AuthorMartin Hladík

“An opportunity to deal with matters conceptually”

Šárka Kulkusová, Commercial Director, Rudolf and Stefanie hospital, Benešov; photo: Vratislav Noha

This issue, I have decided to take the interview with “doctors” section not from the perspective of a doctor, but rather of those who play a large part in hospital operations. Šárka Kulkusová’s story, however, has given me plot twists and surprises at a number of levels. Meet a lady whose mission is to connect and communicate knowledge, and through sharing and teamwork move things forward. She has held numerous management positions within pharmaceutical and medical device companies for over 15 years. She studied Healthcare Management at the Advance Institute. She ended her career in a regional role, but at that time she was already battling burnout syndrome. Once she discovered that a career within corporations did not fulfil her, she swapped corporations in the capital city for working where she lives and in a sector which is currently fulfilling her. For a year now, instead of selling medical devices she has been dealing with all strategic purchases for the hospital where she works. She has time and energy to spend on her family life and five-year old daughter. She is continuing her studies too, taking a course in Authentic Leadership. The history of Rudolf and Stefanie Hospital in Benešov goes back to 1898. At the beginning of the 20th century, the hospital operated a unique tuberculosis ward in Benešov, one of a small number in Austria-Hungary, and another important milestone in the hospital’s history is the boom in laparoscopy during the 1980s when the hospital was at the cutting edge of the field. While in the past patients insisted on seeing experts in Prague, today in contrast many Prague residents travel for treatment outside the city. The benefits include shorter appointment and waiting times, a personal approach and a more intimate, almost family environment with care at least comparable to university hospitals.

A year ago, you swapped a corporate environment for the public sector, while remaining within the healthcare sector. How did you perceive this change?

Healthcare is a constant presence throughout my whole career, and I am very pleased I took the opportunity to stay in the field. The leap from one of the largest healthcare corporations in the world to the public sector was a big one. At the very beginning, it felt like it was a completely different world, but with each new day I came to realise, and I am still discovering, that both worlds have a lot in common. The experience of working in an international, frequently culturally very diversified, team has undoubtedly helped me to quickly adapt to different environments. I was able to exploit this experience, for example, in the process of hernia centre certification by an American independent accreditation company, something our hospital acquired last year.

I see a certain difference as compared to the corporate sector in the flexibility of decision-making – we deal with problems here and now, using more direct processes, with less meetings, planning and reports. On the other hand, healthcare is subject to loads of regulation, the legislative framework isn’t always entirely simple and this naturally places demands on both medical and non-medical staff, and the job of management is to set up conditions within the organisation such that the administrative burden and processes are as efficient as possible while remaining in line with all regulations. Another large area is company culture, which, regardless of whether you are in the corporate or public sector, is very important in achieving good results whether in terms of care provided or in terms of economic parameters. My colleagues and I perceive this area as highly important. I see further space for development and investment in the computerisation of processes, opportunities for sharing and data harmonisation between hospitals within the one overall authority leading to greater efficiency both in purchase and, for example, in the spectrum of care provided. To be honest, this was probably the greatest surprise for me. Each hospital has its own different IT system, but unfortunately the systems can’t always communicate with each other, even within one hospital. Working with data thus takes a long time due to the absence of a single system of analytical tools and so on. One positive is that with EU grant programmes, hospitals have an opportunity to deal with these often costly investments, even at the overall authority level. After working in the hospital for a year, my greatest reward is the feeling of a job done well, and the purpose behind what I do. As in my previous jobs, I’ve been really lucky in my high quality team and colleagues, something which is an important factor for me since the positive and clearly grasped results of teamwork are my greatest motivation.

Many forty-somethings are looking at leaving corporations and seek out other ways of working which will fulfil them more. What was the crucial moment for you?

There were definitely a number of factors involved. I had been gradually losing enjoyment from my work. Corporations are usually highly focused on performance, and with increasing globalisation it isn’t always possible to deal with matters in the way which is best at a local level. After 10 years, I had the feeling that I had nothing more to offer the company. Paradoxically, I had begun to have these feelings at a time when I was doing well professionally, I had a team which was working well and we had great results. I was ever more looking at what next, how to continue… I knew that I had to change a number of things in my life, but I didn’t have a clear idea of how to do so, and probably for the first time in my life I couldn’t even clearly define it myself. After leaving the corporation and numerous medical issues, I prescribed myself a holiday of a number of weeks with my daughter, and I put the direction of further professional steps on ice. By chance, immediately upon returning from my travels, I found out about a newly opened position in a hospital near my home. Intuitively, I felt that this was an opportunity I wanted to take on, and I was successful and landed on my two feet in the public sector. I was very attracted to being able to be there at the genesis and having the power to influence how parameters and purchase management processes would be set up within the hospital. The opportunity opened for me to deal with matters conceptually within a local environment where the main parameters aren’t just numbers and performance, but with great stress placed on a personal approach both towards our clients and in the quality of care provided.

You’ve swapped Prague for Benešov. What are the specific features of your hospital?

Benešov’s Rudolf and Stefanie Hospital can boast a very long history – this year we’re celebrating 120 years since we were founded. We currently have around 830 employees, making us the second largest employer in the region. We have 20 specialised departments which provide both outpatient and inpatient care. The spectrum of care we provide is set in line with the hospital’s regional status, with Internal Medicine, Surgery, Orthopaedics, our newly renovated Gynaecology and Maternity ward, and our ENT department including sleep laboratory forming our principal departments. Our objective is to provide primary care. We have opened a new inpatient rehabilitation ward where care is provided to patients following joint replacements and others – conceptually it builds on our Orthopaedics division, which performs the full range of joint replacements. It is certainly not our ambition to build up highly specialised centres. For our clients whose conditions require specialised treatment, we secure specialised care at Na Homolce hospital, with whom we concluded a Memorandum of Cooperation last year. We provide patients with care in a pleasant family environment in which we place emphasis on a personal approach and close multidisciplinary co-operation. It is no exception for patients from more distant regions to seek us out, especially within ENT, orthopaedics and our Gynaecology and Maternity ward. Last year, our hospital became the only certified Center of Excellence in Hernia Surgery in the Czech Republic (COEHSTM), joining ten other Centers of Excellence in Hernia SurgeryTM around the world. In November 2017, we successfully renewed our Spojené akreditační komise, o.p.s. (Joint Accreditation Commission – SAK) accreditation, and we were very pleased to once again be awarded the title of Best Central Bohemian Region Hospital 2017 in the safety and satisfaction of outpatients and inpatients. Personally, I see as very positive the fact that despite dealing with a lack of staff like every healthcare facility, we have not as yet been forced to limit care as a result.

What is your vision and mission for your new position?

Along with my colleagues, I have many plans in my new position, and I trust that we will be able to gradually implement them. Personally, I am really looking forward to one new project: creating our hospital charitable foundation. Another goal is to build a new complete rehabilitative care wing, and the complete renovation of our Internal Medicine wing. My personal goal is the computerisation of the purchase system across the hospital, which will allow us to work more efficiently. Another objective is to gradually boost co-operation between individual hospitals falling within the one authority, and not just in terms of purchasing. I will definitely be satisfied if we manage to maintain current quality, especially in the field of medical devices and medicines, without having a negative impact on the hospital’s budget. Working in healthcare is very fulfilling and it brings me joy that I can work, and perhaps even help a little, in moving forward the hospital in the region where I live and where I was born. I am glad I can apply what I have learnt in business, and thanks to sharing experience with my colleagues move things forward for the better. Work in my new team enriches me enormously, and allows me to continuously learn.

Let’s move on to your Masters of Healthcare Administration studies.

