Jiří Koleňák: Welcome to another episode of the Úspěšní (Successful) podcast. My name is Jiří Koleňák, and today we will once again explore the principles and habits that drive our guest's success. If you enjoy our podcast, please don't forget to subscribe, share, and listen on the go. My guest today is Lídie Kovařík, General Manager of Pilsner Urquell The Original Beer Experience, an executive with a rich international career, author of the book Let's Live: The Life of Our Dreams, member of Mensa Czech Republic, and an alumna of Newton University. Originally from Croatia, she has lived and worked in Prague for many years, where she built a highly accomplished professional career. Today, we will talk about her journey from Croatia to Czechia, establishing herself abroad as a foreigner, leading major commercial projects, and what success truly means to her. Lídie, welcome to the podcast.
Lídie Kovařík: Thank you very much for having me.
Jiří Koleňák: Lídie, I always start with an icebreaker: what brought you the greatest joy in recent days?
Lídie Kovařík: Seeing major breakthroughs in my children. As the new year started, watching them apply the lessons, habits, and mindset we taught them as parents when faced with new opportunities felt like a massive personal victory.
Jiří Koleňák: Children bring us immense joy, along with a few grey hairs! You originally studied law in Croatia and worked as a lawyer. How does a legal professional transition to Prague and build such a successful career here?
Lídie Kovařík: Sometimes you just have to jump without looking down. That’s exactly what happened to me. I made a swift decision practically overnight to move here—not because I had to, but because I wanted to. Once I arrived, endless opportunities began opening up.
Jiří Koleňák: You once mentioned that we often fight imaginary battles against things that never actually happen. What was your biggest fear before moving that turned out to be completely unfounded?
Lídie Kovařík: Almost all fears exist solely in our minds—they are emotional echoes of past experiences. That’s why I now treat every situation purely as objective information. Ten years ago, a piece of news might have unsettled me or triggered anxiety and fear; today, I evaluate information neutrally in the present moment without dragging in baggage from the past.
Jiří Koleňák: Do you recall any specific anxiety when you first arrived in Prague?
Lídie Kovařík: There was a short-lived fear tied to my ego. In Croatia, I held legal titles and status. Identifying yourself strictly by past credentials or academic titles is a trap. For about two days, the former lawyer inside me protested: "Will the Czech state recognize my qualifications? What will I do without my legal standing?" But I quickly shut that voice down: "You have a name, a clean slate, and that's enough. What matters most is what you carry inside: knowledge, experience, humility, and a strong work ethic." Prague is full of extraordinary opportunities, just like any dynamic city if you're willing to work.
Jiří Koleňák: What surprised you most during your initial period in Prague, both professionally and personally?
Lídie Kovařík: I loved the sense of anonymity—I call it "they don't care about us" in the best possible way! Even after 15 years, feeling like a "no-name" keeps me grounded. I go into meetings without fixed preconceptions about people; they are just a name on a page and a fresh opportunity. Systemically, Czechia surprised me pleasantly—public infrastructure and municipal systems in Prague run brilliantly. I was also struck by how quiet people were. Back then, I could read a book in peace on the metro or tram. Friends calling me from Croatia didn't believe I was on public transport because it was so quiet! It gave me space to hear my own thoughts.
Jiří Koleňák: How did you navigate the initial language barrier?
Lídie Kovařík: Day one was mentally tough. I tried speaking English, but shop assistants occasionally refused to engage, which felt stressful. When I returned home to the quiet, I decided to learn one specific sentence: "Dobrý den, já se omlouvám, já nemluvím česky" ("Hello, I'm sorry, I don't speak Czech"). It showed humility. Then I added that I was from Croatia, because Czechs generally love Croatians! After saying that line, virtually everyone found a way to communicate and help me resolve whatever I needed.
Jiří Koleňák: Do you recall any cultural differences that caught you off guard?
