Barbora Kociánová – DE&I
Name: Barbora Kociánová
Title: Senior Marketing Manager Golf
Facility and location: PGA National Czech Republic
Q: When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up and please explain if there was a story around that.
A: I have always been interested in human relationships and wished to be a psychologist.
I think some of that still applies. I like working with other people and supporting them when I can. My top strengths include individualization, empathy, developer – all areas that fall under the category of relationship building.
Q: Who got you into the business of golf and what was your first experience at a golf course/range?
A: When I worked in corporate banking previously, my boss was a good golfer. Sometimes I spent time with him on the golf course as a caddie. From the beginning it was an exciting experience and when I had my own portfolio of clients, there was no doubt that I would start to play and use golf to support those business relationships.
Q: Has there been a female mentor that has helped you in your current career path and was there a piece of advice that helped you along your way?
A: A big piece of advice has been: “Just be yourself”. If I have any concerns, I ask myself “what’s the worst that can happen?” It helps me a lot in challenging situations to stay calm.
Q: What do you love most about PGA National Czech Republic?
A: I love that we set new standards in the Czech golf market. It´s great to have been part of the team from the beginning. What I love most is that it´s something special and we are providing unique guest and member experiences all the time. From a marketing perspective, I truly believe that PGA National Czech Republic is perceived as a premium brand, which I find to be quite satisfying.
Q: You have been part of this year’s Troon LEADer Program; tell us about your experience, what you’ve learned and why you recommend other women to participate in it.
A: I learned a lot of new things and got a general overview of how the club works. Now I understand the responsibilities of each department and have a better understanding of their work. A great experience was the job rotation with individual departments, where I could try for myself what it is like to be a waiter, a greenkeeper and so on. I’ll tell you, even if it looks easy, it’s not-😊.
Q: What do you do in your daily job or life to inspire other women to get them interested in the game of golf or into the golf business as a career?
A: Every time I have a meeting with someone, I tell them how lucky I am to work at the best course in the country. I don’t forget to mention that I have made many great friends through golf and golf helps me be more successful in making new business relationships. It’s an activity that I enjoy and it allows me to travel occasionally which is a great advantage these days.
Q: What is your dream foursome for golf (you and three others)?
A: Jessica & Nelly Korda and Klara Davidson Spilková. The Korda´s sisters have already visited us, and Klara is our golf ambassador, so you never know maybe this dream will come true soon. -😊
Q: What is one interesting fact not many people know about you (that you don’t mind sharing)?
A: Most people know me as someone who likes to be social and is an extrovert. But I admit that sometimes I like to walk around the city of Prague alone, with a coffee in my hand; having a moment to myself is a liberating feeling for me.
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