I would highly recommend studying Masters of Healthcare Administration to anyone in a management role in the healthcare sector, and also to doctors in management roles. The programme gives students a comprehensive overview of contemporary healthcare. I was very pleasantly surprised by the high quality of teachers, structure of lectures and I also see added value in the high quality and diverse selection of students. Programme participants come from various segments – hospitals, insurance companies and suppliers, allowing for fascinating discussions, and the acquisition of real, practically applicable knowledge.

Work–life balance is major topic not just for healthcare personnel, but also managers. How are you managing in this regard?

If I were to give it a school-type grade, then I’d give my past year a B. I believe that everything that happens to people in their life has some significance or meaning, and in my path I have finally learnt to spend time on myself. I have a strong and stable family life, for which I thank my great parents. Contentment in my private life is very important for me, because when one’s working and personal life are imbalanced for a long time it creates negative consequences which sooner or later will make themselves apparent. I am a person who can’t do nothing, and as such I spend my leisure time actively with my daughter, partner, friends and family. I love good food, I really enjoy cooking which is a kind of relaxation for me, and if I can combine good food with travel, then that’s just ideal.

Your final message…

I probably can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can certainly set up the sails on my boat so I can always sail to where I want to go.

By Linda Štucbartová

“We live in a fast-changing world.”

Mrs. Viktoria Li, Swedish Ambassador to the Czech Republic (Photo: Něso Matič)

Interviews with ambassadors are music to my ears. It is a unique opportunity not only to get special insights but also a moment to hear positive words of praise about my country. Already my walk to the Swedish Embassy, all the way up to the Prague Castle at spring time Prague, made me fall in love with my city again. I carefully listened to Mrs. Li describing Sweden, having comparable population to the Czech Republic, being a middle-size country. Originally, I chose three topics associated with nowadays Sweden. The first topic was innovation. Did you know that Spotify is Swedish? And that Stockholm produces the second highest number of billion-dollar tech companies per capita after Silicon Valley? The feminist foreign policy was the second issue. What does it mean? In this context, it is worth mentioning that Sweden has over 40% women ambassadors. In the Czech Republic, the long-time score has been around 10%.

Last but not least, I was interested in Mrs. Ambassador’s view on the Czechs and the Czech culture. Having so interesting topics, I did not feel the need to ask any personal questions. I do not usually ask such questions to male ambassadors either. But one thing Mrs. Li revealed herself, her name comes from her Chinese spouse.

Mrs. Ambassador, you came to Prague from Beijing. It was a direct transfer for you, meaning that you did not serve back at Stockholm headquarters. How did you find such change of posting, from a big country to a small country, from a superpower to a country where it seems that the time stood still, at least climbing the medieval cobble stone streets on the way to your Embassy?

I spent six years in China and as you mentioned, it was a big change to come back to Europe. China is a dynamic country, the sheer size is amazing and it impacts the work. Living in cities like Beijing and Shanghai is fascinating, they say, that these cities where 24 to 30 million people live, never sleep. But I appreciated coming back to Europe, where many things are on a more human scale. Travelling across the city does not take the whole day, we get in and out of the country really easily, Internet is freely accessible and you have a better possibility of recreation in the nature with cleaner air.

What was the change as far as the nature of diplomatic work is concerned?

It was great opportunity to work in China and to promote Swedish business, Swedish culture and as far as it was possible, Swedish values and policies. Coming back to the Czech Republic is working in a different context. We are working with a friend and partner in the European Union and the cooperation takes place at much deeper level. We address more specific issues and their span is also much wider. I enjoy working on European issues again, since they are close to us as Europeans and affect our everyday lives. We all want the European Union to function well. I still remember when Europe was divided.

I was travelling across Central and Eastern Europe when I was only 15, we were travelling by train and I remember the strange feeling while travelling through the other side of the Iron Curtain. It is nice to be engaged in the process that has reunified Europe and it is inspiring that we are working together to improve the functioning of the EU. The Czech Republic and Sweden have so many things in common. We cherish open trade, open society, we want to develop our economies in a more digital and innovative way, we both care about climate and environment and both of our countries are engaged in global sustainable development. Now, the Czech Republic is chairing the United Nations Economic and Social Council and Sweden holds a seat as a non-permanent member of the Security Council and such important positions only underline engagement of both countries on the international scenes.

Mrs. Ambassador that sounds like music to my ears. What are the issues on which we do not agree?

Migration issues might be one example. But let us not exaggerate the differences, as there are many points we agree on. We both agree that the Schengen-area is important and it should function. We all appreciate Schengen being convenient and efficient in order to travel, to study or to work. We want the EU to have well-protected boarders and that we maintain control on who is coming and moving around. Both countries share such views. This being said, we cannot ignore the huge migration that is currently going on, including the refugee crises. There are hundreds of million people migrating. Some of them are trying to find a better life, some of them are moving because of wars, internal conflicts, draught and hunger. We cannot put all these people in the same category. We understand that all migrants cannot come to Europe. At the same time, we do need people in Europe to become part of an active workforce. The Czech Republic already accepts many working migrants, coming from Ukraine or Vietnam. In Sweden, we also need highly-skilled people for qualified work. On the other hand, people who leave their countries involuntarily need protection and have the right to ask for asylum. We have to follow international rules and we should work together in order to set up the best mechanisms for handling these different questions with full respect for human rights. The European Union needs to have an efficient mechanism to handle a refugee crisis, where we show solidarity with each other. The situation in 2015 became unsustainable. We had 160 000 people arriving to Sweden within a couple of months. It was difficult to shelter them, even registering them was a challenge. On one hand, it was enormous strain, on the other hand, it showed the solidarity and resilience of our society and that is a representation of our strength.

Despite the recurrent articles in the Czech news, portraying negative consequences of immigration, Sweden has had several successful immigration waves.

Over the last fifty years, we have successfully included a lot of people in our country. There were waves of Greeks, Turks, Italians, Iranians, Bosnians fleeing the Balkan war, Chileans fleeing the Pinochet coup and lately people coming from Syria and Afghanistan. Integration is difficult. It is not always easy to for those who arrive to adapt and for the labor market and education systems to absorb those who are arriving. But in the long run, it has been beneficial for the economy and our society. It has also been beneficial for the inventiveness. This is not to hide the problems. Some groups have not integrated well, our society has failed on some accounts and created pockets of social exclusion. We are aware of the problems and we are trying to solve them. However, acknowledging the problems does not mean that our migration and asylum policies have been a failure. On the contrary, regulated migration and a generous refugee reception has made our society richer and more open.

Speaking of vulnerable groups brings us to the next issue, that of Swedish feminist foreign policy.

Feminist foreign policy is based on a fact that women everywhere are lacking in rights, representation and resources, the three “Rs” as we call them. When it comes to rights, we stress that human rights are women rights. Representation, and in particular representation in political assemblies, is another area where equality is lacking. Women are also excluded in other important contexts where they should be playing a role. Take for instance peace negotiations and conflict resolution schemes. Current conflicts and wars are severely affecting women, but very few women are present at the peace negotiation tables. This is not only wrong, but also unsustainable, as women are instrumental in rebuilding any peaceful society. The last issue is about resources. Again, a whole range of issues needs to be addressed, ranging from ownership structures to economic empowerment, equal pay and unpaid labor by women. We want to work in realistic way and in partnership with all stakeholders.

I would like to underline that a feminist foreign policy is not an “ad hoc” or “add on” to a previous policy. It is a new way of addressing everything and the new policy must be integrated in every aspect of our work. It therefore also affects the way in which we work at the Foreign Service and at this Embassy. How we recruit and how we organize our work so that we are sure to enable both women and men. Sheer numbers are not sufficient, although you need to have a critical mass of both women and men in order to reach equality. But then you need to enable diversity. For instance, try to schedule meetings before 4 o’clock in the afternoon to enable both women and men to pick up their children and enjoy family time.

