From Burnout to Bold Moves

What does it take to walk away from a toxic job and start something entirely new - in a field you’ve only ever dreamed of pursuing professionally? In this interview, Simona shares how a deep belief in their own potential, even in the darkest of moments, helped her make a bold leap into entrepreneurship through dance. We talked about fear, freedom, failure, and what it really means to keep going when you’re still figuring things out. This is a story about listening to your gut and having the courage to follow it.

Warm up questions 🔥

If your career was a movie, what would its title be?

Step Up - the famous dance movie. ;-)

Current work anthem (song you’re vibing with)?

Bad Bunny - Café con Ron.

Go-to drink to survive a busy day?

Mogu mogu - it’s an asian juice with chewy pieces of coco, #obsessed

One word that describes your career so far?

Transition.

Early bird or night owl?

Early bird when traveling, absolutely not when it comes to work, haha. 

Best thing about what you do?

I’m creating my own path from scratch and that gives me purpose.

Favorite way to recharge outside of work?

Beach, movies & wine (ideally a combination of these two in the same day).

Secret skill or hobby most people don’t know about?

I make an excellent tortilla de patatas !!! Heheh.

Most used emoji when texting about work?

🤌🤌🤌 (I work with a lot of Italians)

Let’s dive in! 🏄

When did you realize you were good at what you do? 

I think I’ve always believed in myself, I’ve always had this kind of a gut feeling that I’m capable of achieving what I want if I work hard enough. But I fully began to believe it when I started to receive positive feedback or thumbs up from people that I respected or admired. Their words have always had a huge positive impact on me and boosted my morale and motivation.

Tell us about a professional risk you took — and what happened after.

I’m still in the middle of it, so keep your fingers crossed and don’t clap just yet, hehe. The biggest risk was to quit working in a company that I had a very toxic relationship with and instead of searching for another similar job, I decided to dedicate my time and effort to build something of my own and in a field I was always passionate about - Dancing. I’m still figuring things out and it feels scary, nor do I have the economic stability that I would have if I found a ‘normal’ office job but the more time passes, the more fearless I feel and in the end, I trust myself that I’m capable of achieving the goals I’ve designed.

What’s something you’re still figuring out, even now?

Oh, there are many many things and actually, I don’t think I will ever stop figuring things out. :D I’m running a dance academy, I’ve always danced but I never ran a school, so obviously I’m learning every day. Most importantly, as we are new, we have to figure out how to grow and at the end of the day, make money. At the same time I’m doing my own project as a marketing freelancer (I didn’t want to let go of my previous career path 100% ;-) but now I’m not a part of any company, I’m on my own, so again, a lot of things to figure out every day! 

If you had to give a TED Talk tomorrow, what would it be about (besides your job)?

It would be about jumping from a bridge (metaphorically, ok :D ?) into an uncertainty and how it gives you freedom. F**K FEAR, it only blocks your dreams away.

What’s something you unlearned to get where you are today?

I’m still in the unlearning process - understanding that I can’t control everything and that things are never going to be exactly how I wished, I have to accept the world we live in is imperfect.

When in your career did you feel totally lost — and what helped you find your way?

It was when I lost my toxic job (and prior to that - I also spent weeks on sick leave as the job was negatively affecting my health), I felt weak, I felt I lost the hunger, the strength and the optimism I had in me, everything looked grey and I felt that everything I accomplished in the past was just pure luck and that I never deserved it. Dark times, when I look back at it. Two things that helped me to get through it: resting & disconnecting (I’m talking about months here) and talking to people around me that I value (long and deep talks).

What’s something you once thought was a failure, but now you're grateful it happened?

I’m trying to see every failure not as a failure exactly but as a learning experience (every mistake gives you insights you can use in the future), although it is quite hard sometimes as it often affects my self confidence or my belief that I’m doing things correctly. And I keep telling myself that no path is just unicorns and flowers, there are hard times, they’re just part of it. The quicker I realize it, the quicker I get back on track.

What did you used to chase in your career that you don’t anymore?

In the past, I dreamt of having an executive role in an important international company. Now, I ran away from corporate worlds, the further, the better. I appreciate feeling the freedom of not being under a gigantic construct and the satisfaction that gives me knowing that I am creating my own business.

Name a woman or the women who have helped you or inspired you in your career.

Wow there are SO MANY women that inspired me to be who I am today. From school teachers, my mom, aunt, to my dance mates… 

But if I look strictly at my career, I would highlight two women. The first one was in my first office job (I was doing an internship in Nestlé CZ) where she was my boss - Gabriela. At that time, I was 21 and she was in her 30s and since day one I aspired to be like her one day: self-confident, young but already in a leading position, independent and nonchalant. She was also one of the first persons that empowered me by giving me freedom and led me with zero micro management.

The second one is Karolina, my boss at the marketing agency I worked in during 5 years. I felt an appreciation from her since the very beginning. And I respected her as we were very aligned when it came to values and I also liked her working approach. Direct but resolutive, drama free but not boring. She always celebrated my wins, even those that were little and I wasn’t paying attention to them. I think I became fully aware of my value under her leadership.