Staff Spotlight: Zuzana Jurasikova

Title:
Program Coordinator Spain

Photos

Zuzana is addicted to traveling, learning foreign languages, and discovering new places. She has been moving around for quite a while but is currently settling down in Spain as she fell in love with the culture, way of life and of course, with the never ending sunshine.

What is your favorite travel memory?

I am an outdoor person, and I love to visit any place which makes me realize the power of nature. I remember standing next to the Godafoss Waterfalls in Iceland, being almost literally blown away by the wind, and not able to hear anything as the water falls down every second.

It was like standing at the edge of the world and listening to the nature telling you "Hey human, look how small you are." Funny thing is that I don't remember being scared or worried. It was quite the opposite actually. I was so happy to be part of that moment – feeling completely free and watching all my "problems" going away.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I have been part of the Connect-123 team for only two months now. However, I can already see how much I am growing on both professional and personal levels.

Since the very first moment, I have felt like my colleagues trust me and believe in my abilities. That is honestly so empowering. It has been truly inspiring to work with people who are so passionate about their job, and who believe in the experience they are providing, and are always ready to help!

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

I haven't had a chance to hear these stories yet but I can already see some of our students living such an amazing experience. I am really excited to get a chance to speak with them after summer.

When I studied, I participated in several similar programs before, so I am sure it will be so interesting to compare our experiences!

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

That would probably be one of the most difficult decisions as there are so many interesting projects, and I would love to spend some time in any of our destinations!

I would most probably go for volunteering within animals or ocean conservation in Cape Town or Sydney as I have become really passionate about this topic since I have moved to Spain. I would love to get actively involved within an organization promoting environment and animal protection.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

I will definitely have to mention people! All of my colleagues have such interesting life stories and are so excited about traveling and helping young people getting the experience they desire. Every time I see a student who has just arrived, full of excitement for what is about to happen during the following months, I feel so proud of what we do and of the whole team.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

My dad told me that if I want to be successful at my job, I had to tick off these three essential components: passion, unique approach, and team spirit. He told me this during that period when I was deciding on my career direction.

Years later, I couldn't agree with him more. I am happy I found people who share this belief in Connect-123 as well!