Nobody personifies the idea that change is constant more than Kamila Potočárová. As one of our longest-serving team members, Kamila has witnessed the company’s growth first-hand – from new colleagues and shifting job titles to an ever-expanding client portfolio and project base. 

She hasn’t just been a mere observer, however. As Product and Innovation Manager, Kamila actively shapes our business. A key example of this is the recently launched Hyphen product Chronos, with Kamila overseeing the cross-functional team, made up of members of our Product, Design, and Tech staff, that was responsible for developing our timekeeping, expenses and invoicing solution.

Her constant drive for progress and cross-functional value creation continues to drive our development. Some things, though, remain as strong as they were at the outset. In this Q&A, she talks about her journey with Hyphen, the way the company has grown, the development of new products, and much more.

Hyphen: You’re one of our longest-serving team members so you have seen a lot here – when you think back to when you started and look at where the company is now, what stands out to you?

Kamila: When I look back at where we started in 2020 and where we are now, the biggest thing that stands out is how much we’ve grown and evolved. Hyphen has gone from a small team with big ideas to a much larger, more diverse organisation with a wide range of talent and even bigger ideas. Our projects have become more complex, our client base has expanded, and we’ve started to launch our own products, such as Chronos, which I never imagined when I first joined.

What’s also notable is how we’ve adapted to change. From embracing new technologies to continuously improving our processes, Hyphen has always pushed to stay ahead, and that drive for evolution has become a defining trait of our journey. Ultimately, I would say that innovation-driven businesses remain the same by constantly changing, and Hyphen is no exception.

Hyphen: Your role is also quite different, going from Associate at first to Product and Innovation Manager now – how has it been for you experiencing that change?

Kamila: The transition felt very natural. Over the years, I became accustomed to working on things I had little to no experience in, which really shaped me. My background is in international relations, so you could say my career path has been non-linear. But I’ve always relied on identifying patterns and structures, which made it easier to transfer skills from one area to another.

When I first joined Hyphen, I quickly adapted to the management consulting approach. I worked on many projects with a digital element — for instance, creating digital pilots and bringing new technology into public sector institutions. These experiences laid the groundwork for my later roles.

Along the way, I wore multiple hats, from helping establish our HR function to leading various cross-functional innovation initiatives. Through all of this, I started to learn more about startups and digital product development, which aligned with my professional ambitions and Hyphen’s direction.

The shift to Product and Innovation Manager felt like a perfect fit, especially as Hyphen decided to build its own product, Chronos. It allowed me to bring together everything I had learned while continuing to grow in new directions.

Hyphen: This role comes with a lot of scope to be creative – how important was that for you?

Kamila: Creativity is extremely important in my role. It’s not just about coming up with new ideas but also about fostering an environment where people are encouraged to challenge themselves, rethink old habits, and collaborate in fresh ways. 

In my daily work, creativity shows up in many forms, whether it’s figuring out how to make cross-functional teams work together more effectively or pushing people to think differently than they normally would. For example, when we were building Chronos, it wasn’t just about solving technical problems; we had to continually rethink how we approached user experience and product design to meet modern expectations.

It’s also about creating a space where everyone feels empowered to contribute their ideas. Encouraging open dialogue and collaboration across different teams — from tech to design to operations — has been crucial to our success.

Hyphen: Speaking of new tools, now that it has been launched, how would you reflect on the completion of Chronos? 

Kamila: I don’t think a product is ever truly ‘finished’ — it’s always evolving, and Chronos is no exception. We’ll continue refining and enhancing it to ensure it delivers maximum value for our partners. The development process was a true team effort, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished. Our cross-functional team worked tirelessly to ensure Chronos not only meets the technical requirements but also offers a seamless and intuitive user experience. From design to functionality, we focused on building something that feels effortless to use while addressing real business challenges.

From a broader perspective, Hyphen has always been driven by a desire to solve problems better, and Chronos is an extension of that mission. It’s not just about creating a tool — it’s about building infrastructure that empowers our clients and contractors to work more efficiently and effectively. We’re constantly pushing ourselves to think beyond immediate needs, to consider how we can make processes simpler and more scalable for the long term. That core mission hasn’t changed, and I’m excited to see how Chronos will continue to evolve as we grow.

Hyphen: What comes next then?

Kamila Potocarova: What comes next is making sure we deliver real value and continue to build on the foundation we’ve set with Chronos. Our focus will be on scaling efficiently, which means handling more contractors while also keeping the processes seamless. The Hyphen of the Future team is still quite small, so we need to be smart with our resources, but I’m confident we can grow this.

Beyond scaling internally, I also see a huge opportunity to take what we’ve built for Hyphen and offer it to other organizations. It’s not just about solving internal challenges anymore; it’s about seeing how this technology can help others too, and I’m excited to explore that. 

Hyphen: Taking a step back then, what are the main things you think about when you consider product development? 

Kamila: I always start with the problem – it’s crucial to understand it deeply – and then I focus on the end-user and how they will interact with the solution. It’s not just about solving the problem; it’s about doing it in a way that feels natural and valuable to the user.

At Hyphen, we’re also constantly refining how we approach product development to ensure we can innovate effectively. I’m excited to further develop my skills through the Postgraduate Certificate in Product Management course at King’s College London, so I can keep pushing us forward.

Hyphen: We have talked a lot about change and evolution but are there any things that are still the same as when you joined?

Kamila: While so much has evolved, the things that have remained constant are Hyphen’s ambition and its ability to recognise talent. From the beginning, Hyphen has been a place full of ambitious people who strive for excellence and are unafraid to challenge the status quo. That drive has been a steady force throughout my time here.

During our co-working retreats, it’s amazing to see how diverse and impressive our talent pool has become. We now have 30 people from various backgrounds – former consultants, designers, software developers, and so on – and it shows how far we’ve come.

Hyphen’s focus on finding the right people – both for our clients and internally – is one of its greatest strengths. Even as we’ve grown and diversified, the core value of building a talented and collaborative team remains as strong as ever. It’s the people who have always made Hyphen special, and that hasn’t changed.

Hyphen: Let’s finish off by talking about life away from work – what do you like to do to unwind?

Kamila: I like to stay active and keep myself healthy by playing a lot of sports. When I can, I enjoy going for walks – I consider myself a bit of a flâneur, wandering through the city or out in nature. I also love to read and take great joy in discovering both new and old books.

Quickfire questions 

Who is your favourite author?
There are so many. I love Thomas Mann and his book Buddenbrooks, but possibly my favourite writer is Stefan Zweig. I especially love his autobiography, The World of Yesterday, because he captures how the broader structures of the world profoundly shape individual lives.

What is your favourite beverage?
I think I would probably pick an iced matcha – but not a latte version.

What was the last thing that you tried for the first time?
Facilitating. Recently, I had the opportunity to co-facilitate a consulting skills training session and it was a fantastic experience!

If you could visit any period in history for one day, past or past or future, when and where would you go?
I’d want to see the future, of course, but part of me would also love to go back in time, as I’m fascinated by how individuals lived in specific periods.

Which superpower would you have if you could have any?
I was tempted to say mind-reading, but that feels a bit too dangerous! I’ll go with teleporting.