Vice President, Consumer & IoT at ESET
Viktória, you are the Vice President of Consumer & IoT at ESET, at one of the biggest companies in Slovakia. But let’s start at the beginning of your journey.
You have studied at Webster Vienna Private University where you graduated with Master of Science (MS) in Finance, General. After graduation you went to work at the National Council of Slovak Republic and Ministry of Finance of Slovak Republic, both very impressive institutions. Did the move from governmental offices into the private sector come naturally? How did you feel after going from governmental institutions into a private company?
I have actually studied and worked also before. I graduated from the University of Economics in Slovakia, worked a bit, but I didn’t like anything, so I went back to school. The public sector was a coincidence, I wanted to broaden my horizons, explore what is out there and what suits me the best. In the end, I guess the private sector is more my cup of tea, so it was a natural move. What ties both experiences together is that I was looking for something with impact on society, I wanted to do something meaningful – the government provides just that, but I also found it through ESET and their CSR activities.
You started in Eset 10 years ago as a Business Data Analyst and kept on climbing the corporate ladder all the way to the Vice President. Did you always have the ambition to reach all the way to this position?
I have always been ambitious, yes. Never had any specific position or level in mind. I am ambitious in a type of way, that I always want more, I want to grow, change, try new things. I don’t want to feel stuck or bored. Looking back, it has its disadvantages, to be too ambitious :D. You really need to be ready for some position levels.
What kept you going and motivated you to work on yourself in order to achieve this amazing success?
If I look at it from one side, I would call it my inner drive. I like learning, getting better at new things, exploring, looking back to see myself grow, moving past some boundaries. But to be completely honest, I have to also say that there is a dark side to it too. This force behind all the work I do on myself is that I rarely feel good enough. So I do more, better, faster. This is not sustainable long term and I need to work on finding the balance, use the motivation and manage the impacts.
“ Think about and re-evaluate what success means to you, maybe you already have it, at least partially.“
Viktória Ivanová
Do you see more women entering the tech world in Slovakia over the years?
Yes! I hope it’s not just my wishful thinking, but I do see a change in this area. There is a visible societal change from what is expected of women, how they are raised. There are a lot of organizations that support women and their careers, show them the possibilities. The tech world itself is evolving and there are more job positions available, not just pure coder. We already see an increase in female students and employees in tech, and I believe this will keep on growing.
I can imagine that being a vice president in a big, multinational company such as ESET can be quite stressful. How do you take care of your mental health and manage your stress?
Uf, in multiple ways, and I feel like I always fail 😊. I talk very openly about this in my newsletter, but also in general with people. It is not just my position, or a big company. It’s the whole world we live in right now – I don’t want to go into philosophical debate now. The point is, we all face the same challenges and need to develop our skills to take care of our mental health and wellbeing. What has brought me success so far is exercise and walks outside, mindfulness of simple nice things, enjoying time with my loved ones, getting therapy and coaching. But also small, practical things like turning off my notifications, having lunch regularly every day, drinking morning coffee without looking into my phone.
No Shortcuts
What were the biggest struggles or obstacles on your journey?
Me, myself and I. 😊 Of course there are many external factors, but at the end it is about my attitude and how I handle challenges and setbacks.
Who were the biggest supporters on your journey?
My closest circle – my family, boyfriend, friends. It’s insane how they believe in me and root for me. With them I feel like a superstar, like I can do anything.
What is your mission in life?
Tough one. I don’t think I have ever sat down and defined this for myself. I would say be happy, whatever that means, and be kind, to others and to myself.
What advice would you give our readers who want to build a successful life?
Work hard, don’t waste your time and potential. Of course, I understand this is impossible to do all the time, we need periods of rest and unproductivity, just don’t let it overtake your life. Think about and re-evaluate what success means to you, maybe you already have it, at least partially. And one advice that I got and changed my perspective – learn to identify key milestones/opportunities that life brings. Success is also about luck, but successful people understand what luck shows up as in real life and are not afraid to change course and re-define their goal.
What is your a must read book?
Any book by Irvin Yalom. Or my all time favourite Unbearable lightness of being by Milan Kundera.
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