I remember when the Czech minister of foreign affairs asked for a late afternoon with his Swedish counterpart and the response was to reschedule for the morning.

Yes, such policies and their adoption really depend on leading by example. Thanks to our foreign minister Anna Lindh, who was a working mother, late meetings stopped in our Ministry. Also the practices of informal guys’ networks where the decisions were made after work in settings women did not have access to all but ended. The same goes for private the sector. We have just hosted the Global Leadership and Equality Advisor for IKEA here at the Embassy. IKEA has worked hard to become a leader in diversity and can now pride itself in having 48% of women managers. The issue of diversity will not come by itself. It has to be grounded in your values and strategies and actively evaluated and promoted until it is a natural part of every-day life. Diversity is a win-win game. In the end, we all want efficient organizations, the best Foreign Service, the best board in a company and so on. But how can you attract the best if you are not enabling everyone to participate?

Such approach brings me to the last issue, which is innovation and technology. You mentioned that it is also one of the subjects you came to promote.

We live in a fast-changing world. We are experiencing globalization together with a change in communication and the way we work due to robotization and artificial intelligence. We have huge challenges when it comes to the environment. We are hoping that innovations and technology will help us to solve these issues. However, technological innovation is not enough, we also need to have social innovation. The gender issue we have discussed is one example. Education is a key to success and how we educate our children and how we structure our education system, enabling life-long learning, will be very important. Sustainability, innovation and equality are very much interconnected and it all starts with good leadership, inclusion and empowerment.

By Linda Štucbartová

“Industry 4.0”

Tomáš Hüner, Minister of Industry and Trade

Tomáš Hüner has held the role of Minister of Industry and Trade since December 2017. It is said that his agenda makes him one of the busiest ministers. We are pleased he was able to find the time for an interview for Czech and Slovak Leaders readers. He has spent most of his career in the energy sector. He has worked both for the government (he was Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade between 2006 and 2011) and in the private sector (for ČEZ and Siemens).

You have recently returned to the debate on the need to complete new nuclear units, whether in Dukovany or Temelín nuclear power plants. The SingularityU Conference took place in Prague at the start of March where there was discussion of disruptive trends in the energy sector amongst other topics. Should the Czech Republic not choose a different way of thinking about energy production, particularly with regard to the falling price of electricity?

You always have to take account of the natural potential in a particular country. In the Czech Republic, wind and solar energy have limits; to put it simply, we don’t have as many sunny days and it is less windy than Germany, for example. And the potential energy from water is almost entirely used up here, in contrast to Austria for example where over 75 % of electricity for their own consumption is produced in this manner. We are also running out of fossil fuel reserves. So if we don’t want to import electricity, we’re going to have to construct additional nuclear units at Temelín and Dukovany. Nuclear energy is stable in the long term, safe and emission-free, both for electricity and partially for heat too.

The Czech economy is very open and so dependent on exports. Are you worried about a potential new trade war between the USA, Europe and China?

Any kind of trade war is dangerous for the local economy, for which export is fundamental. Although in terms of direct trade, our most important partners are our geographical neighbours and the other European Union member states, everything is interdependent in the globalised world. We export parts for industrial machinery, cars and electronics, for example, which after being fitted to the final products may end up outside the European market. And many of our other exports are not designed for immediate consumption or use, and it is a fact that markets have to move for the economy to work. The only solution to overcapacity of the currently often mentioned steel, but also other materials and also intellectual property rights protection, is clearly co-operation. Any unilateral measures are unfortunate and will not bring anybody any benefits in the long term.

There are many parties challenging the Czech Republic’s membership of the EU. Are you planning any “public awareness campaign” explaining the benefits of membership?

We deal with specific areas of the EU at the Ministry of Industry and Trade every day. We do so in co-operation with businesses, trades unions and associations. The results, European projects, whether they are services, events or buildings, can be seen and these are undoubtedly the best campaign on the benefits of membership of the European Union. Of the events, I could mention, for example, the conference “Internal Services Market: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”, which we are planning for 8 June this year for the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the EU’s internal market. This conference will evaluate the provision of services before joining the European Union and demonstrate the advantages of the internal market. Elżbieta Bieńkowska, the Commissioner for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, will be coming to the event. Furthermore, there is a single contact point where you can get information on doing business in services in the European Union free of charge. Europeans can also take advantage of SOLVIT, which gives free-of-charge help to citizens and entrepreneurs in dealing with disputes with authorities in a different European Union member state if there has been an erroneous application of European law. There is also the ProCoP service, whom you can contact with questions on marketing products. We are also preparing to launch the Single Digital Gateway. The MIT is one of the instigators of this service which will provide all information and assistance services to EU citizens at one electronic address, thus contributing to facilitating movement in the European internal market.

Labour shortage is an acute problem of the Czech economy. What solution are you offering, and to what timescale?

Amongst other measures, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is behind the economic migration projects entitled “Specialist Treatment Regime for Qualified Workers” and “Special Procedures for Highly Qualified Employees from Ukraine”. These aim to allow the entry of qualified workers from abroad. The most well-known and also the most exploited are the measures focused on workers from Ukraine. This project aims to fill job vacancies with people from abroad if they cannot be filled within the Czech labour market. This January, the government decided that it would increase the annual quota for Ukraine by 10 000. In practice, this means that 19 600 workers from Ukraine will be able to apply for an employment card each year, a doubling of the current status, and almost twenty times higher compared to 2015. The Other States Regime, designed for employers, also applies to citizens of Mongolia and the Philippines. In this case, it applies to 1000 people a year from each country. The MIT will be making decisions on the applications from May on the basis of recommendations from Czech Business Representation and the CzechInvest Investment and Business Development Agency.

This year we’re celebrating the 100th anniversary of Czechoslovakia. How can we return Czech industry and trade to the fore? What is your vision?

The Czech Republic is one of the most industrial countries. Industry comprises about 32 % of our GDP, the highest of any country in the European Union. Roughly a third of revenues are generated by motor vehicle production, while the production of computers, electronic and optical devices, the production of machinery and electrical equipment and chemical industry production including pharmaceutical products also play an important role. As such, we don’t need to return Czech industry to the fore. What we do need to do is respond to the fourth industrial revolution, which is going to transform the world. That’s why I have set up the Industry 4.0 department at the MIT. With the effective use of modern technologies in production, our local economy – if we play our part in the principal changes – has a great opportunity to step beyond the role of subcontractor. Businesses must seize innovations early, invest in modernising production and all processes so they can exploit digitalisation and artificial intelligence as much and as effectively as possible. At the MIT, we are looking at three principal objectives: the ability of Czech companies to take part in the supply chain process, higher production efficiency – so production is faster, cheaper and saves resources, and the export of our own innovative solutions. We have so many clever people here, and in collaboration with universities, the Czech Academy of Science and other research facilities, we are able to come up with solutions such that we can sell not just patents and know-how, but also software and production lines. We also have to look at new business models, and also prepare for the impacts of digitalisation on the labour market and education. The state plays the largest role here. Digital transformation will change the nature of work tasks entirely. There will be more creativity, and less routine activities, which will be automated. The intensity of robot use in relation to the added value created in industry has increased sixfold in the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia and Hungary between 2005 and 2015. And this speed continues to accelerate. We need to go at the right speed and on the right wave. But we should bear in mind that it is not machines, but people, who write computer programmes.

You are one of the busiest ministers. What is your recipe for work-life balance?

With permission, I would refer you here to my wonderful wife. She would undoubtedly tell you in her curt Ostrava dialect that since I have become minister my life is far from in balance – in terms of those imaginary scales of work, family and hobbies. But I’m trying. Besides my family, my friends and even work colleagues also remind me of the need to live a life outside of work. I thank them all for their advice, and apologise that I don’t have the time right now. That’s what happens when you want to fully focus on work which is meaningful.

