Interview with Lucie Remešová: On Sales, HR, Parenting, and the Mountains

She has years of experience in recruitment, branch management, and building a team from scratch. Today, in her Business Development role, she supports the HR community with empathy, honesty, and a clear philosophy: don’t push—find the optimal solution. Lucie Remešová talks about label-free leadership, trust-based sales, and parenting as a flexibility workout. And when she needs to recharge? She heads to the mountains—where there’s silence, peace, and no pressure to “squeeze in one more thing.”

Lucie, your career path has taken you from recruitment through team leadership to sales. Which stage shaped you the most—and what lessons have stayed with you?

Definitely managing the Hays branch in Brno and expanding into all of Moravia and Slovakia. It was a challenge that shaped me professionally and personally. I built the team from scratch, had the full trust of leadership—but also hit rock bottom. I eventually burned out completely. Today I know how crucial healthy boundaries and a sustainable pace are.

You’re now in business development. How does that feel? What do you enjoy most about the role, and where do you hit challenges?

For me, sales is mostly about relationships and finding value—not pushing a product. I love getting to know the HR community, talking to people, and helping them find solutions. What fulfills me the most is knowing we can genuinely help. The hardest part? Staying honest even when it’s tempting to overpromise just to close a deal.

What does honest sales look like in practice?

You say clearly what the product can and can’t do. If someone is looking for something Sloneek doesn’t offer, I say it straight. And if I see that our software can really help, I go all in. When we launched a new bundle solution, for example, we could finally tell clients exactly what made sense. That’s what “honesty sells” means to me.

Parenting taught you efficiency. What’s the biggest lesson from parenthood that helps you at work—and vice versa?

Mainly learning to let go of perfectionism. I’ve gotten used to the “80% is enough” mindset—and it works. At work too. You can’t operate at 100% all the time. Flexibility is another key thing: if my husband calls saying he can’t make it to preschool pickup, I just handle it. Work adjusts to life, not the other way around.

What does good leadership look like to you in practice?

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. A good leader knows every team member is different. Some need more guidance; others want total freedom. Listening and adapting your leadership style to the individual is key. And don’t pretend to know everything. The worst boss is the one who thinks they do.

Today, work-life balance is a hot topic. But you say “balance is nonsense.” How do you set your boundaries?

Instead of balance, I set priorities. Some weeks, I give more to my kids; others, more to work. And again—it’s okay. Cleaning at 80%, work performance at 80%, life at 80%. It’s liberating. And paradoxically, it’s more effective than trying to give 100% everywhere.

Sloneek is an HR app. What’s it like to be part of a team building a product for the HR community while being part of that community yourself?

It feels natural. After years in HR, I feel at home in this community. And knowing our product genuinely helps HR professionals—like saving them from working late nights in Excel—gives my work real meaning. I’m talking to the same people, just about a different tool.

What gives your work the most meaning right now?

I’m happy we’re now more involved in community and networking events. The HR community has really opened up in recent years, and being part of it brings me joy. Offline interaction is irreplaceable. That’s where you learn what people are dealing with, what matters to them.

What has sales taught you about people, and HR about sales?

Both are about relationships, trust, and authenticity. From HR, I brought empathy, listening, and understanding people’s needs into sales. And sales taught me it’s okay to say no when something doesn’t fit.

What does your ideal downtime look like? Do you have a guilty pleasure or ritual that helps you switch off?

Sometimes I just need to do nothing. Lie down, watch a series, pour a glass of wine—just switch off. Other times, I recharge in the mountains, in the garden, or doing work around the house. The key is having time just for yourself, without guilt. And not always being in “just one more thing” mode.

You’ve visited many places. Which destinations were the most interesting to you professionally or personally?

Definitely India. I spent a year there working in marketing and sales and leading training sessions. It was a cultural shock and a life lesson. On the other hand, Finland—where I studied during Erasmus—left me with a sense of deep calm. That’s the place I’d love to return to with my kids to show them the nature and a completely different life rhythm.

Where are you going on vacation this year? And what does your ideal holiday destination look like?

We’re heading to the Krkonoše Mountains with the family. I love the mountains—the silence, the movement, the fresh air. It’s been a while since we had a proper getaway, so we want to rediscover the joy of hiking with the kids. And if we could, we’d add Italy—my husband and I both love it. Sea in the summer, skiing in the winter. But if I had to choose between beach and mountains? Mountains win every time.