Sales Manager Hana Samsonova: seasoned businesswoman, translator and interpreter
Hana Samsonova, a skilled businesswoman, translator and interpreter with over 15 years of experience, joined our sales department in November 2023. While Hana’s positivity is unmatched, her journey to becoming a part of our team was anything but joyful. In the most personal and extensive biography we have ever published on our blog, Hana, having faced a serious illness, offers a glimpse into her life, which, despite the twists and turns along the way, never stole her optimism.
Hana has always had a deep passion for languages. She studied Russian with a focus on economics, law and tourism at Palacký University in Olomouc, earning her BA. Her love of Russian started when she was of school age, and after a long break, she graduated from grammar school, reconnecting with the language that had always been a part of her life. In 2011, Hana travelled to Russia. On the very first day (yes, the very first day!), she met her future husband and instead of three months, she stayed in Siberia for three full years. While people used to be sent to Siberia to serve long sentences, she jokingly notes, she went willingly and met the love of her life.
She managed to increase student interest tenfold
Besides Russian and English, she also learned some Ukrainian and Polish during her BA studies. At that time, four languages was the maximum her brain could juggle. Living abroad helped her recognise her strengths and discover what she truly excelled at. She taught English and Czech at a private primary school, and in the afternoons, she led language training courses in a local language agency. She expanded her Russian clientele from two groups of six Czech language students to ten groups of twelve! In just two years, she went from teaching 12 students to 120!
Between all this, she decided to start learning French. Within six months, she successfully passed the DELF A1 international French language exam. “After the exam, our examiner came up to me and asked why I had taken the A1 test, when I could have easily passed A2. My score was 98%,” Hana recalls with a smile. Ironically, at the time, she wasn’t even sure she’d pass the A1. French turned out to be a lot easier for someone who already spoke Russian, thanks to the large number of loanwords between the two languages. And just like that, she added a fifth language to her portfolio.
Understanding herself was reflected in her grades
During her time in Siberia, Hana honed her Russian to such a degree that she ultimately decided to dedicate her life to languages, translations and interpreting. When she returned home, she earned her MA at Charles University, from the prestigious Institute of Translation Studies, under the mentorship of top interpreters and translators. Looking back, Hana notes how her approach to studies evolved between her BA and MA courses. “There was a stark difference in my motivation and understanding of who I wanted to be. Everything went smoothly after that. I even graduated at the top of my class.”
Motherhood did not slow Hana’s career down at all. Shortly after giving birth, she launched her own business while continuing to oversee the Prague branch of the Siberian language school she opened up during her studies. It was an online language school, where Hana herself taught and played a significant role in the development of methodology.
Hana’s life turned upside down within a week
After her maternity leave, Hana felt a deep urge for a change and decided to step into the unknown. She wanted to try her hand at a sales position within an insurance company. However, during her interview, it became clear that her natural communication skills and team management experience could be used far better. Shortly, Hana became a sales manager and began building her own team at one of the Prague regional headquarters.
As Hana puts it, she had set the stage for a bright and pleasant future. But as the saying goes – you plan, life happens. In 2022, less than two years into working with the insurance company, Hana was diagnosed with a very aggressive and quickly progressing form of breast cancer. Her world turned upside down within a single week, but she kept her head up. She immediately started treatment and remained optimistic. “Your hair isn’t your hand – it will grow back,” she told the doctors when she learned she would most probably lose her hair because of the chemotherapy. She viewed hair loss as a temporary cosmetic inconvenience, and promised herself one thing – once her hair grew back, she would dye it pink as a symbol of support for women battling breast cancer and to promote prevention. Hana’s support never stopped. She’s been spreading awareness for many years within the Bellis Project, a part of the Alliance of Women with Breast Cancer.
A visit to Japan sparked her love for the language
During her treatment, Hana finally had the time to do all the things she couldn’t fit into her previously hectic work life – rest, crocheting, reading, going for walks and simply existing. She also reflected a lot. In the final phase of her recovery, when things were looking up, Hana and her family went on a month-long therapeutic holiday to Japan. She was captivated by the country, its people’s life philosophy and Shintoism. She returned energised, with new insights and new zest for life. More importantly, the trip inspired Hana to begin learning Japanese – her sixth language.
During her recovery she studied and reflected on who she wanted to become and what she wanted to do. When her condition finally improved a year and a half later, she realised that although her time in the insurance company had provided her with invaluable experience, her heart belonged elsewhere. “You’re an interpreter, a translator … and not a bad one at that. You’ve always excelled at languages, singing and communicating with people. Why not return to what you love most?” she asked herself as she pondered which language service provider she would approach. She refused to settle for average. Determined to be among the best, she sent this wish out to the universe, she says with a hint of whimsy.
A pink bag with our logo became an unexpected ad
Literally days later, she was accompanying a friend who can’t speak Czech in need of immediate medical (and interpreting) help to the trauma ward of the Královské Vinohrady hospital. While she was in the hospital, an ambulance arrived. The woman they brought in had a pink bag with the České překlady logo over her shoulder. “It must have been fate,” Hana recalls. “It was the sign I was waiting for and knew was coming!” As soon as she returned home, she looked up our website. The first thing that caught her eye was a video featuring her former fellow-student and dorm-mate Kateřina Tomíčková. Hana reached out to her, and expressed her desire to return to the world of translation. She discovered that České překlady were looking for a new project manager. Though she didn’t join the project team, Hana entered the sales department instead, and has been a part of our company since November 2023.
Hard work in return for the employer’s support
The part of her job Hana loves most is connecting with people and finding tailored solutions for each client. “Selling language services is completely different from selling insurance. With insurance, people recognise its importance – covering risks and protecting against difficult life situations. But for many families, it remains an expense that comes out of their budget. Translation and interpreting for corporate customers is completely different. If a company wants to expand into foreign markets or is working with international clients or vendors, it simply can’t operate without translation services. These services are normally part of company budgets,” says Hana, explaining why she finds her work so compelling.
“I’m grateful that fate led me to join České překlady, as I feel great here. I can fully utilise my experience and expertise, and my colleagues have been incredibly understanding of my health limitations after my illness. It’s not easy to find such a socially responsible employer these days.
I am grateful that I can work here, and I believe I’m able to give back to České překlady just as much as they’ve given me,” our sales manager concludes.
