Back to School with BlindShell: Interview with the “Headmaster” Jan Šimík

Dear BlindShell friends,

You may have already seen our September series on social media, where the entire BlindShell team turned into schoolchildren and preschoolers. If you missed some of the photos, don’t worry, they are worth checking out.

But BlindShell Academy is about more than just fun retro snapshots. This month we have prepared something special for you, an interview with our CEO, Jan Šimík. We spoke with him about his school years, about what our “class” at BlindShell looks like today, and also about the biggest tests the company has faced.

What kind of student were you? Did you cause trouble, make people laugh, or sit in the front row collecting only A’s?

All of the above. I was generally a good student, especially interested in math, history, and physical education. I definitely saw myself as one of the class clowns, which sometimes got me into trouble with teachers. But I mostly earned A’s and often sat in the front rows. In high school, though, I enjoyed the second-to-last row a lot, we were a strong group of four. By the way, I’m still friends with Tomáš from the last row.

In our Facebook and Instagram posts, we show colleagues as classmates of BlindShell Academy. How would you describe our class?

It’s a fantastic class and, if I were to call myself the “class teacher,” I couldn’t have chosen a better one. It’s full of interesting and strong individuals who together form an excellent team. They complement each other well and can handle complex projects both together and independently. I value this very much because it gives me a lot of freedom, which is absolutely essential for me in life. And this is a class that didn’t part ways after eight or nine years like in elementary school, but has continued together for more than ten years, almost in the same line-up. Isn’t that every teacher’s dream? It certainly is mine.

Who in the BlindShell team would you say is the one with a cheat sheet, and who would be the class president? And why?

That’s a fun question. I think there would be plenty of cheat sheets in our class, and I’ll admit, I used a few myself. After all, who wasn’t nervous about a test in school? We have a lot of “street smart” people here who know how to handle situations. And if that means pulling out a cheat sheet, then out it comes! 
As for the class president, I think it’s clearly Lukáš. Because he would win the hearts of all the girls and therefore their votes.

Every class has teachers who inspire and guide. Who has inspired you most on your BlindShell journey?

Definitely my colleagues who have been pulling the BlindShell cart with me for over ten years. Daniel Novák, whom I first met in September 2014. Then in spring 2015, it was Honza Pechan, who soon earned the nickname “Doctor” because he could fix any problem. Later, Honza Hadáček, who took BlindShell’s software quality to a whole new level, and many others. Today, I can’t imagine not having Kristýna Savaryová by my side, she brings me stability and strength in tough situations. And more recently, also our Lorna, who inspires me in many ways where I’m still learning. Our company is full of inspiring people and stories.

School also meant exams and tests. What has been the biggest test for BlindShell so far, and how did you handle it?

The first years were a huge test. For many years we fought for survival, often unsure if we would have enough money for salaries the next month. It was an extremely challenging time. But somehow we always managed. I believe we were lucky, and that someone up there wanted us to succeed, to make good products and help people. And so we always got support at the moment we needed it most. And the most recent test? That was the new Classic 2 generation, which we designed and developed completely from scratch. It was a huge challenge, with many opportunities for mistakes. But the team, led by our “Doctor,” handled it brilliantly.

What grade are you most proud of recently?

Not long ago, we ran a survey among our customers. The results were truly moving, so much positive feedback and wonderful responses. I am very proud of that, proud that we are doing things right. Once again, I want to thank our team for all their hard work over the years. Today, we are harvesting the rewards, and our work truly has meaning.

What do you think the next school year in BlindShell Academy will bring us?

Let’s wait and see. The only thing I can reveal is that BlindShell will not stop with just a phone.

Every class has its clowns, its top students, and even those who cheat on tests. Ours is no different. But what makes us unique is that we have stayed together for more than ten years, facing many tough challenges, and each time, as our “class teacher” Honza said, we passed with top marks. With the new school year ahead, new challenges and school projects await us. And we can’t wait.

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