Introducing Petra Soukupova, talented project manager, former tour guide in Japan and an enthusiastic mum of two!

“Before pursuing a career in IT and Project Management, I studied economics and tourism. My lifelong fascination with Japanese culture, combined with my experience as a guide, led me to Japan. After graduating, I had the opportunity to share my love of Japan with visitors and explore its unique architecture, culture, and cuisine.

During my time at university, I formed a lasting friendship with Vicky (Viktoria Feketeova). She later offered me a job as a project manager in a large company. Her enthusiasm was contagious and I accepted the position. I quickly learned about project management, including customer relations, team collaboration and change management. The job gave me a glimpse of The Information Factory: we were working on joint projects, and I was intrigued by their ability to secure such exciting projects, despite their small size.

During this time, something wonderful happened: I became the mother of twins! I took maternity leave to care for them and when they were two years old, Vicky contacted me again. She had moved to The Information Factory (TIF) and wanted me to join them. It was tough to juggle family and work, but I was fortunate to start with a few hours per week on a flexible schedule. As my children got older I could take on more responsibilities and manage larger projects.

I quickly felt comfortable at TIF and appreciated the flexibility of working from home, which allowed me to spend more time with my family. Covid really showcased TIF's supportive approach. I was worried about balancing childcare and work, but everyone was supportive – even when my kids tied me to my chair during an important meeting! It was tough, but I can laugh about it now.

Thanks to this work-life balance, I can still pursue my passions. While I don’t guide people professionally anymore, I kept my love for hiking and share it with my kids. I have also maintained my link with Japan by doing Ikebana (the art of flower arrangement). I hope to kindle a similar passion for Japan in my children: my husband and I are actively planning a new expedition there in the coming years.”