BOOKS HAVE BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE SINCE CHILDHOOD

Text by: Izabela Cziommer, Kateřina Czempková | Photo by: Lukáš Duspiva

In today’s interview, we’d like to introduce you to Izabela, who is celebrating a wonderful ten years at FINIDR this year. If you don’t know her, she’s a helpful, positive, and reliable colleague. We talked not only about work, but also about her love of books, her free time, and—surprisingly—a little bit of adrenaline.

Izi, this year you’re celebrating ten years at FINIDR. How do you feel about that time?
It never even occurred to me that it’s been ten years already. I’m glad I’ve been here for so long. On the one hand, it’s been a long time, but at the same time, I feel like there’s still room to learn new things here. New developments are constantly coming up, so I definitely don’t feel like some kind of “senior” employee.

Do you still remember your early days?
I remember them very well because it was quite an experience. I started during the busy season, so my colleagues were very swamped, and I ended up helping out with manual tasks on the production line. Paradoxically, it was very beneficial. Thanks to that, I had the opportunity to see the production process up close, to watch a book take shape from start to finish, and that helped me a lot in my later work. I also remember my colleague Ota Švrček, who trained me on the technical side of things. He’s been retired for a few years now. Even though everyone was very busy, they always helped me and were patient. I think that without that support, getting started would have been much harder.

How would you describe your job as a customer service representative to someone who doesn’t know what that entails?
We act as a go-between for the client and the company. We handle an order from start to finish—from the initial inquiry, through the quote and order entry into the system, to communication throughout the entire production process and subsequent shipping. If anyone in the company has questions, we handle them or, if necessary, reach out to the client. We’re constantly in contact with both sides—we make a lot of phone calls, handle emails, and clarify details. You could say that we’re “taking care” of both the order and the customer the entire time.

Did you have a similar experience before joining FINIDR?
Yes, I worked as a sales representative for HVAC equipment. I sold filters. But it was a completely different job—I traveled a lot throughout the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Interestingly, I actually visited FINIDR once as a supplier. Even back then, I thought to myself that I’d love to work here. I really love books, so it was my dream job. When I saw the job posting for customer service, I applied right away, and it worked out.

How and where did you learn Czech, and what helped you the most in overcoming the language barrier?
I studied Czech at the university in Bielsko-Biała, but I only learned to speak it through practice. Since I live close to the border and we always spoke a little “ponaszymu” at home, it was easier for me. In the beginning, it was important for me not to be afraid of making mistakes. I always tell others, “Feel free to laugh at me if I say something wrong, but explain why so I can improve next time.” You need to take a step back and not take it personally. Reading Czech books also helped me a lot.

How do you think FINIDR has changed over the past ten years?
A lot. The company has grown both in terms of volume and the number of employees. The systems, processes, and the way we work have all changed. In the past, the season was clearly defined; today, the work is spread out more evenly throughout the year, although things still get busier starting in late August. As the company grows, we have to keep learning new things and adapting to changes. On the one hand, it’s challenging, but on the other, it keeps you on your toes.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
What I enjoy most is that the end result is a book. Books are really important to me. I’ve loved reading since I was a child. When I finish a book and don’t have another one ready, I almost get stressed out. And then I enjoy communicating with clients. Czech clients are very pleasant and accommodating. They often thank me for a job well done, which really makes me happy.

What about the less pleasant aspects of the job?
Sometimes we have to deal with problems or complaints, but that’s only a small part of the job. Most of the communication is positive. There’s definitely stress at work, but I usually see it as a positive thing—it motivates me rather than wearing me out.

Let’s talk about life outside of work. How do you spend your free time?
I have a six-year-old daughter, and we spend a lot of time together. We try to stay active—we ride bikes, go hiking in the Beskydy Mountains, and we have a dog, so we go out for walks. Exercise is important to me because at work we sit at a computer for hours. And of course, I love to read. Books are still a big part of my life. I recently discovered audiobooks, so now I can combine exercise with “reading.”

Izi, is there anything your coworkers might not expect?
I love adrenaline. I’ve tried paragliding and skydiving. I got them as gifts, and they were amazing experiences. Paragliding is a bit calmer—I’d love to do it again, but I’m a mom now and don’t want to take that kind of risk. I also love merry-go-rounds and roller coasters. Sometimes I just need that adrenaline rush.

What’s it like at your house?
We live in a single-family home. We have a garden where we grow tomatoes and vegetables, strawberries, and raspberries in the summer, and we also have a lot of fruit trees. It’s not my main hobby, but I enjoy it.

Summer is coming. What are your plans?
We already went on vacation to Crete in May, so we’ve already had our main vacation. But we’ll definitely take some shorter trips to the mountains. I’d also like to go to the Baltic Sea for a few days. I love it there. I like the wide sandy beaches and some of the quieter spots. We’ll see if it works out.

What message would you like to share with your colleagues to wrap things up?
Enjoy the summer your own way, relax, and recharge. And above all, don’t compare yourselves to others. Everyone should enjoy their free time however suits them best.