HR has a key strategic role and must be present in decision-making, says Ganna Pidgorna from the financial house UNIQA

Today, it is already normal for heads of HR departments to sit on management boards or company boards of directors. This was not always the case, and experienced manager Ganna Pidgorna from UNIQA, responsible for human resources, brand, and sustainability, clearly welcomes this shift. “If this is not the case in companies, topics such as people, development, innovation, or new skills are not sufficiently represented,” she says in the Global Minds podcast, which features significant foreign personalities influencing business in the Czech Republic.

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You can also listen to the full interview at THIS link.

People, brand, and sustainability. It may sound like a very broad and even disparate portfolio, but Ganna Pidgorna claims these areas are closely interconnected. “The brand speaks to clients and also to society as a whole through our employees. It is therefore very closely linked to people. We also care about the experiences of both customers and employees, or sustainability, which includes the social aspect of sustainable business. It’s about valuing internally what we say externally,” explains Pidgorna, who was born in Ukraine.

A graduate in English and economics, she has worked at the Czech-Slovak financial house for five years. However, her career began in telecommunications, specifically at a Ukrainian-American mobile operator, where she has started her career as an executive assistant. Her work enthusiasm and passion led the management to think that with these qualities, she would be a great fit for the HR department. Pidgorna did not hesitate and accepted the offer. She was inspired with the fact that HR was treated as a very important division in the company. “I was lucky because this company was very people-oriented. Many young people worked there, and it focused on growth and development. Today, it is normal to consider HR a key partner, but back then, no one thought that way—this company was an exception. When management met, the HR department was always at the table, participating in all business and growth discussions. So it was a really good lesson,” recalls Pidgorna.

Today, the situation is different, and heads of HR departments are now entering the boards of large companies, which is also the case for Ganna Pidgorna. If this is not the case in companies, topics such as people, development, innovation, or new skills do not receive the emphasis and care they need. “I believe HR representatives should be present when decisions are made. The development of people, their skills, organizational abilities, ways of working, engagement, leadership… All this falls under human resources, and I believe it is key and strategic,” she explains her specialization.

The path to insurance

Insurance was long considered conservative. It was certainly not an industry that eagerly absorbed technological innovations. Gradually, however, the sector sought ways to move forward, and at that moment, Pidgorna—with her experience from the rapidly developing telecommunications sector—was the ideal person to help drive progress. “The whole sector was trying to become more digital and innovative. That’s where I could help,” adds Pidgorna.

Before entering insurance, there was one more stop. After work experience at a mobile operator and the giant Microsoft, Pidgorna started a consulting firm. This eventually turned out to be a path both to “people” and to insurance. “With a partner, we founded a consulting firm focused on employee experience. At that stage, it was quite new, we also learned from customer experience, did various projects, and among other things, I offered my services to AXA insurance. After my presentation, the local HR director, who was about to move to headquarters, called me and said: ‘We have something interesting for you, but it’s in-house,’” she recounts. The offer interested her because she wanted to broaden her horizons both professionally and geographically, and this position was to be performed partly for Ukraine and partly for Central Europe, including Prague.

A difficult decision

Pidgorna decided to leave Ukraine for good in 2019. However, she claims that she did not choose Prague, but rather Prague chose her. “My position at AXA insurance was restructured into a form that was not very interesting for me, so I left. After some time, I was approached by the Czech branch of AXA and asked if I would like to come,” she describes the circumstances of her move to the Czech Republic.

The decision was not easy and required thorough family consultations. “At first, I had considerable concerns. I wanted to refuse immediately. But just a few minutes before this conversation, I was talking about how things need to be thought through. So at that moment, I realized, okay, maybe I should follow my own advice,” she recalls.

The decision was also helped by the fact that in Prague, it is possible to study at German-language schools, so her son could continue his previous studies. “It had its pros and cons. We left a beautiful house, lots of friends, relatives, but it was also an opportunity to start something new, experience a new life, a new culture. I knew and loved Prague, I knew the AXA insurance environment and trusted the people there, which was important. Changing everything and going to a completely unknown environment must be harder,” compares Pidgorna.

However, a surprise came soon after moving to Prague. Pidgorna had not even unpacked all her things when she received a call from her boss. “He asked me if I was sitting down. I said no, because I hadn’t unpacked my chairs yet. And he said we were for sale. Practically at the same time, covid arrived,” she describes the difficult start in Prague.

How did Ganna Pidgorna manage to adapt in these challenging conditions? Why did she come to the Global Minds studio with a tablecloth? And where does she see the connection between her profession and the improvisational theater form Playback? You can find out in the Global Minds podcast.

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About Ganna Pidgorna

After completing her studies in English language, literature, and economics in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Ganna embarked on a career in the technology sector, primarily in roles focused on HR & Culture. Her professional journey later led her to AXA, where she contributed both in Central Europe and Ukraine. Today, she serves as the Chief People, Brand & Sustainability Officer at Uniqa, a Czech-Slovak financial house. In this role, she is dedicated to cultivating a corporate culture and environment that empowers individuals, fosters effective teams, and nurtures vibrant communities—enabling everyone to realize their full potential. She is also focused on driving UNIQA’s brand strategy and identity and advancing company’s sustainability agenda, ensuring the company remains a responsible and inspiring presence in the region. Ganna is a certified practitioner in methods of inner work—including coaching, improvisation, and embodiment—focused on facilitating awareness-based change. She lives in Prague with her husband and son, and is actively engaged in improvisational theatre.

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