Claudia Prkna, msc.

Hi,
I'm Claudia, a psychologist and life coach, and I help you achieve your goals — with joy and ease!

For as long as I can remember, I’ve perceived the working world as frightening and intimidating. I always had the impression that success could only be achieved by working yourself into burnout or sacrificing your personal life entirely.

“That can’t be right… Why can’t you achieve success and still enjoy your life?”- I’ve been contemplating this question for a long time

I’ve found an answer to this and am convinced that anyone can achieve it.

With my 3-E strategy, I’ll show you how it works and support you in putting it into practice.

Make it short:

EDUCATION

  • Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, University of Vienna

  • Master’s degree in Work and Organizational Psychology, University of Vienna

    • Focus on workplace motivation, employee satisfaction, stress, and resilience

    • Internship at Vitalpsychologie Wien: workplace improvements and team crisis management

  • Coaching training with Roman Braun, Vienna

  • Advanced coaching training at the Robbins-Madanes Institute with Tony Robbins

  • Certificate: Work Smarter, Not Harder: Time Management for Personal & Professional Productivity, University of California, Irvine

  • Certificate: ELE B2 (Spanish as a Foreign Language), Instituto Cervantes

  • Certificate: Meditation: A Way to Achieve Your Goals in Life!, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

  • Certificate: Positive Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Really get to know me:

Education

Like many people after high school, I had no idea what I really wanted to do. So, I started with a year of business studies—mostly because it seemed like the “logic” choice. But let’s just say Excel sheets and accounting formulas weren’t exactly “my thing” 🫢.

Luckily, I soon discovered my true passion: psychology. I took a brave step, changed my studies, and from that moment on, I knew I was on the right path. 😌

I completed both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Psychology at the University of Vienna, specializing in Work and Organizational Psychology. During my studies, I became fascinated by questions like: Why do some workplaces energize and motivate people, while others drain them completely? And how much of this is due to the environment, and how much depends on the individual themselves?
During my internship at Vitalpsychologie Wien, I was able to put theory into practice, supporting workplace improvements and helping teams navigate crises.

While my academic focus was on organizations, I also felt drawn to working directly with people. That’s why I trained as a coach—first with Roman Braun in Vienna, and later with Tony Robbins at the Robbins-Madanes Institute. These experiences shifted my perspective and inspired me to help individuals take charge of their careers, create meaningful change, and finally bring their dream projects to life.

And then there’s dance… If psychology hadn’t won me over, I’d probably be a dance teacher today 😉 Throughout my studies, I trained intensively, traveled to international salsa festivals, and even taught dance part-time in Vienna. For me, movement and music are still the perfect counterbalance to professional life—and a reminder that joy and rhythm belong in everything we do.

A life abroad

I grew up in a tiny village in Austria, later moved to a town near Vienna, and eventually—thanks to love—packed my bags and started a whole new chapter in Tenerife. Honestly, I could write an entire blog just about the experience of moving abroad: the challenges, the growth, the unexpected joys. It has shaped me in more ways than I can count, mostly for the better.

Looking back, it feels almost like all the puzzle pieces fell into place here. I’ve always been fascinated by the Spanish language, Salsa, and Latin American culture. Now I somehow live in the middle of it all: my (soon-to-be) husband is from Colombia, I speak Spanish every day, and I still dance salsa whenever I can. Tenerife has become a place where my passions, my work, and my personal life beautifully intertwine 🫶

And of course—my life story wouldn’t be complete without mentioning my little dog. He’s like my soulmate in a furry body, my tiny angel on four paws, and my daily reminder of unconditional love 💕

An anecdote:

A pivotal moment in my career happened at a businesswomen’s networking event. I was sitting in a group, listening to the conversations around me. Many of the women were sharing their stories about burnout, overwhelm, and the constant pressure they were under. At first, I started to wonder if I was missing something—was I supposed to feel the same way? Was I doing something wrong because I wasn’t on the verge of burning out? 🧐

And then it hit me: maybe I was actually doing something right. I was enjoying my work, feeling fulfilled, and—at least most of the time—healthily managing my stress (with the occasional meltdown over deadlines, of course 🫢). That realization was a turning point in my life.

It showed me how important it is to shift the focus from just surviving to actually living. And today, that’s exactly what I want to help others with: creating a life where joy, meaning, and fulfillment take center stage—while stress takes a well-deserved step back.