By Linda Štucbartová

“The Czech countryside has charmed me”

Mrs. Ursula Czernin, photo by Vladimír Kviz

Imagine you receive a call from an unknown number and you hear: “Hello, Czerninová speaking. Aunt Lobkowicz told me you’d like to do an interview with me. When would suit you?”

Our series on noble families has rightly aroused a great response from readers. However, it isn’t always easy to make contact with protagonists. As such, after my interview with Elisabeth Lobkowicz I asked her for help in making contact with other suitable candidates. I was surprised how quickly specific acts followed on from words. Although the story of her husband Tomáš Czernin, forester, farmer, owner of the Dymokury Castle and last but not least politician is a well-known one in the media, I am much more interested in Mrs Czerninová’s story, a woman who came from Vienna not to Prague, but to Dymokury. Mrs Czerninová gave me the option of meeting either in Dymokury where she lives, or in Prague where she travels to work as Hospitaller for the Order of Malta’s Grand Priory of Bohemia. Ursula Czerninová, born Piringer, was born in Vienna and her studies included a time in Rome learning History with a focus on Early Modern History. Instead of researching ancient history in archives, however, fate led her to meet Tomáš Czernin shortly before the Velvet Revolution in 1989, and she had the opportunity to experience the real history of the end of the 20th century, and regime change in one of the countries of the former Eastern Bloc. She visited Czechoslovakia during the November events, and today she looks back nostalgically at her participation in the demonstrations, at the revolutionary spirit of the period and the wonderful feeling of hope and anticipated change at that time. As a practising Catholic, she has been involved in charity since her youth.

When we looked back at the events of autumn 1989, we both noted our disappointment at the results of the parliamentary elections last October, and the subsequent presidential elections in January.

The Czernins lived in Vienna for almost two years following their wedding, but in 1992 they returned to the Czech Republic and began looking after Dymokury Castle. I held the interview with Mrs Czerninová in Czech, as she has been living in this village in the Czech Republic for twenty-six years. The couple have four children, all of whom grew up in the Czech Republic, and their youngest son was born here. I spoke with Ursula Czerninová about life in the village, bringing up children and her charity activities within the Sovereign Military Order of Malta’s Grand Priory of Bohemia, where she holds the position of Hospitaller.

In 1992 you moved to Czechoslovakia. You didn’t swap Vienna for Prague, but for the Czech countryside, where the 1990s was not an easy time. Furthermore, the Austrian countryside is often held up as a model for the Czech countryside to follow.

It depends on your perspective; for me the Austrian countryside is sometimes too sterile. The Czech countryside is more authentic. Life in the countryside is wonderful. I’m glad to have nature and peace and quiet around us. Thanks to their childhood in Dymokury, my children were also able to experience the freedom, perceive the changing seasons, and be in contact with animals.

When you came to the Czech Republic you didn’t speak Czech, yet you managed to set up a Ladies Club in Dymokury.

We called it the Ladies Club in jest. It started when two neighbours wanted to practise their German with me, and in exchange taught me Czech. We soon became friends.Books were a problem. At the time we only had the “socialist” language textbooks of the time available to us, in which the texts were full of expressions such as “comrade”, “tractor”, “farming co-operative” and so on.

You hold the position of Hospitaller in the Sovereign Military Order of Malta’s Grand Priory of Bohemia. What does this position actually involve?

I’m in charge of charity and social projects. Within the Order of Malta, the Minister of Social Affairs and Health form one whole. Maltézská pomoc, o.p.s. (Maltese Aid) looks after senior citizens, the disabled, children from disadvantaged families and the homeless. The Order runs three schools (the Higher Nursing School on Ječná street, Prague, a nine-year elementary school in Kladno, and an eight-year gymnasium (grammar) and vocational school in Skuteč). We also organise an annual pilgrimage to Lourdes, involving one plane with a total capacity of 189 full of the sick, pilgrims and those accompanying them. The Czech Maltese Youth club organises a summer camp every year for disabled young people, as well as trips and friendly get-togethers during the year. Before Christmas the now renowned advent punch sale is organised.

As Hospitaller, you’re in charge of aid for countries in Eastern Europe, so you’ve got a wider perspective. We’ve already spoken about our disappointment in politics in Czech society. What do you think Czechs are lacking?

I think we’re doing better than ever before from a material perspective. But I think people are often missing what’s important: good relations within the family, a healthy relationship to work, social sensitivity. We’ve sacrificed this to economic success. The fact that we often lack fulfilment in these basic matters leads to dissatisfaction, and Czechs moan about everyone and everything. But we’re doing well, we’re not missing anything. In the war-ravaged regions of Ukraine, for example, people really are doing badly there; there’s real misery there. Perhaps, however, in desperate need they can see more clearly what is important in life.

You’ve brought up four children in the Czech Republic. They used to say of children in the aristocracy that they were born with a silver spoon in their mouths. You have taught your children independence and that everything has a price.

We used to get up at five in the morning; the kids’ train left at six. The kids went to Hradec Králové and there was no direct connection from Dymokury in the morning. The journey back was quicker. The kids went to elementary school in Dymokury, then the church school and gymnasium in Hradec Králové. Both our sons study forestry management, and according to the established tradition of noble families, we expect our oldest son to take on the land. Our eldest daughter is already married; she studied Law and works at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our other daughter studies Music Science and Singing in Vienna. In terms of our property, we have endeavoured to instil in our kids that we are only the trustees of our property for the generations to come.

Many Czechs love Vienna. I myself remember my first visit behind the Iron Curtain, which was to Vienna. I still enjoy going to Vienna with my kids, to exhibitions, to the Opera and its famed balls. When you look back on the quarter century you’ve spent in the Czech Republic, have you missed life in Vienna?

I don’t miss Vienna; I can go there any time I like. There aren’t any borders any more.

I hope Mrs Czerninová is proven right and we remain borderless for a long time to come. On my last visit to Austria, we did encounter border control, if only briefly.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the Sovereign Order of Malta, you can find an interview with its former ambassador, H.E. Mario Quagliotti in our archives.

By Linda Štucbartová

“We seek truthful information”

Filip Horký, Journalist, Seznam Zprávy, Twitter Influencer

He’s young, charming and gallant. You can feel his energy and enthusiasm. He won the Novinářská křepelka (Journalist Quail) award in 2016, and a Forbes Magazine’s “30 Under 30” award in 2017. Over 75 000 people follow him on Twitter. Despite this, or perhaps rather because of this, he remains very modest, humble and down-to-earth. At the age of 26, he has almost 10 years of working in journalism behind him. He began as a sports editor, then he moved to Czech Television, subsequently working for DVTV for two years and he has worked for over a year for the Seznam Zprávy news website where he focuses on complex topics such as bankruptcy seizures, homelessness, poverty and President Zeman’s election and trips. He has made fascinating and innovative reports from Ukraine, Russia, Jordan and neighbouring Hungary.

I personally know Filip from his time at DVTV. At that time, I gave him our magazine on the street and we considered possible co-operation in regards to interviews with interesting figures. Two years later, he has become a figure suitable for inclusion in Czech and Slovak Leaders himself. He agreed to the interview, but it wasn’t easy to find the time. Due to another in a series of planned demonstrations against Andrej Babiš’s government, which was held in over 20 Czech towns and cities on the second Monday of April, we met on Sunday afternoon. Filip first gallantly took care of my coat, and then from personal experience he took the Dictaphone into his own hands and spoke into it, due to the noisy location. And so followed a pleasant and relaxed interview with a fellow journalist.

Filip; what with recent events, both the murder of Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak and demonstrations supporting the independence of media and Czech Television, what’s it like being a journalist today?

