Hi Simona, please can you introduce us your position in the OKIN Facility? 

Officially, my position is called Fleet Manager/Coordinator for the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and I am in charge of absolutely everything related to cars in the company, from operational leasing, car purchases, services, sales, damages, insurance, reporting, GPS, logbooks, brand stickers, invoicing to green cards, highway tickets, fines etc. In fact, when the word „car“ appears in a sentence, everyone looks for me. In the end, I take care of every screw and sometimes I think that I could open my own complete car service and handle repairs and administration.

How many cars do you take care of in total? 

There are more than 200 vehicles. All trucks, trailers, four-wheelers and tractors necessary for a company in the facility management world are added to this. I’m just waiting for bikes and scooters to finally be added to my fleet and we’ll start to significantly reduce our carbon footprint.

How long have you been working at the OKIN Facility? 

I’ve been with OKIN Facility for 8 years, but I’ve been involved in fleet management since 2013. People often ask me why cars in particular, that it’s more of a man’s job, and I answer that that’s exactly what is cool for me. At the time, I jumped into it a bit headlong and didn’t know what I was actually getting into. I told myself that it doesn’t really matter if I work with people or cars and I can probably only improve.

8 years is quite a long time. What do you enjoy most about your job? 

My agenda is, I would say, divided into two parts. One is stable, repeating every month, and the other, on the contrary, is dynamic, unpredictable and improvisational. You can see me sitting at the computer almost all day (when I don’t go for a little stretch), but also flying around the company parking lot with boosters and charging cables. I enjoy this variety and I think that what I do, I do it well to the best of my knowledge and conscience. But what keeps me at OKIN is also the great team. We have a stable team here, and as a result, long-term relationships have been created that have blossomed into friendship. I strongly believe in interpersonal relationships and believe that what we give comes back to us. At the same time, I perceive that it is possible to have fun with colleagues normally and in peace, and I can’t remember a problem that we couldn’t somehow solve together. I honestly can’t imagine me going to work with a shriveled stomach and the feeling that I really don’t want to be there.

In the office, I perceive you as a person who is constantly on the move and does not sit in a chair for even a moment. How does this personality reflect in your private life?

In general, I love mountains, the proof of which is the fact that I also had my wedding in a mountain hut under the Lomnický štít in the High Tatras at an altitude of 1,725 ​​m.a.s.l. Although in a wedding dress, but also in trail running shoes. Otherwise, I run, ride a bike, skialp and learn to climb rocks. I started running on the road, but as soon as I tried trail running (running in the countryside, in the mountains) it was clear to me that this is what makes sense to me. I have been doing mountain running as a passionate hobby for about four years. It wasn’t until here that I became convinced that miracles and experiences happen beyond the comfort zone. For me, running is not just about pace and times. It is a lifestyle and a therapy for me. After long and multi-hour runs in the hills in any weather or season, I often reach the bottom and at the same time I am only thinking about myself. This helps me detach from the worries „down there“ and the endorphins take me to completely different dimensions.

That’s a lot of ways to recharge your batteries in your spare time… 

Yes, but many people paradoxically think that so much movement drains my imaginary batteries. It’s the exact opposite. This way of life sets my discipline, gives me a sense of freedom and sets goals. Surpassing yourself and pushing your limits are the most valuable trophies for me, because we are usually our own biggest opponent.

What races have you already participated in? 

I participated in road races from 10 km to half marathons, trail races, long relay races, mountain trails and marathons. I also experienced my first ultra runs (runs in the mountains at extreme distances – from 50 km upwards). In August, I successfully completed my longest race so far, the Hostýnská osma (70 km in length and 3200 meters of altitude climbed).

Share with us some statistics of your activities.

I run an average of around 1,600 km a year. I climb around 100,000 altitude meters, which is essential for me, because I am a collector of altitude meters, not kilometers. For whom I will ride around 2500 km on a road bike and take something on the hills.

Do you have time for anything else besides work and exercise?

There is not much time to spare, but within the running community there are also other activities linked to it. Last year I was at the birth of the Trail2gether Prague project – when I organize joint community runs. Some time ago I also became an ambassador for the brand Dynafit and the shop/running special TFRun, which I am also actively involved in in my free time.

Sometimes it is exhausting to combine all the roles of a woman like me, which is to be a versatile athlete, a good manager, an irreplaceable wife, a great friend, a super daughter and the most popular aunt.