Lídie Kovařík: Differences in social etiquette and hospitality. In Croatia, friends, neighbors, or acquaintances can knock on your door 24/7, and you immediately lay out every piece of food and drink you have in the house. I still maintain that open-door policy at home today! In Prague, social boundaries are much more structured. While different at first, I realized it actually freed up immense personal time to focus on my career, my immediate family, and my children—otherwise, I would have had guests over all day long!
Jiří Koleňák: You've been fascinated by psychology since childhood. How did psychological insights help you adjust to Czechia?
Lídie Kovařík: Psychology helps in everything I do. Coming from a smaller Croatian town where everyone knew everyone, moving to a larger city required understanding human behavior on a deeper level—why emotional reactions occur, how mental muscles work, and why people communicate differently. Whether negotiating with two corporate partners who require completely different communication frameworks or coaching my two daughters who think entirely differently, psychological awareness guides my daily interactions, conflict resolution, and leadership.
Jiří Koleňák: What was the single toughest business challenge you faced after moving, and how did you overcome it?
Lídie Kovařík: Early in an executive role at a former company, we needed to negotiate an integration with a major digital portal. The company's co-owners had already rejected the portal's representative three times. I had a clear vision that the partnership would be massive, but the owners kept stalling. Respecting senior leadership while pushing a high-stakes deal forward was intense. I invited the client back for a fresh round of negotiations and convinced her to give us another chance. The risk paid off spectacularly—when tickets launched on their portal, consumer demand overwhelmed the server infrastructure, selling out three times our initial quota within days. High-pressure situations often yield the greatest career breakthroughs.
Jiří Koleňák: You once stated: "Creativity is my passion, but strategy is my weapon." How has that synergy driven your strategic projects?
Jiří Koleňák: My legal training laid my strategic foundation. Law trains your mind to analyze thick volumes of text, filter out noise, identify keywords, and apply the correct framework. Strategic thinking provides structure, while internal creative freedom empowers you to voice unconventional ideas. Aligning a team of 100 people behind a bold strategy and inspiring them to move in the same direction is an incredible experience.
Jiří Koleňák: Did you ever feel you were taking excessive professional risks when switching industries throughout your career?
Lídie Kovařík: Honestly, no. I rely heavily on intuition every single day. The only moments of hesitation occurred when I allowed external chatter or skepticism to cloud my perspective. Returning to my internal center—saying a full "yes" to the project even without knowing every intermediate step—provides an unshakeable safe space. The hardest part is insulated yourself against external doubt, but trusting your inner direction carries you through.
Jiří Koleňák: Where do you find that internal strength when doubts arise?
Lídie Kovařík: It’s an internal anchor backed by the universe. Even when people present cold statistics or conservative predictions, I tap into a quiet, grounded mental space that tells me: "You are on the right path."
Jiří Koleňák: Like Sokrates or Tomáš Baťa, you emphasize that self-knowledge is foundational. What routines keep you grounded?
Lídie Kovařík: Breathwork is my primary anchor. Years ago, I used guided meditations, but I found that external voices or background music disrupted my inner calm. Today, simple intentional breathing resets my state instantly—even for two minutes parked in a car.
Second, my time at Newton University was transformative. Taking three days off once a month to step completely out of my corporate and personal roles—stripped of executive titles, parental duties, or social expectations—allowed me to recharge deeply in nature. Physical activity, especially skiing, also taught me resilience. I learned to ski at 31, which is considered late in Czechia! Conquering steep black slopes taught me that fear usually stems from external factors rather than our own capabilities.
Jiří Koleňák: How do these experiences shape your executive leadership style?
Lídie Kovařík: Everything feeds into my leadership. Life is an incredible journey, and past experiences leave emotional anchors you can draw upon instantly. I don't need a luxury vacation to find energy; I can evoke that sense of calm and drive right in my office. In my teams, I frequently pause workflows to ask: "Why are we doing this?" Roughly 97% of human behavior runs on automatic, learned habits. Forcing people to step out of autopilot ignites genuine creativity, passion, and pride in their output.
