She came to write her thesis. She left to build an AI ecosystem.
I spent the entire year of 2022 and the entire year of 2024 on Erasmus in Finland, where I studied and worked. This amazing experience shaped me incredibly, not only professionally, but also as a person. I fell in love with Finland and consider it my second home.
I was struck by how people operate there. Work-life balance is not just a buzz word, a large number of community places and events where people meet, meet and share ideas. I got used to going to community places and events and being part of the environment where things happen.
When I returned to the Czech Republic, I missed this. I was looking for something similar in Ostrava. And I also had a very practical need – to find a place where I would have peace and quiet to write my thesis.
That's how I came across Impact Hub.
And he immediately appealed to me. He combined both of my needs – work and community.
From small talk to deeper conversations
I started going to community events regularly. Networking breakfasts. Impact Hub MashUps. Gradually, I felt like I was finding “my group” again.
That's why I discovered the Future Makers student workshops. They were exactly what I needed.
I liked how practical the workshops were. We tried everything right away. Lots of examples, lots of sharing. Just no boring frontal learning.
"The biggest highlights? Connecting with students from different schools and fields. And most importantly, the feeling that there is a space for authentic and safe sharing."
The workshop program was also excellently chosen. It covered important areas for not only professional but also personal development. Even if someone came there without a specific idea for a product or service, they took away strategies and ideas on how to get started. For me personally, it was the moment when I began to believe more that my interests – for example, AI – are not just something “extra”, but can be a real direction.
I have been drawn to the topic of AI for a long time. I got more into it in Finland and after returning I didn't want to let it go. I started going to various educational events related to this topic. Many of them took place at the Impact Hub. I had the opportunity to get to know representatives and ambassadors of the Ostrava AI community better – Dalibor Mráz, Martin Duda, Kateřina Švidrnochová and others.
Small talk at networking events gradually turned into deeper conversations about AI, innovation, and the future. These people made me excited about being part of the development of the local AI community. And suddenly I felt like I wasn't just an observer, but that I could get involved.
Teresa 2.0
The entire year 2025 was marked by major life changes for me. Return to the Czech Republic. Diploma thesis. Master's thesis. Job search.
And even though it may seem that everything went smoothly and that I was a "just lucky girl", the reality was different. Behind everything were countless hours of work, mental breakdowns and tears. More than a dozen CVs and motivation letters sent. Lots of unsuccessful interviews in the Czech Republic and abroad.
One of the hardest moments was realizing that I am not comfortable communicating about myself, my experiences and achievements in Czech. (Which is a bit of a problem when you go for interviews in the Czech Republic. 🤭) I felt like I sounded like someone who can't count to five in my native language. It was a total fuckup for me. How are you supposed to build self-confidence when you feel like your competencies were left somewhere at the airport? And that you only brought imposter syndrome with you instead?
What helped me not to go crazy? Support from family and loved ones. But most importantly, one realization – that I am not trying to return to the old me. That I am now building a version of Tereza 2.0. I started writing my professional achievements again. In Czech. Not as a translation, but as a new story. I stopped apologizing for sometimes searching for words. I started to take it as proof of how much my stay abroad influenced me.
First job after school? A dream job for me.
I was looking for a job. But I didn't want "just any" job. I had a clear idea. I wanted something that would connect marketing communications, Finland, and the world of AI. Something that would have a real impact and would be fun for me. I like to set big goals. 😄
And it really worked. In November, I joined IT4Innovations, the national supercomputing center, as the AI Factory Hub Coordinator. My role could be described as a link in building the AI ecosystem in the Czech Republic and Europe. I participate in building the physical AI Factory Hub, coordinating the network, and connecting people who want to advance AI.
"I love how diverse my work is. And how it perfectly matches my personality. And most importantly – I am incredibly grateful for the supportive colleagues and inspiring community around me.”
While 2025 was about surviving big changes, 2026 is about conscious creation for me. At work, I'm looking forward to opening the AI Factory Hub physical space, organizing events, and further connecting technologies and visions of people who want to move the world. But I'm also looking forward to the personal part. Creating a home. Traveling. Building routines. Finding balance in this "adult world."
When I look back...
Looking back today, I see how important it was for me to have a place where I could grow among people who want to create and move things forward.
Impact Hub wasn't just a coworking space for me. It was a space where I found community again.
And Future Makers was the beginning of a new chapter for me. A place where I allowed myself to think about myself differently and where I began to believe that my direction could take concrete form. Sometimes change doesn’t start with a big decision, but just by coming to one workshop… and staying a little longer. 🙂
We turn ideas into lasting impact. We inspire, connect and support impact makers across all over the world and in three cities in the Czech Republic – Prague, Brno a OstravaOur common mission is to build a just and sustainable world where business and profit serve people and the planet.
Either you are starting an idea, you are doing business, looking for partners or influencing changes in society, we are ready to support you on your path to impact.
Are you ready to change something? Become #impactmaker.
