At the end of 2024, I had the honor of receiving the "Exceptional Businesswoman" award. A festive gala evening, a group of inspiring and successful women, words of admiration and recognition for how far Jumping® has come—it was truly a wonderful day. As part of the award, I also gave an interview in which I shared the story of Jumping®—its beginnings, the obstacles along the way, and where I found motivation. Since I often get questions on this topic, I’ve decided to publish the interview here on our blog, and I’d love to hear how you liked our story. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask! 😊
You won in the Czech Businesswomen Awards competition in the "ČSOB Award – Exceptional Businesswoman" category.
What does receiving this prestigious award mean to you, and how do you perceive it in the context of your business journey?
This award is not only a great honor for me but also a challenge. It shows that my approach to business makes sense and that despite all the obstacles I've had to overcome on my journey, I’ve found the right path. It’s proof that business isn’t just about hard work, but also about courage, innovation, and believing in yourself. However, this award is not just for me—it’s also for everyone who has supported me on this journey. I’m grateful that together we can make the world a better place. And I’m proud that my story can inspire other women and entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams.
What emotions did you feel when you found out you had won in your category?
When I found out I had won in my category, it was a mix of pride, joy, and gratitude. At that moment, I realized how far I had come, but also how much I had to overcome to get where I am today. I’ve never had particularly high self-confidence—perhaps because, as a woman in business, I’ve faced many challenges. I started my business at the age of 17, which meant I had to not only assert my opinions but also find a space where I would be taken seriously. My first years were tough, but those experiences shaped me and taught me how to believe in myself even when others doubted me. This success is not only confirmation that my journey was meaningful, but also a reminder that everything I had to endure and achieve has made me who I am today. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who supported me along the way, and at the same time, I feel motivated to keep doing what I love.
How can this award help you, whether in business or personal motivation?
For me, this award is primarily personal motivation and a success. Over the past 24 years, Jumping® has reached 54 countries worldwide, we’ve equipped thousands of fitness centers, and we’ve trained tens of thousands of instructors.
Olympic sports are evaluated by medals that athletes devote their entire effort toward. The "Exceptional Businesswoman" award is like my ‘medal,’ validation that someone has recognized my work and the results.
Before this award, my benchmarks throughout the year were things like the number of trampolines sold, the number of instructors trained, or the opening of new Jumping® centers in other countries. That showed me whether Jumping® was succeeding or not.
Now I know that what I’m doing makes sense and that my story can inspire others. It shows that even when things seem hard and unclear at the beginning, persistence and belief in yourself can lead to success.
Can you describe your path to success—did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur? What were the key milestones and what challenges did you have to overcome?
It might sound like a cliché, but no, I didn’t know I wanted to be an entrepreneur, and it didn’t even occur to me for the first few years. When I came up with the Jumping® program, I was 17 and in my third year of high school. At first, it wasn’t a business for me—I saw it more as fun, and I wanted to bring a fun form of exercise to clients in Tábor.
This approach had its positives, but it also created problems down the road. Since it was originally just fun, I didn’t deal with trademarks, contracts, or patents. And you can probably guess where this is going. All these things eventually caught up with me and forced me to face the harsh reality. That’s when I really realized that I was running a business.
If you could give your younger self advice at the beginning of your business journey, what would it be?
"Every step, every attempt is a valuable experience. Maybe I should be asking if Jumping® would have reached where it is today if I had treated it as a pure ‘business plan’ from the start. When I started, I didn’t have a specific goal to make money. My goal was to do something I loved and share it with like-minded people. Maybe the fact that I didn’t start with a business mindset, but with genuine passion, gave Jumping® the strongest foundation I could have hoped for. So, honestly, probably nothing. All the good and bad decisions were important, and it’s essential to realize that."
Do you perceive any stereotypes in your industry related to women in business? If so, how have you dealt with them?