Jiří Koleňák: How does managing Pilsner Urquell The Original Beer Experience differ from your previous ventures?
Lídie Kovařík: It's a massive, multi-faceted operation. The role came to me unexpectedly, but one clear objective hooked me: establishing this brand center among the top five tourist attractions in Prague. We are virtually there already!
It involves managing diverse teams across distinct operational verticals: an interactive museum tour, the Tapster Academy beer-pouring experience, our exclusive Beer Sommelier Dinner hosted daily at 18:42 to honor the year 1842, alongside large-scale gastronomy, retail, and hospitality. Engaging directly with team members across every department to understand their motivations and unlock their passion is deeply fulfilling.
Jiří Koleňák: How do you apply psychological principles when managing such a large workforce?
Lídie Kovařík: It comes down to human connection and understanding underlying drivers. Everyone is selling something—whether pitching an idea to a board, presenting to clients, or communicating with staff. Ego often obscures true motivations. Some employees seek financial rewards, others prioritize schedule flexibility or remote work. Recognizing verbal and non-verbal cues allows you to understand what people truly value. Aligning corporate vision with individual passion creates unstoppable momentum.
Jiří Koleňák: Mental coaching and practical psychology belong in every executive's toolkit.
Lídie Kovařík: Absolutely! If I worked in education policy, I would introduce coaching and self-awareness frameworks starting in early childhood education. Children possess extraordinary natural talents that traditional systems often stifle. Empowering young people to make confident choices while respecting others transforms society.
Jiří Koleňák: Between executive leadership, lecturing, coaching, and writing, what does your daily routine look like?
Lídie Kovařík: My only true routines are driving to work, parking in the same spot I’ve used for five years, and recurring internal meetings. Everything else is fluid—and I deliberately disrupt routine to keep my brain adaptive. I change up my lunch spots or intentionally take alternative driving routes. Introducing minor daily stressors conditions the mind to handle major high-stakes corporate pressures calmly. Stress is simply our subjective reaction to external information.
Jiří Koleňák: What maintains your personal balance and harmony?
Lídie Kovařík: Integrating daily micro-joys and stepping outside my comfort zone. Even on intense business trips, I carve out 20 minutes to experience something new or enjoy a quiet moment. Consistently treating yourself to small moments of joy builds long-term personal harmony.
Jiří Koleňák: In your book Let's Live: The Life of Our Dreams, you discuss living intentionally. What is a dream you realized that once seemed impossible?
Lídie Kovařík: Many! I write down my thoughts regularly. Looking back at notes from 15 or 20 years ago, I realized I achieved major milestones I hadn't formally planned—like reinventing my career entirely. Society often tells you that you must stay in the field you studied. Breaking those artificial rules to become an entrepreneur, write books, or run half-marathons proves that everything is possible if you trust yourself.
Jiří Koleňák: Was it difficult to expose your inner thoughts while writing the book?
Lídie Kovařík: Writing was fluid—I have three more books outlined in my head! The challenging part was editing. We evolve constantly, so reading text written months prior triggered my legal instinct to refine and perfect every line. My husband gave me invaluable advice: "Just keep going." Fixating on perfection causes analysis paralysis. Progress matters far more than perfection.
Jiří Koleňák: What key message would you share with young international professionals and emerging leaders?
Lídie Kovařík: Embrace every challenge as an unfamiliar learning opportunity rather than a "problem." Trust in your capabilities, explore new avenues, and remember that Czechia offers a welcoming, supportive environment for those willing to pursue their vision.
Jiří Koleňák: Lídie, thank you very much for joining us and sharing your journey and insights.
Lídie Kovařík: Thank you for having me, and remember: every moment is an opportunity to live the life of your dreams!
Jiří Koleňák: To our audience, thank you for watching. Please like, comment, and share, and see you next time with more inspiring guests!
