaningful educational programs that give people competence, confidence, and the courage to grow. And what I enjoy most is the moment when someone allows themselves to grow a little more than they originally thought possible.
You’ve led large teams and projects in your career. What is most important to you in leadership?
I believe in combining clear structures with a human approach. I like data, strategy, and processes, but I equally believe in empathy, open communication, and feedback. I’ve also completed coaching training because I don’t want to just tell people what to do. I want them to think for themselves, discover their strengths, and take responsibility.
Leading people means seeing them as people – not as “human resources.” Behind every person is a unique story, and each carries potential worth awakening.
What do you enjoy most about working with people?
I might repeat myself, but it’s that moment when someone realizes their potential.
When a manager understands they don’t have to control everything. When a team member discovers that their strength is exactly what the team needs. When a caregiver in a children’s home finds a new way to work with a child who has built strong emotional walls.
Those are the moments that make work worthwhile.
What are your life goals?
I’ve never had one specific “point on the map” I needed to reach. I have more of a direction.
I want to do meaningful work. I want to leave behind projects that helped someone grow – whether that’s a leader, a caregiver, or a child.
Maybe I won’t change the whole world. But if my work changes the world of one person, that’s enough for me.
I want to stay curious. Keep learning. Surround myself with people who make the journey joyful.
And of course – world peace.
What energizes you outside of work? Do you have any hobbies or sports you can’t live without?
My family energizes me – they are always my support system. I love learning – ironically, I even relax by learning something new. I read, write, and take photographs. I enjoy organizing charity concerts or preparing educational nature trails for children and I also like going to the sauna.
As a volunteer, I coach promising young people within the Academy Díky, že můžem! and I also mentor for Holky z byznysu. As for sports, I love hula hooping. It’s playful, a bit crazy, and reminds me not to take myself too seriously.
And then there’s coffee. That, I take very seriously.
