Juraj and Lenka
“Neither of us came here to stay for good. And yet we both stayed, each for a different reason.”
Do you still feel a bit like a foreigner after all these years?
Lenka: I never once felt like I was in a foreign country in the Zlin Region. The Slovaks here are extremely close both in terms of people and culture, and right from the start, everyone welcomed us with openness and warmth.
There was a moment when you realized you’d stay here after school?
Juraj: There were more – I met my future wife during my bachelor’s degree at Tomas Bata University, and right after school, my colleagues and I founded a company. These two moments decided that I wanted to stay here.
If you had stayed in Slovakia, do you think you would be in business today?
Lenka: Probably not – I definitely wouldn’t have gotten into design or Finnish saunas, it would have had to be a completely different set of circumstances. The Zlin Region has a really strong entrepreneurial environment and great companies are being created here – thanks to that, I dared to start my own business.
What do you think is the biggest advantage of the Zlin Region?
Lenka: The proximity to Slovakia. I live a short distance from my parents and siblings, and at the same time I have a hill on one side and a hill on the other – I can go for a run or go on a trip anytime. Juraj: I love that too.
Who would you recommend the Zlin Region to?
Juraj: Young families and students, come to study at university, and people who like peace and don’t seek the noise of a big city. Lenka: I would add entrepreneurs – the environment here is really good – and also anyone who is looking for balance in life.
What wouldn’t people in the Zlin Region expect?
Lenka: I myself didn’t know how strong Tomas Bata University is here and how many interesting fields it offers. There are many companies in design and manufacturing, strong IT, a great hospital – I discovered more than I expected.
Do you miss anything from Slovakia?
Lenka: The only thing – the Low Tatras. I come from Banská Bystrica, so I missed the mountains from the beginning. But I quickly found out that I could find a replacement in the Hostýnské vrchy or the Beskydy Mountains, and if I wanted the high mountains, I would get in the car and in two and a half hours I would be in Donovaly with a view of the entire Low Tatras.
If you had to decide again, would you choose the Zlin Region again?
Juraj: Certainly yes.
Lenka: I completely agree. I’m glad we met here – I guess it was meant to be.