My feelings and relations to the profession are changing a lot in regard to current events. I don’t allow myself to feel threatened or afraid. But on the other hand I am feeling ever more frustrated. This doesn’t arise, however, because I want to interpret the truth, although I think a certain group of journalists have long made this mistake. I have always tried to show reality from various perspectives, not presenting the one correct opinion. I film a report, and I invite people to watch it and form their own opinions. Nevertheless, I feel that society is currently so divided that two people with different opinions are now unable to sit down at one table over a beer and discuss their different ideas without having a major argument about it.

Is this related to the fact that according to the latest research fake reports spread six times faster than true ones?

That figure doesn’t surprise me. I’m slowly starting to doubt whether black is black even when I have a chemical analysis available to me confirming the case. I was shocked when one public media corporation held a discussion over whether the earth is round or flat. There are facts, evidence and matters which are given. I don’t mean we shouldn’t talk to people who believe in a “flat earth”, or even scoff at them, but on the other hand the current fashion of questioning everything means that we are ignoring facts, data and evidence which simply reflect reality.

This is your tenth year in journalism. You’ve defined your mission as follows: do the best journalism. Since moving to Seznam.cz have you moved on to so-called agenda-setting, and topics which would otherwise have been ignored?

I’m humble enough to remind myself that I’m really not here to tell people what they’re supposed to think, or to teach them. I haven’t got all the answers. I choose important topics from my perspective. I have realised that for myself and my generation, some things are taken for granted, like getting news from different sources independently of whether they’re in Czech or English. There are, however, loads of people here who don’t do this. At Seznam Zprávy, my objective is to produce standard foreign reports from various perspectives: such as working with video, editing, emotions, issues, and convey these foreign issues to people in a manner which they are going to enjoy and want to follow. In the Czech context, journalism is divided into two fields: either a boring presenter with a detailed specialist table of data, or instead an overly simplified rendition of generally well-known topics. Nothing in the middle. Abroad, in contrast, they know how to convey even complex topics in an understandable and enjoyable way. That’s what my job’s about, and I appreciate the freedom that Seznam Zprávy has given us. So it depends on the whole Obzor team whether we can convey the topic in a convincing way such that people watch the topic and then share it with as many people as possible.

You’ve said that your report on poverty was the most watched report, even in terms of numbers of responses. This included dozens of people offering specific help.

I‘m delighted about it, but at the same time we have to deal with the response. We don’t want to offend anyone; we endeavour to steer responses somehow. If 40 people offer clothing for a child, well a specific person won’t need that much clothes. So the next episode won’t be so much about ad hoc help, but the need to change the system; or systematic help. But I don’t feel that I’m important or that I want to set up discussion on the welfare system itself. I don’t know how to set up the welfare system so that a million people aren’t in poverty. That’s not my ambition; I just want to make the best possible programme. A feeling of self-importance can be very dangerous.

I can see your ability to stay grounded, despite your audience and the awards you have won. Humility is usually an attribute which your peers do not have from the perspective of older generations.

How many people read Forbes? How many people know what the Journalist Quail is? It’s just a bubble; maybe it’s expanding, but it’s still a bubble. Paradoxically, I can say that I’m doing as high quality work as possible ever more for myself mainly. I want to draw attention to certain topics, and it’d be great if a debate was triggered about them.

Besides journalism, you’ve begun doing some teaching too. You give talks to young people, you look at the topic of media literacy, you encourage people to check information.

I feel great responsibility. Despite my youth, I’ve had loads of opportunities, many people have helped me and so I need to at least give this back to society somehow. That’s why I go to discussions with primary and secondary school pupils and students, to whom I am naturally close. When I hold discussions with them, again I don’t give them the one truth, but I tell them to look at how emotions are utilised, the choice
of words used, how the overall editing of a report influences its overall impression. I leave them to work out their final opinion. I see some hope for the future here. If the young learn this way of evaluating information, then they’ll keep that skill. It’s easier than convincing the older generation to change.

In 2016, you reported on the Presidential Election directly from the USA. How do you compare media literacy in the Czech Republic to the rest of the world? And how do you perceive the current demonstrations supporting the press, or against the government?

I don’t think media literacy is much different here compared to Western countries. After the elections in the USA, a lot of people were surprised by Donald Trump’s victory. Trump travelled around small towns and spoke to people. Local problems and fear of the future naturally proved to be more important than global events. I see a great parallel here with Miloš Zeman’s re-election, someone who also travelled around towns and villages for many years speaking to people. I met one person who has voted for Zeman for 20 years because 20 years ago he shook his hand. Although just a few hundred people attended his meetings, over twenty years this easily creates a mass of votes. Take the current demonstrations as an example. 10 to 15 thousand people meeting up once or twice a year; this is the same as the number of people the President meets every year. If our current political representation is as it is now, there are considerations being made of governing with the communists and extremists, and in response just the odd demonstration takes place, then we must still be doing alright. On the other hand, I don’t underestimate the Czechs’ ability to defend their opinions; I’m just putting the figures into a certain perspective so we don’t succumb to the opinion of any particular bubble. And I’d also point out that the ability to defend your opinion on the streets can be double-edged. In 2015, for example, Czechs didn’t join in the mass demonstrations and violent protests against immigration, and luckily it was also thanks to that Czech laziness that the episode passed without mass violence.

What question do you most commonly ask?

I’m ever more frequently posing the question: “Then describe it to me”. I call on others first to share and I then work from that. I’ve noticed how my questions change with the formats of my work. At DVTV, I used the format of critical interviews where I instead encouraged argument.

And what question would you ask yourself?

That’s hard. If I could ask myself a question which I would answer in 10 to 15 years, then it would go: “What more could you have done, but didn’t do?” I hope I get some feedback.

By Linda Štucbartová

“How to Robot-Proof (Not Only Kids but also Ourselves)”

Dr. Vivienne Ming, theoretical neuroscientist, technologist and entrepreneur

Dr. Ming was named one of 10 Women to Watch in Tech in 2013 by Inc. Magazine. She is a theoretical neuroscientist, technologist and entrepreneur. She co-founded Socos company, where machine learning and cognitive neuroscience combine to maximize students’ life outcomes. She sits on the boards of StartOut, The Palm Center, Emozia, Engender, and Genderis Inc., and is a Chief Science Advisor to Cornerstone Capital, Platypus Institute, Shiftgig, and Bayes Impact. She is an author of the upcoming “How to Robot-Proof Your Kids” and “The Tax on Being Different”.

“The Best Way to Predict the Future Is to Create It” was the opening quote of Singularity University, made by its co-founder Peter Diamandis and being such, summarizes the unique approach of this two-day conference that took place at the Prague Žofín Palace from March 5-6, 2018. Singularity University has been called an Ivy League university from the future and described as a conference like no other. Imagine an event that in two days covers highly scientific expert subjects from artificial intelligence, self-driving cars, the latest development in medicine and biotechnology, the future of finance and blockchain, alongside the wider societal concerns like future of work, future of education or exponential growth and abundance.

Perhaps there is no coincidence, only synchronicity, as to the venue. The Knights Hall at Žofín Palace in Prague used to be a very special place for the Czech elite in the middle of the 19th century and played a significant role during the Czech nationalist revival. Based on historic accounts, it was believed that had the heavy chandelier fallen from the ceiling, no one speaking Czech would be left, as most of the Czech educated largely male group taking part in the national revival movement, used to always be together.

