I realised at school that accounting genuinely interested me. I liked the combination of logic, structure and business thinking and the fact that numbers explain what is happening inside a company. My interest increased after a summer internship with my brother-in-law, who is a tax adviser.
I started my career at KPMG before moving to the finance shared services industry and gradually moved into leadership positions. Over time, my focus shifted from processes to people, culture and helping teams adapt to changes. Currently, I lead the account-to-report organisation at Deutsche Telekom Services Europe Czech Republic in Brno.
Like many international organisations, we are operating in a much more unpredictable world than we used to. The conflict in the Middle East has increased uncertainty in energy markets, the economic outlook and overall business confidence. For finance leaders, this means being more agile, resilient, ready to adapt quickly and clearly communicating during uncertain times.
Acting classes helped me realise the value of deliberately challenging myself
I stepped out of my comfort zone when I took on my first leadership role, moving from a technical position into people management. This also applied when I started leading larger teams. I am not a natural-born speaker and have never wanted to be in the spotlight. However, I have now attended a casting audition, presented in front of large audiences, served as a jury member in an innovation competition and represented the company at university and industry events. Therefore, I eventually decided to take acting classes, which helped me realise the value of deliberately challenging myself.
What I enjoy most about my job is the people and the culture. We have an environment where people treat each other with respect, value different perspectives and help each other grow. It’s good to work with talented people while helping our teams and individuals develop.
I also like the dynamic nature of my role, as no two days are ever the same. The most interesting moments at work come when the job stops being routine and we see new perspectives, challenges and opportunities, which is when personal and professional growth happens.
My favourite two quotes come from the Dalai Lama: ‘When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new,’ and ‘Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.’
AI should help businesses steer financial strategy with greater confidence
I don’t think AI will replace all accountants, as routine tasks and transactions will be automated, allowing professionals to spend more time on higher value work. The human element will become even more important in areas of critical thinking, judgment and communication. I also believe organisations will become more predictive rather than reactive. AI should help businesses steer financial strategy with greater confidence, anticipating challenges and seeing opportunities earlier.
If I had law-making powers, I would create conditions for people to succeed and grow. I would have strong incentives for lifelong learning, greater support for parents balancing careers and family life, and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy that often makes life harder for people and businesses. With technology and working lives changing faster than ever, I believe societies benefit from people who can develop their skills, build strong families and spend more time creating value.
As a child I wanted to be a pilot, but if I hadn’t gone into accountancy, I’d probably follow my father’s path and become a doctor.
Outside work, I enjoy spending time with my family, especially when we can travel and explore new places together. I also like learning new things as well as being outdoors, which always helps me recharge.
