Meet Žana, DeVine

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Žana, DeVine. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Žana, below.

Hi Žana,, thanks for sitting with us today to chat about topics that are relevant to so many. One of those topics is communication skills, because we live in an age where our ability to communicate effectively can be like a superpower. Can you share how you developed your ability to communicate well?

How I Developed My Ability to Communicate Effectively

Communication is such a vast and nuanced art, but for me, it all began with one powerful commitment: learning to truly understand myself. Over time, I’ve made it a priority to explore and honor my own needs, desires, boundaries, and beliefs. I’ve come to know my heart, my mind, my body, and my spirit deeply , and from that foundation, my ability to communicate effectively began to flourish.

To me, effective communication means speaking my truth with kindness, calm, and respect, not holding back the things that matter most to me. It’s about honoring my inner world and learning how to care for myself through self-love, self-respect, and the courageous act of setting and expressing healthy boundaries.

I’ve come to realize that many of us hold back from speaking our truth , not because we don’t have something important to say, but because we’re trying to avoid conflict, keep the peace, or we haven’t yet fully stepped into our own power. But true communication, the kind that brings connection and clarity, starts when we begin to deeply respect ourselves.

Self-esteem plays such a vital role here. It’s not about ego, it’s about having enough self-love to speak with honesty, and to express what others may only dare to think. Yet, effective communication isn’t just about speaking, it’s about listening. It’s about creating a space where the person across from you feels heard, seen, and respected, even if you don’t fully agree with their viewpoint.

One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned is that communication becomes most meaningful when it’s invited, when someone genuinely wants to hear your truth. As a natural-born empath, I’ve had to navigate the challenges of deeply feeling others’ emotions. But learning to master that sensitivity has turned it into a gift , one that allows me to communicate with compassion, clarity, and presence.

To communicate effectively is also to hold space from a neutral place , one where everyone’s voice holds equal power. It’s about valuing your own truth, while also respecting the truth of others. Because in the end, communication isn’t just about being heard, it’s about building bridges, cultivating understanding, and empowering one another to speak from a place of wholeness.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I was born into the world of hospitality.
My father was a chef, and my mother led a housekeeping team at a hotel, so from the very beginning, I witnessed firsthand what it means to serve with heart, discipline, and pride.
Growing up surrounded by three rich cultures and speaking four languages, I developed a deep understanding of people, communication, and the nuances of human connection. Hospitality became more than a profession, it became my way of life.

Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of living and working in multiple countries, collaborating with some of the most five-star hotels and high-end restaurants in the world. These experiences taught me the value of excellence, the power of details, and the importance of cultural sensitivity in service.

Today, I work as a Hospitality Expert and Coach, with a mission to elevate the guest experience from the inside out.
I train teams in guest-facing and customer-service-driven industries to embrace warmth, proper language, and a service mindset that is both kind and revenue-focused.
I also guide upper and mid-level leadership on how to become strong, inspiring, and emotionally intelligent leaders who know how to encourage, communicate, and drive lasting team success. Because when teams feel valued and understood, they serve from a place of pride and authenticity.

At the heart of it all lies my passion project: R&R – Resilience and Rebirth, a podcast born out of my own healing and transformation.
This show is a safe space for transparent truth-telling, where I speak honestly about life experiences I’ve walked through, healed from, and grown beyond.
It’s also a platform for others to share their stories, voices from around the world who want their journeys to inspire and support someone else’s path.

R&R now also offers bilingual episodes, as I occasionally bring in German-speaking guests to honor my roots and extend the conversation to a broader, multilingual audience.
The podcast is a reflection of who I am: real, diverse, ever-evolving, and rooted in compassion.

Everything I do, whether it’s coaching, speaking, or podcasting, is about bringing heart and high standards together, and helping people and businesses rise through clarity, connection, and care.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back on my journey, three qualities have shaped me in the most impactful ways: resilience, work ethic, and a genuine spirit of hospitality.

Growing up as the child of immigrant parents who bravely rebuilt their lives in a country where they didn’t know the language or the rules, I learned early on what it means to never give up. Life threw many curveballs our way, not just for me but for my entire family , and through it all, I discovered how to stand strong, keep moving forward, and hold on to hope even in the hardest moments.

My parents also instilled in me a deep respect for structure and integrity. As immigrants, they made it their mission to follow every rule, honor every regulation, and live with discipline and purpose. From them, I learned that everything has a time, a place, a process, and that honoring those frameworks allows us to build solid foundations.
That mindset became my compass not only in life, but also in business.

And then there’s hospitality , not as a job, but as a way of being. I had the privilege of watching both of my parents serve others with warmth and humility, not just in their workplaces, but in our home. The way they welcomed people, made them feel safe, and offered kindness with no expectation, that was the seed of my own lifelong love for hospitality. It shaped who I am and what I do today.

But perhaps most importantly, when life felt the darkest, when I lost both of my parents, when things seemed impossible to navigate, my faith carried me. I never let go of the truth that I am, and always will be, a child of God. Even when I didn’t know how I would move forward, that quiet knowing became my anchor. And it was in those exact moments of pain, when I felt stretched to my limits, that I experienced the most profound transformation, mind, body, and spirit all evolving together.

To anyone early in their own journey, here’s my heartfelt advice:

Take the time to truly get to know yourself, not the version others expect, but the real, evolving, beautiful you. Give yourself permission to change your mind, change your path, and change your beliefs if they no longer serve your soul.
This is your life.
You get to choose how to live it.

Don’t chase perfection.
Instead, anchor yourself in purpose. Know that your unique gift was given only to you, and that gift is meant to be shared, not from a place of ego, but from a place of service.
When we embrace who we truly are and offer our light to others, we create a ripple of impact that goes far beyond what we can see.

And always remember this: love is the only universal currency. It transcends borders, beliefs, and backgrounds. It’s the strongest force in the universe, and when you lead with love, everything else begins to align.

You are here for a reason.
You are a cosmic creation.
Keep going, keep growing, and never stop believing in your own divine path.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I truly believe that real magic is created through collaboration. No meaningful transformation happens in isolation , it’s through connection, partnership, and shared vision that lasting impact is born.

For me, collaboration partners come in many forms.
I’m especially passionate about partnering with owners, investors, and leaders in hospitality-driven businesses, including hotels, restaurants, resorts, casinos, and country clubs, as well as any organization or brand that interacts directly with guests, customers, or clients.
My training methods are designed for anyone who is committed to delivering outstanding, thoughtful, and memorable service, whether in hospitality, retail, wellness, healthcare, or any guest-facing industry.

I’m also deeply excited to collaborate with schools, culinary programs, mental health organizations, wellness centers, and healthcare systems, where there is a shared desire to educate, inspire, and uplift people through compassionate communication, service excellence, and leadership development.
Wherever I can bring value, by teaching, training, speaking, or consulting, I am eager to contribute to something bigger than myself.

In addition, I welcome collaboration through my heart project and podcast, R&R – Resilience and Rebirth.
I’m always looking for courageous, passionate individuals who are open to sharing their personal journeys, their victories, failures, lessons, and rebirths, in order to inspire others. Every voice matters.
Every story holds the power to encourage and connect.

If you feel aligned with the mission of elevating experiences, creating human connection, and building empowered teams and communities,
I would be honored to explore a collaboration with you.
Together, we can shape something truly extraordinary.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?

We asked folks a question that led to many surprising answers – some sad, some

Highlighter Series
When do you feel most at peace?

In a culture that often celebrates hustle and noise, peace can feel rare. Yet, peace

Highlighter Series
What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?

Over the past decade, we have been profoundly impacted by the wisdom of the community.