At first, it seemed almost impossible to choose one conference speaker for our interview. On the other hand, it does not come as a surprise, that I chose Dr. Vivienne Ming who was giving a keynote speech on How to Robot-Proof Your Kids. Not only is the subject of education, learning and development based on talents and passion important for me professionally, but also personally. I am a mother of a ten-year old boy, who is extroverted, communicative and soft-skills advanced. By the way, we usually tend to associate these skills with girls in our society. I was glad to hear that my son is good at five general cognitive abilities such as social skills, self-regulated learning, emotional intelligence and creativity, since these skills were singled out by Dr. Ming as necessary for the future. Unfortunately, I was brought back to the present by my son’s private tutor, who called me right after Dr. Ming’s presentation to let me know that my son is unlikely to pass the exam for the eight-year high school. His five-year primary language school program partly co-financed by the EU is coming to an end. Given the competitiveness of the eight-year high school system in the Czech Republic, like many Czech parents, we have gone through the ordeal in investing large amounts of time, energy and money during the last eight months trying to improve his weak spots in mathematics, analytical thinking and information-based learning. The contrast between what is needed for the future and what is the status quo could not be any starker.

Dr. Ming is also a great example of a leader. Her life journey was not easy. She failed out of university and almost took her own life. She then discovered her life purpose: to make the lives of other people better. This discovery gave her the drive to complete a BA in neuroscience in only one year! She had undergone gender transition. Since then, she has had amazing success in her field, is a mother of two kids and specializes in the future of human potential. She has worked on applications to help patients with diabetes, bipolar disorders and learning.

Dr. Ming started her conference speech with a short statement,“The problem with the education system is that everyone has an opinion about it. Everyone is different, yet we develop systems meant for one type person”. I wondered whether she was aware of the fact that in the Czech Republic, the educational system has become prey for politicians and a panacea to many societal problems. The economy is currently suffering from the lack of manual workers? Let us introduce both manual skills classes and even agriculture lessons to primary school curriculum. The population is afraid of terrorism? Let us also include civic defense classes. Many students are choosing humanities instead of STEM studies? Let us introduce obligatory high-school graduation from mathematics. All of these implemented, without any deeper debate, without following latest expert debates and successful trends in education.

Dr. Ming then continued “Role modelling is absolutely essential for parenthood. Be the person you want your kids to be”. Wow, another challenging notion in a country, where the majority of parents still believe that it is up to school to provide both education and also upbringing and they are not ready to take part.

Dr. Ming, your talk was fascinating. Let us start with your conclusion. Find your talent and grow it. But how? On one hand, there are numerous possibilities, on the other hand, many young people do not know how to navigate themselves in today’s complex world.

Recently, I had the privilege to give a convocation at the school where I once failed and subsequently, after my amazing success, I gave my talk on three lessons I would do differently.

The first lesson states whatever you do right now, go all in. You are right about many young people receiving various contradictory advice from their surroundings but if they do not invest time and energy, if they do not try hard, how can they find out if they are going to love and succeed in an area? You are unlikely to be an expert at anything from the day one. I love what I do, but I had to struggle so many times to find the answer.

The second lesson says construct your purpose. There is not one thing you are meant to do in this world. You get to build your purpose yourself. You have to search for it, look for the clues.

The last lesson is about having the courage to “die” and start all over again. It takes about seven years to truly master something, therefore starting at the age of 11 and living up to 88 years, you have seven opportunities to become truly great at something. This notion is wonderful because it frees you from the pressure that one decision will influence the rest of your life. Your purpose will guide you, but on each journey, you will go deeper. Look at my life-story. As a man, my life was a massive failure. On my journey I became a scientist, an entrepreneur, and then a mum. There is no wrong choice if you are honest about it. Listen to what others say, but at the end it is your choice and again, go all in. Every time I have had an invention, it was thanks to these transition moments. From a neuroscientist into an educational company, to inventing treatments for diabetes and bipolar disease.

Your latest research is about maximizing human potential and you have become a strong advocate of soft-skills that you do not like to be called soft-skills, as they are measurable. The Czech educational system has witnessed the latest attempts to introduce farming lessons, manual workshops and civic defense classes to respond to pressure from the industry rather than to prepare kids for the future. What do you think about the future of education?

I am not criticizing specific policy choice but rather the broad policy choice about training people to do specific things. If you told me that the government is introducing programming, STEM only education and intellectual skills, I would be also worried. I can build an AI system that can do all of the above better. Therefore, the most disrupted careers will be in advising – whether financial, legal or medical. Economically speaking, earthly skills, such as agriculture will be more economically resilient than professional skills. Perhaps the labor cost is still cheap in the Czech Republic, but we should not forget that the labor cost runs downhill and ends in Rwanda. But governmental policy also affects the discussion in the US. As we will not allow Mexican immigrants to do low wage manual jobs, we might be constructing robots to do them, since no US worker is willing to pick food anymore.

What are the main points that governments are missing?

It is very simple policy trap in the form of solving the last problem. It is not about forward thinking – what the problem is going to look like in ten to twenty years. I am not a futurist but I know that a small number of people will be writing codes in twenty years. You need to look at the broader picture. You need to watch where the economy is moving. What is the US shifting towards, what is China shifting towards, what is happening in India and elsewhere?

Our 15 minutes is up. You have been quite disruptive also in regards to the future of universities. You research proved that university diplomas are not predictive as to the successful future. Charles University in Prague is celebrating 650 years of existence. What future do you see for classical universities?

University is a great place once you have all the meta learning skills. However, universities themselves have succumbed to the idea of building people for work-life rather than building better people to explore ideas. If I hire graduate students, I do not care whether they know neuroscience. I care about them being creative and adaptive. Universities will need to change themselves. But the bottom two-thirds will need to disappear as our AI has identified these as negative predictors. The top one-third will need to restructure. Let us discuss how to create interdisciplinary curricula instead of trapping people into degrees. How do we retrain people, how do we build resilience and growth mindset, and creative thinking? Let us invent something that will make the world better together. And I will not lead the project, being a scientific expert, but rather the students themselves will lead the experiments. How does that sound?

Immediately after the interview I downloaded the application Muse Dr. Ming developed. It is designed for parents to develop their children by spending quality time with them while enhancing children’s learning with fun daily activities. Based on your answers describing your child’s character and behavior, you start receiving tips for activities, so eventually your kid can become “a creative, adaptive problem solver”,as this is the only robot-proof category for the future. It proves that when the government is failing, businesses and start-ups can lead the way. And that was my positive take away from the two-day conference as a whole.

By Linda Štucbartová

“From Dhaka to Palmovka in Prague”

Mamun Hassan, Owner, Curry House

Mamun Hassan, the owner of the family restaurant Curry House, had already fallen in love with Czechoslovakia as a tourist in 1990. A few years later, he came back and started his career in the restaurant business. To many Czechs, he can serve as an example of someone who loves the country, appreciates the quality of living and particularly safety. I consider him one of the most modest and happiest people I have ever met. He can also inspire expats by the way he has embraced both Czech culture and nature, including learning the Czech language. His Curry House located at Prague Palmovka has several times been voted the best place to eat curry. Besides curry, the Curry House serves the hottest and spiciest meal Phall, ranked with seven chilli peppers and described as extremely hot with three exclamation marks. When words are missing, deeds come.

For neighbours, friends and also restaurant patrons, Mamun is known as a person who is always cheerful, has a big heart, and who is willing to help. As a member of Rotary Club Prague International, his restaurant enables the club to take part in three fundraising events throughout the year: Burger Fest, Indian Food Delivery Weeks and the British Curry sales during the Experience Great Britain event. Though keeping shy and modest, Mamun’s number of supporters proved to be enormous, as the reaction to our announced interview has proven. The number of positive remarks by far exceeded my previous interviews with Czech leading personalities.

