Jiří Koleňák: My name is Jiří Koleňák and welcome to the Úspěšní (Successful) podcast, where my guests and I explore the principles and habits that drive their success. My guest today is experienced educator and school principal Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová. She began her career as an English teacher, worked as an IT trainer for Apple technologies in education, and served as a lecturer at the National Pedagogical Institute. Her key professional milestones also include serving as principal at Livingston Primary School and working as a freelance trainer in educational innovation and technology. She is the co-founder and current principal of Curricampus Grammar School, where she focuses on developing and modernizing the learning process with an emphasis on integrating new technologies and teaching methodologies. Hi Petra, welcome to the podcast.
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: Hi.
Jiří Koleňák: Petra, I always start by asking my guests what brought them the greatest joy in recent days. What was it for you?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: Recently, I was deeply pleased by a wonderful debate in a seemingly formal setting at Prague Castle during a round table with the President of the Republic. What I enjoyed most was the President’s team, the diverse group of participants, and the fact that a leader of his standing raised topics like personal resilience, social cohesion, and taking responsibility for oneself. Furthermore, the discussion wasn't reduced merely to military readiness—it was broad, engaging young people and school leaders alike. The third thing that thrilled me was that I managed to bring along one of my students, who participated as an equal member of that circle, adding a fresh dimension to the entire dialogue.
Jiří Koleňák: I love that you brought a student into such an important discussion. We need to listen to the upcoming generation much more. While they might appear fragile or opinionless on the surface, in a matter of years they will define the dominant voice in society. How did you originally enter the field of education?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: It's an interesting story of self-denial. My great-grandmothers, grandmothers, and mother were all teachers. It wasn't a bad example—my mother loved her job—but I stubbornly convinced myself I would never become a teacher. Ironically, education found me anyway. While studying translation and interpretation, I started tutoring. Seeing living human systems—the vibrant, highly active brains of young people up to age 18 performing at completely different levels than adult minds—was a transformative turning point.
Jiří Koleňák: You started out teaching English. Why English?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: I was fluent in it, and it fit my extroverted, interpreter-oriented background. But what I couldn't suppress was a deep passion for observing how another person develops and discovering what makes them unique. As an English teacher, I listened to countless life stories from both adults and children.
Jiří Koleňák: Do you recall key moments or mentors who inspired you early in your career?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: I remember an 11-year-old girl named Monika, whom I prepared for entrance exams. Her father gave me complete pedagogical freedom. Monika showed me that learning goals could be achieved through unconventional paths. During one lesson, she looked at me and said, "You're a really good teacher." That emotional moment shifted everything—I realized I needed to step into formal school systems and teach younger target groups.
Jiří Koleňák: What challenges did you face when stepping into formal education?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: Teaching unmotivated students was a major hurdle initially, though you can always find common ground with young people. The harder challenge was coexisting within traditional school teams under rigid principals. Later, as a teacher at Livingston School—which was set up as a "pseudo-free" school—I struggled with how to help children achieve state and parental learning outcomes without basic structure. Handing absolute responsibility over to a tiny child without guidance proved problematic. Navigating that taught me the value of structured, purposeful freedom.
Jiří Koleňák: Where do the major friction points exist within school management systems?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: Many principals cite parent communication as their greatest challenge. I disagree—educators and parents share the exact same underlying goal: raising healthy, happy, well-educated children with strong social bonds. The real challenge for me was bridging the gap between education and business. When I became principal of a primary school backed by an investor with strict financial targets, balancing the creative, resource-intensive nature of childhood education with hard corporate metrics was tough, but incredibly valuable for building professional leadership skills.
Jiří Koleňák: Did technology help streamline those educational outcomes?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: Technology is a useful servant, not an end in itself. Over a decade ago, I was captivated by educational apps and iPads. But as I transitioned into executive leadership viewing the system holistically, I realized that the ultimate learning outcomes matter far more than whether the delivery tool is a tablet screen or a piece of paper. Moreover, mobile devices can severely fracture student focus and flow. Today, we use tech thoughtfully—as an efficient bulletin board, communication tool, or creative platform—without forcing it into every lesson.
Jiří Koleňák: When did you realize that education extends far beyond classroom instruction into building an entire ecosystem?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted that dramatically. It proved that a school is fundamentally a social ecosystem—a space for relationship building, peer learning, and emotional growth. While digital tools maintained basic academic instruction online, they could never replicate the vital social dynamics of a physical community.
Jiří Koleňák: What steps did you take to build your expertise in educational leadership?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: After experiencing severe management burnout two years into my first principalship, I recognized the need for formal methodology to ground my practice. I enrolled in advanced systemic training—first focusing on individual facilitation and leadership, then on group dynamics. Mastering systemic frameworks gave me actionable tools to guide people consciously, evaluate organizational processes, and build vibrant, sustainable educational systems.
