The internal voting of our employees for the best project in Q2 is over and the Skating Club Piešťany again received support from gd-Team for the project. We have managed to conduct a short interview with our HR manager Ivana Stračár Blahunková about the responsible approach of our company’s management in supporting its employees in their leisure-time activities.
What is your story from a figure skater to a coach? And what was the initial impulse for the establishment of the Skating Club in Piešťany?
I was skating as a child, from about 7 to 15 years old. When I finished, I skated again for recreation abroad, where I came into contact with a figure skating club. I later coached children there. After returning from abroad, I started thinking about establishing a new club in Piešťany. That‘s why I immediately contacted some former skaters and we got to work. At the beginning we had very modest expectations. I still remember how we hoped before the very first training session that at least 10 people would come. More than 30 of them came to the first training and that interest persists. Nowadays, we can be proud of several medals of our wards.
Photo: archive Skating Club Piešťany
How do children see this sport now and how was it before, when you participated in figure skating competitions?
If you want to be really good, it is not enough to skate only 2-3 times a week. Training sessions are often early in the morning. It requires a lot of self-sacrifice, not only for children, but also for parents, often grandparents, etc. However, the result is then worth it 🙂 I also experienced hard training, getting up early in the morning but the current figure skating is further than it was at the time when I skated competitively. The competition is intense, there is a new scoring system. Children manage to do the most demanding elements at an increasingly early age. The ideal age to start figure skating is 4 years.
In gd-Team you are the Head of Human Resources. Are you also a “boss” on the ice or do you tend to have a friendly approach to children?
I think I have a friendly relationship with children, but I still think they accept and respect me. They know I want the best for them (not just in terms of rankings). Therefore they understand the situations when I‘m strict and demanding.
Photo: archive Skating Club Piešťany
How do you see gd-Team from the point of view of the human aspect when they support the activities of their employees and their families?
I am very proud and grateful that I can be part of a company supporting this type of projects. We are a relatively new civic association and all costs associated with this beautiful but very expensive sport are financed by the club and the children’s parents. We are therefore always grateful for every financial contribution. My many thanks go to colleagues who decided to vote for Skating Club Piešťany for the second year.
Were you surprised by the voting of colleagues, as it was the second time they supported you?
It surprised and at the same time pleased and motivated me that our civic association really does have a purpose. We established the club with great commitment and determination. Anyone who was able to turn their hand to the work or manage something was welcome. Figure skating is a beautiful sport and I am glad that thanks to gd-Team our club can move further.
Photo: archive Skating Club Piešťany
How will the sponsorship contribution be used?
There are always many ideas and possibilities, but a large part of the costs is renting an ice rink. In the future, we would like to create a ballet room on the premises of the ice stadium. Ice-off trainings are important for figure skaters, too.
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