Ivana was born in Kosice in 1980. After her family was threatened by communism in Slovakia, they fled. Ivana was only 8 years old at the time. She had to grow up very early. Creativity remained her only refuge. Fantasy worlds often saved her from despair and depression. She began writing stories at an early age to escape her loneliness and process her traumatic experiences.

After graduating from a private school in 1999, where – as a foreigner – she was awarded a scholarship due to her good performance, she soon realized that her social status was inferior because of her background. She also had to deal with sexual harassment and assault at this prestigious institution. These experiences soon led her to shed light on psychological and socio-political issues in her texts and to search for solutions to them.

After studying pedagogy at the main university in Vienna in 2003 and graduating from the University of Applied Sciences – Occupational Therapy at Vienna General Hospital in 2006, she devoted herself to acting training at the Krauss Acting School in Vienna in 2009 and Atlantic Acting School in New York in 2010, alongside her therapeutic work. Since 2012 she has also dedicated herself to the theatre as an author, theatre teacher and director.

In 2010, she became the mother of a son, whom she raised as a single parent in Vienna.
In addition to her work as an author, director and acting coach, she runs her own therapy practice for children and families.
In 2023 she studied film at the SAE – Vienna.
In 2024 her first short film “5 Minuten” won in 3 categories (Best Cinematography, Best Ensemble, Best Productiondesign) at the Berlin Shorts Award and Indie Short Fest, LA. Her film was also selected in the Canadian Screen Award Qualifying Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF) and in the Women New York Film Festival (and others)