Naturally, our interview took place in his restaurant. I asked Mamun to recommend meadish. Given the Czech nature and cuisine, I stressed that I do not like food too spicy. Mamun suggested Bengali Rezela, a dish that can be made with chicken, lamb, beef, shrimp or cheese. The sauce includes fried onion, yogurt, garlic-ginger paste and Bengali spices. Even though it says mildly spicy on the menu, the chef respected my wish and prepared it the non-spicy way. By the way, after the Curry House was voted as the best place to eat curry, some competitors tried to copy this particular dish. However, as they have never managed to copy it completely, they stopped. Over the delicious dinner, we managed to cover many topics. In addition to the obvious one of being a tourist in early post-communist Czechoslovakia, we talked about his advice for expats, discussed his dreams and, although this interview was definitely apolitical, we surprisingly ended up with the politics. Perhaps this was due to the fact where Mamun’s simple and cosy restaurant is in a house that used to belong to Václav Novák, a Czech political prisoner persecuted and later executed by the Nazis. Sadly, against Mamun’s will, one of Mamun’s plans, was also affected by politics. Relaxing, sipping a Mango lassi, the first question was obvious.

Mamun, how did you end up in post-communist Czechoslovakia?

I came to visit my friend in 1990. I immediately fell in love with the country. I felt safe and relaxed. Bangladesh is crowded and noisy. I tried to stay in Prague at least for one month to get to know the country better. At that time, it was not easy. Every day, I had to go to foreign police office and to change 20 dollars to prove I have enough of money to live here. But what to spend the money on? I was missing my food, so I started to cook. At that time, there was only one Indian restaurant at Štěpánská street. Not only was it very expensive, but you had to make a reservation at least four days in advance to get a table for dinner. From Czechoslovakia, I continued to visit my relatives in Great Britain and I returned to Bangladesh. A few years later, my friend asked me to come to the Czech Republic and start the restaurant business. I did not hesitate. To the disappointment of my father, who runs a successful family business and hoped that I would take over, I left for Prague and I stayed. In the beginning, I was going back and forth. Later, I brought my wife here. My first son, Dhrubo, was born in Bangladesh, since at that time we did not have enough friends and I felt it would be difficult with a newborn baby to be in the strange environment, not knowing the language or having friends and family. After my wife was going to and from Dhaka for a couple of years, I made the decision to make Prague my home. It was in 1997. I learned Czech and I made many friends here. I know most of my neighbours. My second daughter, Moon, was born in Prague. She goes to a Czech kindergarten, she is fluent in Czech, in Bengali and in English. As I have said, I feel at home here.

I belong among the Czechs who adore Asia. After such a long and grey winter, what particularly do you miss about Bangladesh?

It is not the sun. I got used to the weather. I miss my relatives and my friends. I go there every year and I try to spend at least one month with my family. I enjoy going to weddings, as medium Bangladesh weddings mean a gathering of about 1500 people and it lasts for seven days. Other than that, as I have mentioned, I am at home here and I am very happy. It feels safe. I have travelled across Europe, I have relatives in the US, but I have never felt as secure as here.

Let me go back to the mid-nineties, when you decided to establish Indian restaurant. Was it difficult given the conservative Czech nature and rather dull Czech cuisine?

As to the Czech cuisine, I must say that I like goulash, sirloin and cream sauce, grilled meat and duck. I do not like pork. My customers are loyal, I can say 95% are regular ones. I respect their taste and I try to cater to their needs and also actual mood. I try to make them happy. When they come for the first time, I prepare something not spicy. Next time when they come, I ask them: How are you today? What is your mood? Do you want to try something spicier? Slowly, you can progress from one star to two to three and so they discover new tastes and they have new experience. We are proud to use fresh and high quality ingredients. Our lamb comes from New Zealand, beef from Australia to assure consistent quality. I am glad I was able to find a local, small supplier of farm chickens. This being said, I am pleased to see the trend that the interest in Indian restaurants is growing. It is interesting trend when you compare it to Chinese restaurants that are statistically on decline.

You have lived in the Czech Republic for more than twenty years. You speak Czech, you have many Czech friends. Do you have any advice for incoming expats?

My philosophy is very simple. When in Rome, do as Romans do. Get used to the society, respect it, do not judge it. I know all my neighbours and they know me. And of course, learning some Czech helps but it is a very challenging language.

Racism and xenophobia is said to be on the rise in the Czech Republic. What is your experience?

As I said before, I love this country and I feel secure. I remember only two incidents when I had problems. During mid-nineties, skinhead movement was on rise. Twice I encountered the movement supporters on a street. I talked to them. I said look we are both human beings. If you wish, you can hit me but what for? I managed to negotiate myself out of that situation. My restaurant is located at Palmovka. Many friends have discouraged me from opening a business in that area. Again, knowing neighbours helps. And I am glad to hear that people come here all the way from Prague 4 or even Prague 6.

We both are members of Rotary Club Prague International. Your Curry House helps during three fundraising events throughout the year. At Burger Festival in September, during Indian lunch delivery in October and in March you were selling curry during the Great Britain day.

Giving back to society is really important for me. I try to help when I can. Besides the events you have mentioned, I also try to help either by providing food or by direct hands on contribution. Rotary Club Prague International project in India has been continuously running since 2007 and supporting one particular village in Rajsamand. We have been supporting several schools at this area. Schools were helped with uniforms, shoes, school books, books, writing materials and personal hygiene equipment. The schools were provided with some computer equipment, classroom furniture and kitchen equipment, as well as sports equipment and musical instruments. So far, we have helped 15 schools in different villages in Rajsamand, total amount 500 000 CZK. If interested in supporting, contact RCPI.

Unfortunately, you were not granted the visa to India to come and supervise the project. I wonder if the genius loci of the building that used to belong to a Czech resistant member also affected you?

I was honest when filling in my application for visa. There is one question asking about family members with Pakistani passport. Remember, the Bangladesh Liberation War broke out in 1971 between East Pakistan and West Pakistan, so Pakistani passport was the only one at the territory. Several times, I was denied entry based on that ground. But I consider the most important thing is that children in Rajsamand are happy.

Mamun, everyone who knows you describes you as cheerful and willing to help. Besides visiting India, do you have any unfulfilled dreams?

My dream is very simple. I want my family to be in good health, my restaurant to have a good position and I continue to be surrounded by good people. I wish to open one more extraordinary restaurant, but this dream may come true if my son Dhrubo comes back from his studies in London. But based on my own experience, it remains to be seen what his own journey will be. On the other hand, it looks like my daughter Moon will continue to run Curry House. Already at the age of five, she enjoys greeting the guests and she is curious about all the things happening. I am a truly happy man.

By Linda Štucbartová

“Respect and debate are the foundations”

Radek Vondráček, President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic

Arranging an interview with the man holding the state’s third highest ranking constitutional position attested to one of those coaching rules, which goes: “the greatest barriers are those we build in our own mind”. Getting an interview with Radek Vondráček wasn’t as difficult as one might think considering his top position. In fact, his secretariat responded promptly and eagerly. I don’t believe in chance, but rather in synchronicity. The interview took place the morning after President Zeman’s inauguration. Radek Vondráček had just had a long and difficult day managing a meeting of both parliamentary chambers in his role as President, or Speaker, of the Czech Parliament’s Chamber of Deputies. Remember that a number of deputies left this meeting to express their disapproval of the President’s speech. I was struck that the statement Mr Vondráček provided on this incident to the media began by thanking his colleagues for their careful preparations for the meeting, and only then giving his opinion. I saw it as a conciliatory gesture in the context of a divided society. The troubled atmosphere in Czech society is clearly apparent. People have taken to the streets for the first time in many years, first to express their solidarity with the murdered Slovak journalist, Ján Kuciak, and his girlfriend Martina, followed by protests against Communist deputy Ondráček being appointed head of the Chamber of Deputies’ Commission on Activities of the General Inspection of Security Forces (GIBS), and also by protests supporting independent media.

