Sara Simackova is a woman of many talents and a marketing force. As an entrepreneur, she is a “mentor, agency co-founder, marketing manager and commercial producer.”
Based in Prague, Sara Simackova founded a “successful Pure Stuff studio…focusing on authentic branding.” As part of her expansion in Europe, she also moved to Berlin.
Since she was younger, Sara Simackova has always been “fascinated by business.” In high school, she volunteered for newspapers and lifestyle magazines as a “journalist and photographer.”
Sara Simackova also did a lot of other things. She organized “creative workshops for young people,” which included DJ workshops; she started a music club in her hometown; and she learned about marketing in fashion e-commerce.
Likewise, Sara Simackova also worked in three different European countries and set up “influencer strategies for American tech start-ups.”
Doing things she has never done before is something Sara Simackova loves. They keep her “motivated and energises to keep on going.”
Sara Simackova says that she learned a lot from the book “Emotional Intelligence” by Daniel Goleman. She says that she learned how to control her behavior, “especially anger,” and learn how to react more smartly.
Before looking for investors, Sara Simackova says that entrepreneurs should go back to their business plan and ask themselves if they really need “external financial support.”
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In fact, I love doing things I’ve never done before. It keeps me motivated and energised to keep on going.
Jerome Knyszewski: Thank you so much for doing this with us! What is your “backstory”?
Sara Simackova: Since a young age I have been fascinated by business. I started to work during my highschool years as a volunteer for newspapers and lifestyle magazines as a journalist and photographer. I did everything I wanted — organising creative workshops for young people (DJ workshops included), starting a music club in my home town, learning about marketing in fashion e-commerce, working in three different countries around Europe or setting up influencer strategies for american tech start-ups. In fact, I love doing things I’ve never done before. It keeps me motivated and energised to keep on going.
Jerome Knyszewski: Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that happened to you since you started your company? What lessons or takeaways idd you take out of that story?
Sara Simackova: I guess the funny story is our latest autumn campaign for hemp apparel Bohempia. I came from Berlin straight to the studio in Prague and spent two day of preparation for a one day photoshoot. In one day I planned to make a whole campaign with lifestyle and product photos — models, kids and even animals included. After the whole photoshoot I drove home late in the night very happy about the results. My last stop before home was farm to return a rabbit from a set. My friend owning the farm told me: “Sara, you look very very bad. Please, message me when you will arrive home.” I remember I felt offended by this. Next morning I ended up in a hospital completely exhausted. That was my lesson learned. Even if you love to work, you should listen to your body first.
In my opinion it is important to go back to a business plan and ask yourself: Do I really need external financial support?
Jerome Knyszewski: Do you have a favorite book that made a deep impact on your life? Can you share a story?
Sara Simackova: Book that I learned most is Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman. The book is about how we should change our behavior from the age we were barely surviving and our perception works on immediate reaction “fight to fight ‘’ to the mind of self-awareness. We can control our behaviour (especially anger) and learn how to react in more smart ways.
I am not afraid to ask questions, be direct and not pretend I am 100% perfect.
Jerome Knyszewski: Can you share 5 of the most difficult and most rewarding parts of being a “TwentySomething founder”. Please share an example or story for each
Sara Simackova: Even though we had an investor offer in the beginning with my business partner we decided to pull it down because we wanted to be in complete control of our studio. Many startups have the first goal to do the best pitch and find investors. In my opinion it is important to go back to a business plan and ask yourself: Do I really need external financial support? Our first vision for the studio was huge factory space with whole equipment and setting. After lots of discussions we decided on a small minimalistic studio in the city center which we can afford. We are not wasting our money and providing values instead of showing how rich our company is.
What surprised me in the beginning was that in the meetings as a young woman they did not take me seriously. With all questions they turn to older men colleagues in our team. I learned that I can use it as an advantage, because they have no expectations from me. Then I can carefully listen and build my strategy for the client’s needs. They are all surprised in the end that it is me behind the work.
When people meet me they expect me to be rich, famous and partying all the time. Instead I am mostly lonely working in the late hours and during weekends, but because it is meaningful for me to change the face of the industry I do not want to do anything else in the world.
The amazing part of being an entrepreneur for me is meeting people who have a vision. It gives me the energy to wake up every day and do my work the best that I can do.
Being young has the advantage that I can truly understand my generation of millennials. Also I am not afraid to ask questions, be direct and not pretend I am 100% perfect. Media talk mostly about the downsides and problems that our generation has, but as a life optimist I believe there are many new good values that came with my generation.
Jerome Knyszewski: We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this. 🙂
Sara Simackova: It is hard to pick one but I think breakfast with Tala founder Grace Beverly will be great. She is 27 years old and owning 3 companies. Now she is writing a book. I love her style and the way she communicates.
Jerome Knyszewski: What is the best way our readers can follow you on social media?
Sara Simackova: You can add me on LinkedIn or on my Instagram saraksimackova.
Jerome Knyszewski: This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
