From Parental Leave to the Product Owner’s Seat
Barbora Koudarová, Product Owner
Interview masked as a coffee date
My arrival at Y Soft was kind of a coincidence, or almost fate. I had studied biomedical engineering and was headed in a completely different direction when one day, a friend, who was working at Y Soft as a tester, invited me over to see what she was doing. Her casual “come by for coffee” ended in an impromptu interview with Kuba Pavlák, for which I was totally unprepared. And even though I had no idea what I was getting into, I was drawn in by the energy, culture, and the direction the company was heading. I took a leap of faith, and it turned out to be one of the best coincidences of my professional life.
I started out as a tester, working with what was then Robotic Quality Assurance (now AIVA). I even wrote my thesis here. But after a while, simply “clicking” around in the application stopped fulfilling me, so I began contributing to development and gradually got involved in pushing for RQA’s adoption within Y Soft and integration into our main product, SAFEQ.
Returning from Maternity Leave to a New Chapter
After three years on maternity leave, I came back with concerns if I would be able to jump back into a fast-moving train. But our team supported me from the very beginning. The start was deliberately slow. I mostly listened, learned what had changed, and tried to figure out where my new role would be. Then came a turning point. A position opened in product management, and I decided to take it.
Stepping into the Product Owner role felt like a natural progression. I had a technical background, experience in testing and development, and a strong desire to combine product, technology, and business perspectives. At first, I was unsure whether I’d manage it, but I found my footing, and I absolutely love this role. Even though I work at 80% capacity, I’ve managed to strike a balance between family and work. The flexibility that Y Soft allows is something I deeply value.
Challenges, Growth, and Team Relationships
One of my biggest challenges was building self-confidence. I’m more of an introvert, so it took me a while to start trusting my ideas and sharing them openly. This is where my former colleague Ondra helped me immensely. He encouraged me and pushed me forward. I’ve been incredibly lucky with the people around me, who’ve helped guide me professionally. And Y Soft truly supports personal growth and role transitions within the organization.
The team around me plays a huge role in my journey. Without their support and openness, I might not even be here today. AIVA has become not only my professional home but also a group of people I love working with, and spending free time with too. When I look back, it’s not just about the products we’ve built, but also the relationships we’ve created that make Y Soft what it is.
Now, we’re facing a new shared challenge. We’re working on better understanding the market, identifying the real problems our users face, and choosing the right target group. It’s a phase full of questions—but also full of excitement about potential progress. I believe we’re on the right track.
From Keyboard to Sewing Machine
And outside of work? Most of my free time goes to my family. Which, interestingly, I also found here at work, so in a way, that too is tied to Y Soft. We try to stay active together, though not as much as before. Before maternity leave, I even organized Spartan race events with colleagues. Now, whenever we can, we head out for bike rides, skiing, or just day trips. When I find a moment for myself, I return to dancing or sit down at the sewing machine. During maternity leave, I discovered how refreshing it is to create something with my hands.
