"The most important thing businesses learned during the pandemic is that "needs" outweigh the "wants"."
Michaela Vybohova Tweet
Michaela Vybohova is an International fashion model and entrepreneur. Michaela has appeared on many magazines covers including Harper’s Bazaar, L’Officiel, Maxim magazine etc she has also been featured and mentioned in notable publications such as Forbes, International Business Times, Daily Front row and London Daily post.
She is the founder and CEO of Michaela V, a footwear line offering girls and women luxury, comfort, and affordability. Her shoes were requested by countless celebrities such as Beyonce, Halsey and Olivia Culpo as well featured in fashion editorials, Numero , L’Officel, and Harper’s Bazaar.
A philanthropist at heart, Michaela is an ambassador for Beauty for Freedom non-profit dedicated to empowering survivors of human trafficking and youth through the creative arts.
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Table of Contents
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Michaela Vybohova: Hi, my name is Michaela Vybohova, I am a fashion model and founder of Michaela V footwear, our sole focus is on quality, style and comfort without the luxury mark up.
2020 and 2021 threw a lot of curve balls into business on a global scale. Based on the experience gleaned in the past couple years, how can businesses thrive in 2022? What lessons have you learned?
Michaela Vybohova: The most important thing businesses learned during the pandemic is that “needs” outweigh the “wants”. So many business have struggled, just like mine during this time as I manufacture high heels, there’s couple of reasons I was able to bounce back, I pulled out of retail stores and focused heavily on e-commerce, I started engaging more on social media.
I learned how incredibly important every day comfort is, I started working on a production of sneakers and another one of my fun projects is house slippers, I’m so excited to share it with you.
The pandemic seems to keep on disrupting the economy, what should businesses focus on in 2022? What advice would you share?
Michaela Vybohova: Their employees, finding ways on how to keep them motivated, bringing them back to the office if necessary and keeping positive work culture around.
How has the pandemic changed your industry and how have you adapted?
Michaela Vybohova: Fashion industry took a tremendous hit with pandemic, with closing down factories and retail stores that are causing delays in shipment and shortages of stock. So many companies are trying to catch up and adapt to the more casual style people embraced as most office jobs no longer require professional attire, but there is a shift coming, as lockdowns came to an end and we start having social gatherings once again we are starting to see people being more experimental with fashion, bolder looks, colors, accessories. I think we all missed dressing up for a date or putting the perfect outfit on for a party and I am certainly one of them, I adapted to jeans in the office and funky outfit for the dinner time.
What advice do you wish you received when the pandemic started and what do you intend on improving in 2022?
Michaela Vybohova: Focus on e-commerce and social media, if I only knew… What I want to improve this year is connecting with my customer via live stream on social media, enable live shopping channels, making them feel like they know who is behind the company and what our values are, in todays day and age its key to success, especially for new or smaller businesses.
Online business surged higher than ever, B2B, B2C, online shopping, virtual meetings, remote work, Zoom medical consultations, what are your expectations for 2022?
Michaela Vybohova: It’s not going anywhere, my expectations for 2022 that it will only keep growing, since I learned that when i have a cold and can FaceTime a doctor and get advice instead of coming to the office it’s been absolutely a game changer.
It has the bonus of saving time but on the other hand I still prefer to have some meetings in person, there has to be a balance.
How many hours a day do you spend in front of a screen?
Michaela Vybohova: I would say on average about 4-5 hours.
The majority of executives use stories to persuade and communicate in the workplace. Can you share with our readers examples of how you implement that in your business to communicate effectively with your team?
Michaela Vybohova: Story telling is such an important part of any business, just imagine how can someone sell a blank canvas with single stroke of red paint for hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars, it’s the story behind it.
Stories can motivate, inspire and make us feel like anything is possible.
I love sharing success stories with my team for the same exact reasons.
Business is all about overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for growth. What do you see as the real challenge right now?
Michaela Vybohova: We all face our own challenges so I can only speak for myself. My challenge right now is not having enough employees, finding the right people, managing my time and having a little bit left for personal life.
In 2022, what are you most interested in learning about? Crypto, NFTs, online marketing, or any other skill sets? Please share your motivations.
Michaela Vybohova: While I have positive relationship and experience with Crypto I would still like to learn more, but what I have been wanting to learn for a long time is a new language, Italian and French, I’m a lover of classical French music and every time in Italy I pick up few sentences but when I come back to states it flies out of the window, this year is on my bucket list to don’t drop the ball.
A record 4.4 million Americans left their jobs in September in 2021, accelerating a trend that has become known as the Great Resignation. 47% of people plan to leave their job during 2022. Most are leaving because of their boss or their company culture. 82% of people feel unheard, undervalued and misunderstood in the workplace. Do you think leaders see the data and think “that’s not me – I’m not that boss they don’t want to work for? What changes do you think need to happen?
Michaela Vybohova: It’s a huge problem the entire US is facing, every employee needs to feel heard and valued by their management.
I implemented weekly zoom for 30 minutes with my team to recap the week and hear out their opinion and feedback I think that’s one of the changes that will make a difference.
On a lighter note, if you had the ability to pick any business superpower, what would it be and how would you put it into practice?
Michaela Vybohova: Oh If I could teleport, i would love to be to take a meeting in New York in the morning, visit production facility in California at noon, meet with retailers in France in the afternoon and have drink on a beach anywhere after 5. What a life that would be.
What does “success” in 2022 mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level, please share your vision.
Michaela Vybohova: Growing my team, expanding my company to new territory and finding better balance with work and personal life, I’m on a mission here haha.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Michaela Vybohova for taking the time to do this interview and share her knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Michaela Vybohova or her company, you can do it through her – Instagram
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