Innovative minds uncovered #1 Daniela Chovancová
Innovative minds uncovered #1 Daniela Chovancová
Explore Daniela’s journey of building her own studio before turning 20.
About Daniela
Daniela Chovancová is a Slovak product designer and product owner who has recently earned recognition in the entrepreneurial community. She was honored as one of the Top 25 Female Entrepreneurs in Slovakia by VISA's She's Next initiative.
About the series
We bring you interviews with the next generation of designers who navigate a new multidisciplinary landscape that is unfolding while no-code, and AI tools are changing what is possible to create by an individual.
In this interview we talk about:
1. Daniela’s professional journey, from her beginnings to where she is today.
2. Challenges she faced as a young woman and how she overcame gender bias and stereotypes in business.
3. Advices she has for young freelancers and entrepreneurs.
4. Tips how to unwind and avoid burn-out.
5. Her thought about AI and the future of work. 🕵🏼♂️ Could you start by sharing with us a little about how you embarked on your professional journey of blending various professions together? What motivated you to pursue this path?
👩🏻 I see myself as a 'builder', rather than a mixed profession. I’ve never focused on becoming a designer or a programmer. Since i was fifteen, I wanted to build cool things, yet I couldn’t afford to hire designers or marketers. So I started learning and digging in these areas. My primary goal has always been to bring value be it in a job, or while working on my passion projects.
🕵🏼♂️ We often lack the courage to start something of our own. What do you think are the reasons?
👩🏻 Many of us fear what others might think. Naturally, we are reluctant to spend our free time on challenging tasks that do not provide immediate rewards.
🕵🏼♂️ What do you think is a good way to gain that courage?
I like being hands-on and keep this mindset to view my work as a learning journey. Rather than taking courses, I find a problem worth solving, sit down and experiment.
If I may offer an advice here, it would be this: Create your own projects. Build a portfolio to showcase what you're passionate about. You can be sure to uncover what you excel at.
🕵🏼♂️ It's rare to see someone your age start a business. Where do you find inspiration?
👩🏻 The thing is, I don’t go out looking for inspiration!😄 If something's missing and the idea of creating it excites me, I'm motivated to start.
Also, seeing other people make cool things can spark my interest in collaborating with them. Also, seeing other people make cool things often tempts me to join in.
🕵🏼♂️ You've effectively avoided the common early challenges that many freelancers and agencies encounter in their first five years, often accepting any project available. How did you achieve this?
👩🏻 I approached small businesses without their own engineering or design teams, offering the necessary support. This evolved into a business dedicated to serving such clients. As a result, many in my network, recognizing us as reliable partner, began to introduce new products.
🕵🏼♂️ Has your age or gender ever led to challenges or judgments in your career or personal life?
👩🏻 While still in school at 15, I began interning for a mid-sized company, initially managing their social media. Soon after, I identified and addressed deficiencies in their e-commerce platform. My role quickly expanded into strategic design and marketing, leading to the launch of a successful new product line and a surge in e-commerce sales. This experience not only diversified my skills but also boosted my confidence.
Yet, as a young woman in the workforce, I faced gender biases. It is all too common for women to hesitate in sharing their perspectives in professional settings. Speaking up, however, has been pivotal in my career.
At 18, to overcome challenges related to being taken seriously, I founded Boostello, a studio that established my credibility far beyond that of a female freelancer, enabling me to secure more professional engagements and build a stronger reputation.
🕵🏼♂️ What skills do you consider critical for freelancing or running a small agency?
👩🏻 Effective communication was a significant hurdle for me in the beginning, plagued by personal fear and external doubts due to my age.
The transition to remote work during the pandemic, however, was a catalyst for growth. I adapted by mastering project management online, utilizing written content, presentations, and Loom videos to convey my ideas. This remote working phase was instrumental, helping me become more adept and comfortable with communicating over time.
🕵🏼♂️ What advice would you give to young freelancers and entrepreneurial spirits on where and how to start?
👩🏻 If you're thinking of setting out on a freelance journey:
Understand yourself, and identify your interests.
Be proactive - It’s your job to find opportunities.
Step out of your comfort zone - but nothing great is achieved without hard work.
Try to get to work with companies you like. The most rewarding work I did was for companies whose products I use personally.
🕵🏼♂️ It appears that the older generation often commits to a single job for life, prioritizing stability over passion. On the other hand, the younger generation, similar to you, isn't hesitant to change careers. Do you have any advice for those uncertain about following their dreams?
👩🏻 I'm the first in my extended family to run a business. Growing up in little town in Slovakia, the expectation was simple: Mediocre work, mediocre pay, don’t stand out too much. From a young age, I was dreaming bigger. From building computers to designing jewelry. Dreaming is essential.
🕵🏼♂️ Among other things, you are an educator yourself. What drove you to pursue and advocate for education?
👩🏻 I entered the digital industry much earlier than usual, which caught the attention of my peers. Spontaneously, I began to share my experiences during a class, which rapidly transitioned into formal teaching. It was a joy to have older schoolmates attend my lectures.
🕵🏼♂️ Working on so many projects at the same time, can often lead to burnout. What are your strategies to avoid one?
👩🏻 I find energy in multitasking. Shifting from one project to another allows me creative breaks, refreshing my focus. Many find this approach tiring, but for me, it’s ideal.
Another piece of advice 😀 - twice a month, I take shifts at a local Italian food store.
🕵🏼♂️ What do you do to unwind? Do you have favourite series to watch (if so can you give us some tips), sports, etc..
👩🏻 I have recently given up watching movies and series at home, preferring to spend that time more actively, including visits to the cinema. My activities now include reading and sports such as boxing, swimming, and yoga. Boxing stands out as particularly calming and entertaining, and it has helped me commit to regular exercise, a goal I had struggled to achieve before. Increasing my physical activity and spending more time outdoors have both been very positive changes.
In my professional life, I look for projects that involve in-person interactions with clients, which keeps me away from the computer and on the move..
🕵🏼♂️ As we look ahead, how do you see your field evolving? What role do you anticipate AI will play in this evolution, and how will your interactions with clients be affected?
👩🏻 I don't use AI extensively because I like to maintain control over the creative process. It's important not to bypass our own creativity by taking shortcuts. While there are advantages to using AI, I personally only turn to it in the later stages. I start with an initial vision and then use AI as a tool for tasks like naming or conducting detailed research.
I have an idea for a product, a vision of how it could work, and AI can simulate needs. But I'm not leaning towards letting AI come up with ideas and designs. I see AI more as a supporting tool. I don't expect it to create something innovative.