“While I feel strong support from my male colleagues, I also recognize the unique support that women can offer each other. This inspired me to create a community that now includes 172 members,” she explains.
In this interview, Olga shares her perspective on the Women’s Network - its journey, achievements, and plans to create a lasting impact within the organization and beyond. From the establishment of events like "Open Dialogue" sessions (which feature inspiring career stories) to a partnership with the Courage Network, the Women's Network has steadily grown its reach, driven by a clear vision: to empower, connect, and support women throughout Commerzbank Czech Republic.
What inspired your organization to create a Women's Network, and what are its core goals?
Our vision was to create a supportive, close-knit community that bridges our three Czech offices, the Digital Technology Center (DTC) in Prague and a smaller office in Brno, which focuses on IT and tech, and the Commerzbank Branch in Prague, centered on business and finance.
Initially, we formed a working group of five colleagues to bring this vision to life. As the network grew, our presence became more visible, and we saw a significant increase in participation at local events. We wanted this network to inspire women to feel supported, engaged, and empowered, creating a space where they could connect.
How does the Women's Network support career development and leadership opportunities for women within the organization?
We organize various internal activities, such as "Open Dialogue" sessions, where women from across the company can take the stage to share their career journeys. These sessions offer a powerful way for colleagues to connect, learn from each other’s experiences, and gain insights into different roles. Recently, our CFO of Eurohub shared her path from a finance trainee to CFO, inspiring the audience and sparking over 30 questions afterward! Another session featured a Scrum Master who shared her journey from receptionist to her current role, overcoming educational challenges, balancing her career, and raising a young daughter. These stories not only inspire but also empower women to pursue their career aspirations with confidence.
How has the Women's Network positively impacted employees?
One of my favorite success stories is about a colleague who attended one of our opening events. She felt so empowered by the experience that she decided to apply for a higher role with more responsibilities—and she was promoted! Hearing her story was incredibly inspiring. It seems that our network has helped people become more connected, open, and willing to support each other. These moments motivate me to keep moving forward, organizing more events that foster this sense of community and shared growth.
What events or initiatives does the Women's Network organize to engage and empower women?
In addition to the DevOps podcast, which is actively developing in Commerzbank, we are going to introduce a women-focused podcast, featuring short 10-to-15-minute segments. There female colleagues discuss their roles, share career insights, talk about challenges, and offer advice for other women in our workplace.
Recently, we were inspired by the event in Singapore about Women's cancer prevention. We cooperated with LOONO, a healthcare organization here in Czechia, and provided a workshop that was open to both men and women.
The workshop covered the most common types of cancer for both genders and shared practical advice on self-prevention and necessary check-ups. In partnership with the Diversity Council, we’re also working to develop mentorship programs for our women’s community here in the Czech Republic, complementing the established program in Germany.
We’re proud to maintain a current women-to-men ratio of 28 percent in Commerzbank CZ’s tech sector; more than double the Czech market average of 13 percent.
It’s worth noting that we also hosted the “Breakfast with Femme Palette,” an organization that helps women advance in their careers, where I shared our journey in building a women’s community.
How can men in the organization act as allies and contribute to the success of the Women's Network?
Our Head of DTC, Igor Savic, has been supportive from the very beginning. He is always available for questions and advice, attends our events, and provides sponsorship as needed. His involvement has been precious. We’ve also received great support from Volkhardt Kruse, the Head of the Czech Republic branch, along with many other managers eager to contribute.
To ensure alignment with broader diversity, equity, and inclusion goals, our Women’s Network is now part of the local Diversity Council. My manager, for instance, has been very inspired by our work, and several other male colleagues have shown interest in contributing.
This has led us to plan a future panel on male allyship, where men can discuss ways to support women, address challenges, and foster understanding and collaboration within teams. This approach can make a meaningful difference and help women feel they can truly rely on this support.
How do you see the program evolving in the following years? Where are you now, and where do you want to be?
Initially, our events were designed exclusively for women to foster a comfortable space for connection. However, as interest grows, more men are eager to get involved and we’re looking forward to offering more events and panel discussions that welcome both women and men.
I believe that initiatives like this should be driven by genuine passion. It’s essential to have people who are personally motivated and not participating out of obligation. Openness and willingness to listen, understand people's needs, and find ways to align support with the program’s goals are key for all of this. We're just starting this journey and have plenty of plans ahead, but it's already amazing to see how the small steps we've taken recently are making a difference!
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