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30 EEA 2016
In the Spotlight
You may know Michaela
Podkovcik as the Editor of the
Sawalef newsletter… Read more
about this year’s winner of the
Individual Excellence Award
and her role in the Media and
Communications Department...
Q: When did you join the Group?
A:
I joined the Group in early 2012
as Secretary of the Board with the
Corporate Governance Department.
It was great experience, and I was
well briefed on all our business units
and their day-to-day operations. My
role in the Media & Communications
Department is much more dynamic
and creative. We work really well as
a team, all of our skills somehow
complement each other and that really
comes through when we’re working
on new challenging projects with tight
deadlines.
Q: Describe your job in 5 words…
A:
1. Eventful … and that just doesn’t
include working on Group events :)
2. Experiencing variety … people,
projects and collaborations
3. Staying focused … on the end goal
4. Keep learning…even while teaching
others
5. Staying positive… there is a solution
for every challenge!
Q: What did you do before joining
the Group?
A:
I have a background in International
Relations and Commerce from
the University of British Columbia
and a Masters in International
Political Economy and Policy from
the Johns Hopkins School of
Advanced International Studies. Both
programmes were very dynamic and
competitive and I made some great
friends from all corners of the world.
I’m really fortunate to have had that
experience. I can utilize some of my
skills now in my work in the Media &
Communications Department, we have
an exciting agenda every day which
includes working with the Chairman.
Q: What’s your favorite movie or
book?
A:
I have a big collection of Walt Disney
movies. But my all - time favorite is the
Wizard of Oz, the original 1939 classic
directed by Victor Fleming. I love Judy
Garland, she’s classic!
As for books, I’m old-school and still
love to buy the hard copies, and enjoy
reading different genres. I’ve read
the Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-
Exupéry several times bought copies
in 3 languages. Recently I enjoyed
reading Sheryl Sandberg’s book ‘Lean
In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead’,
her thoughts on how to reach a work-
life balance in today’s busy career-
driven world were spot on.
Q: Do you have any hidden talents?
A:
I do! I used to play the violin and
cello when I was a child/teen. I won
several competitions playing solo and
duet. I’d love to start again one day and
join an orchestra. I’m also a good skier
and tennis player. I recently picked
up golf and yoga, both help me stay
focused.
Q: So what’s next for you, any
plans for the future?
A:
When I do something, I put my
heart into it. I’m not a believer in setting
stringent plans, you could miss out on
unexpected opportunities in life. I am a
true believer in that the only way to do
great things in life is to love what you
do, to be yourself and have the right
values - integrity, positivity and respect,
for yourself and others.