"I think they still exist. In my opinion, it’s more of a generational issue. Entrepreneurs in my generation and younger are used to seeing women in leadership positions. When I encounter this problem, it is usually with the older generation of men. This year, Jumping® celebrates 24 years on the market, and when I was around 20 or 30 years old, I sometimes went through tough moments. It was not uncommon for me to show up at a meeting and not be taken seriously at all. I was just the ‘jumping girl.’ No one saw the business behind it, let alone the hard work, and they laughed at how I could make a living from such a ‘silly thing.’"
Do you think women bring something specific to business that distinguishes them from men?
"I think women bring a specific approach to business that essentially complements the male approach. I believe women place more emphasis on empathy and building relationships. For me, it’s particularly important to achieve not just success, but also to create an environment where people feel good—whether they are employees, customers, or business partners. I also think women show greater flexibility and multitasking abilities, which help us manage various roles in business and also in personal life. However, that doesn’t mean a woman in leadership is better than a man, or vice versa."
How does your business differ from the competition, and what do you consider your greatest success?
"My greatest success lies in the fact that I created something that not only makes sense to me, but also to the people it reaches. I didn’t have a business plan; I only had dreams and the courage to pursue them. I believed in what I was doing and created a program that changes people’s lives around the world. All of our products are made in the Czech Republic, where each one goes through our hands before it heads out to the customer. After years of hard work, I managed to build a great team that believes in Jumping® Fitness just as much as I do. Together, we bring a quality product that we are proud of."
What is your approach to leading a company, and what do you think sets you apart from other entrepreneurs?
"My approach to leading a company is based on equality and mutual respect. I don't view the people working in my company as employees but as colleagues. Each of them has a valuable opinion, whether it's praise or constructive criticism. I try to listen to their insights because they have the know-how and often offer valuable perspectives. I’ve gradually adopted this approach. I realized that as a leader, I don’t always have to be right, and that the success of the company lies in teamwork and open communication. It took me some time to understand that the key to success is the willingness to learn not only from my own mistakes but also from the ideas and feedback of those who are part of our journey."
Do you see elements in your business that could inspire other entrepreneurs?
"Great work can only be done when you love what you do." – Steve Jobs, and I would sign that. Business should not just be about creating products; it should be about creating values that help others achieve success or a better life. It’s not just about becoming an entrepreneur but about becoming a role model. When others see how you are able to turn your dream into reality, they should believe they can do the same. And if your business can inspire even one person to follow their own dream, it has fulfilled its true purpose."
Do you have any proven way of overcoming challenges and crisis situations in your business?
You have to die several times before you can truly live. Everything that happens or has happened to me in life is the result of my own decisions. It's important to realize that. And that has made me who I am today. If that hadn’t happened to me, if I didn’t have crises and obstacles to overcome, I wouldn’t be where I am now. And even Jumping® could have just been a fitness trend in the market, like other products that came quickly and then disappeared just as quickly.“
How do you manage to balance professional and personal life, and do you have any tips for handling both roles?
I manage it, but I had to go through it. Ten years ago, I would have answered differently. Now, I have it set in my mind that when I’m with my family, I try to be fully present. When I’m at work, I focus entirely on it. That brings me inner balance. In business, there is no ‘working hours,’ you’re on standby all the time, but it’s all about priorities and not wanting to look back one day and realize that I’ve been repeating the same thing year after year.
What fulfills you most about entrepreneurship, and what motivates you to keep going despite all the challenges?
It doesn’t matter how much money I have, but what I leave behind. I want to fall asleep every night feeling that my work had meaning and contributed to making a change. Jumping® Fitness is changing people’s lives across generations. It doesn’t matter the age, weight, skin color, or social status. I hear stories about how Jumping® saved a marriage in Denmark, helped someone get pregnant in the USA, found lifelong friendships in Germany, or gave someone the courage to quit a stereotypical job and become a distributor in Korea. How is that possible? Psychology, renewed self-confidence, weight loss, a sense of belonging... And all of this thanks to Jumping. That’s what motivates me every day and gives me the drive to continue working on Jumping® and moving it forward.
Have a nice day,
With love, Jana