Jiří Koleňák: What is it like co-founding a brand-new school from scratch?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: Fulfilling and exhilarating. Building a brand-new school system from the ground up is infinitely easier than inheriting a legacy institution with entrenched habits. Having an aligned founding partner who shares your values, invests in youth, and trusts educational leadership makes the process seamless.
Jiří Koleňák: How does a founder's mindset shape a school's culture?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: Leadership dictates institutional culture—the old proverb "a fish rots from the head" is entirely accurate. When parents choose a school, they should look closely at the principal. When critical challenges arise, an institution's response is driven entirely by executive leadership.
Jiří Koleňák: What three core recommendations would you offer current or aspiring school principals?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: First, master fundamental managerial skills—solid operational management keeps your school afloat. Second, possess genuine passion for education; you are handling a family's most precious gift, their child. Third, maintain authentic self-awareness—understand precisely why you take every step in your career and how it serves your broader vision.
Jiří Koleňák: What systemic elements ensure an educational institution functions effectively?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: Creating a genuinely safe environment bounded by clear expectations. When students feel respected—free from public humiliation, yelling, or arbitrary intimidation—you can set ambitious performance standards. Operationally, maintain a flat organizational structure during normal operations where everyone takes ownership, backed by a clear hierarchical escalation model when crises arise.
Jiří Koleňák: How would you articulate the core philosophy of Curricampus?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: Curricampus is an open, non-ideological educational system governed primarily by the principle of usefulness. We measure usefulness directly through our students. Rather than adult administrators guessing what young people need, we actively solicit student feedback using solution-focused dialogue. Teaching students how to deliver constructive, actionable feedback transforms them into active partners in their own education.
Jiří Koleňák: How do you foster professional growth among your teaching staff?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: Through an open-door policy, self-evaluation frameworks, and peer classroom visits. Rather than punitive inspections, classroom observations serve as collaborative development tools. Teachers should feel supported in refining their craft, backed by clear, non-negotiable professional standards.
Jiří Koleňák: How can we help young people manage the mental toll of digital technology and social media?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: Encourage them to ask for help immediately when experiencing mental discomfort. Young people must recognize the link between excessive screen time and emotional fatigue, and feel empowered to reach out to counselors, helplines, or trusted adults without shame.
Jiří Koleňák: What mindsets make a successful school leader?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: A relentless focus on purpose and usefulness. Before launching any initiative, ask what purpose it serves. Leaders must also balance firmness during critical situations with warmth, transparency, and accessible communication in daily interactions.
Jiří Koleňák: What key initiatives are you currently driving at Curricampus?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: Maximizing the practical utility of the four-year high school journey. We offer customizable upper-level study tracks, allow students to replace standard Czech state exams with internationally recognized language and technical certifications, and develop bilingual study paths to prepare students for top international universities. Once our four-year cycle matures, our goal is to package this model as an educational franchise to inspire other schools.
Jiří Koleňák: How do you approach your own ongoing personal development?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: I focus on applying my systemic training directly into daily practice. Working alongside professional supervisors and systemic coaches within my executive team provides continuous peer reflection. I avoid generic administrative seminars and draw inspiration directly from my children, my students, and younger faculty members who bring fresh perspectives to education.
Jiří Koleňák: How do you maintain work-life balance?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: I integrate work and personal life seamlessly rather than treating them as opposing forces. My school is close to home, my daughters attend school nearby, and I share open dialogue about my work with my husband and family.
Jiří Koleňák: What business principles guide your management?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: Full financial accountability. Running a private school requires maintaining financial health, respecting investor capital, and avoiding populist decisions that compromise long-term sustainability. Educators must handle operational budgets with discipline.
Jiří Koleňák: How do you unwind and clear your head?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: Distance running, practicing hot yoga at 42°C, taking morning walks with my husband through Prague's Vítkov park, and exploring the city on foot. Movement and nature are my primary ways to recharge.
Jiří Koleňák: What are the critical factors for 21st-century education?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: Equipping students to adapt to rapid change and building critical thinking so the world cannot manipulate them. Core academic knowledge remains essential—you cannot build advanced skills without foundational knowledge—but learning how to navigate change safely and independently is paramount.
Jiří Koleňák: What systemic reforms would you like to see across the broader education system?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: A complete prohibition of public humiliation and shouting in classrooms, alongside a willingness to measure and publish objective educational outcomes. Transparent institutional performance data empowers parents and drives systemic improvement across all schools.
Jiří Koleňák: What final advice would you offer individuals standing at a career crossroads?
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: Find abundance within your passion. Build initiatives, ventures, or careers around what you truly love, and financial and personal fulfillment will follow.
Jiří Koleňák: "Find abundance within your passion," says Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová. Thank you very much for joining us, Petra.
Petra Kačmarčíková-Bakajsová: Thank you for a wonderful conversation.
Jiří Koleňák: To our viewers, thank you for watching, and see you next time with more inspiring guests!