We were both a little tired and downhearted that morning. Nevertheless, we endeavoured to rise above ongoing events and under the bust of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, we discussed the Czech Republic’s past and future. How does he see today’s parliament, and the parliament of 100 years ago? What does his young son say about his work in politics? And how is he able to the help the Zlín Region as a proud native of Kroměříž? For me, it was extremely rewarding to look into the thinking of a politician who in just four years in politics now holds one of the highest positions in it. Yet in my opinion, he remains a humble and gracious man.

Is the Czech Republic a divided country?

I see conflict of opinion as having been continuously fed since the election. I see this division in my family, amongst my friends, in bars and in the parliament. I can’t compare how divided we are compared to other countries, but look at what’s going on in Slovakia. I’ve had the opportunity to visit Austria, where society is also polarised, and never mind the United States of America. So it’s up to politicians to be able to keep a certain perspective. And it begins with how you communicate in parliament. If politicians are going to continue to stand in front of the cameras and create conflict, then we won’t be able to move forward as a society. Everything can be dealt with substantively and practically. Problems occurred in regard to invitations to the inauguration. I hadn’t realised there was any problem; I found out about it from Twitter. ODS leader , Mr Fiala, came to me, told me about his problem and we tried to find an appropriate solution. In contrast, Mr Kalousek lost no time in making a statement, provoking further conflict, and totally unnecessarily. Politicians have got to be able to speak to each other, and people will follow. That’s what leadership is about, and that’s a topic your magazine also focuses on.

We may not have the same opinions, and in fact I wouldn’t want us to have the same opinions. The hardest test for any democratic politician is to learn to respect dissenting opinions. It’s the same in life. We each have our own circle of friends and acquaintances, and so we aren’t confronted with the challenge of learning to respect others with a different opinion. I myself remember when I began in politics in 2013 and I felt the need to convince everyone else that my opinion was the best, I was right and others didn’t understand. After five years in politics, I know that people have different opinions and I respect that. Naturally, I endeavour to promote my own opinion, but I also respect other opinions. Respect and debate are the foundations. But they are very fragile foundations. All it takes is one act of offence to trigger a set of responses which can spiral out of control.

Your political programme, with its slogan, “changing the political culture in the country” comes with the subheading “being polite isn’t a weakness”. Are you managing to fulfil this pledge?

As the President of the Chamber of Deputies, I’m doing my utmost to be non-partisan, to rise above current conflicts. Naturally, I am aware that within our constitutional system I cannot be 100 percent objective, but I really am trying to do my best. In the end, actions speak louder than words. I could give you many examples where I have given everyone equal footing. Furthermore, I have tried not to make a decision from a position of power, or by using some kind of trick. If an agreement isn’t forthcoming, I am happy to abort discussions and call on the leaders to come to an agreement. It’s up to others to evaluate my actions.

We’re holding this interview under Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk’s bust. Do you think it was harder to run parliament in 1918 than it is today?

I’d really love to know what our founding president would say about the situation today. But on the other hand, let’s not idealise the First Republic. I’ve read a number of speeches and discussions on the Parliament at that time. Human nature is always the same. MPs then certainly didn’t give anything away for free. And after all, one of the parliament’s roles is to deal with conflicts of opinion so they aren’t dealt with on the streets, as is happening now.

You’ve been in politics since 2013; since 2017 you’ve held the third highest constitutional position. How has your perception of politics changed over those five years?

Before I entered politics, my perception of the parliament was only as conveyed by the media. And the media doesn’t look for positive examples, but rather conflicts and extremes. You won’t find a report saying, “MPs behaved civilly today and came to agreement on all items.” Yet this happens. I could give you the example of the Act on Conflict of Interests, which aims to help mayors and officials at municipal council offices so that the declarations of assets they make do not overly intrude into their personal and family life, and I’m glad it was easy to come to an agreement about this act. I myself know of mayors who have chosen to resign their roles and leave politics rather than have their privacy, and in some cases the safety of their families, put at risk. On the other hand, the composition of the Chamber of Deputies today is rather unusual. We have nine parliamentary party groups and no coalition. The negative mood and missing structure is inevitably reflected in the everyday work of the Chamber. We form ad hoc alliances; this is a turbulent, fragmented era. I myself can see a great difference in my previous role as First Vicepresident, and now in my role as President. For the past three months, I’ve been almost constantly at work.

You are a proud patriot of the Zlín Region. How would you introduce the Zlín Region to a foreigner who until now has only known Prague?

The Zlín Region’s greatest treasure is its wonderful people. I come from Haná, but Moravian Wallachians and Moravian Slovaks also live in the Zlín Region. Anyone who comes from here knows the differences between us. But we’re all Moravian. I appreciate the hard-working and modest people who represent our greatest wealth. We don’t have oil fields or mines. Anyone who comes will see the beauty of our nature and the fact we are a border region. I’d also like to say that we are a Region with a lot of industry. We have many top manufacturing businesses which specialise in production, and they often also do their own research and supply large companies the world over.

You come from the beautiful town of Kroměříž, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is still debate, however, over to what extent this award has actually helped tourism and development.

We are very proud of this award, and we even have a UNESCO Club, something which is unique as having been set up at a local level, and not a national level. It is my conviction that this award helps us, and I enjoy boasting of the fact when I meet with ambassadors, for example. There are loads of fascinating tourist destinations in the Czech Republic, but tourists come here for a short time. This award undoubtedly helps to steer them here.

You say on your website that your previous work as a lawyer has helped you to appreciate the problems of people from a town with a population of 30 000 people. Are these problems any different from those of people living in Prague?

It’s always those thorny issues which get to lawyers. An example I could give is the regulation on building energy performance certificates, which complicated property transfer contracts. We subsequently dealt with this in parliament. On the other hand, people are the same everywhere, and they have the same worries. In terms of wage levels, the Zlín Region is the Region with the second lowest average wage. In fact, our nurses have the lowest wages in the Czech Republic. It is only due to the wonderful people that the health service works.

You’re the proud father of a son and a daughter; what future do you see for your children? Can you even reconcile politics and your family life?

I don’t want to predetermine any direction for them; I want them to make their own decisions. Parents should give them maximum support. I’ve led them to sport; they play tennis, ski. I also focus on their language education, and both play musical instruments. My wife does a lot to bring them up, and the grandparents also help. I’m the kind dad who spoils them at weekends. But still my nine-year old son always asks me each week whether I “really have to go to Prague to be Speaker of the Chamber?”

Finally, I’d like to return to the start of our interview. The Czech Republic is doing really well, and not just economically. All the ambassadors here praise it as a wonderful place to live. Why are we not satisfied?

I think it’s our national characteristic. They told me in Brussels that we’re the second most Eurosceptic country. But I told them: “The Eurobarometer just isn’t set up for Czechs.” We’re always going to be grumbling; it’s in our nature. It hasn’t been easy for a small nation to survive within Central Europe where loads of wars have begun and played out. We used to make fun of Moscow, and now it’s Brussels’ turn. Perhaps we can be proud of this in our own way. I personally look to the future with optimism.

By Linda Štucbartová

Ambassadors without diplomatic passport

Dr. Miriam Margala enjoys a rewarding and eclectic professional career. She is a university lecturer, teaching academic writing, communication and philosophy of language.

A conversation with Miriam Margala on various things: global and local; economy, society, feminism and writing

How do you perceive today’s Czech and Slovak Republics?

Well – the situation is quite fluid, of course, due to current political upheavals in both countries but especially, right now, in Slovakia. Both markets are quite sophisticated – even if not big – the workforce is highly educated and skilled. Both markets are very nimble and agile, especially in terms of entrepreneurship, innovation and start up environment – as quite a long list of international companies setting up their operations in the Czech Republic or Slovakia proves.

I must be honest and say that the rise of intolerance and various extreme views in the two countries I see as very troublesome. Policies based on these views impede entrepreneurship tremendously, which stunts economy, growth and innovation. The region does not need more conflict – it should continue to grow its prosperity. The recent civic involvement and movements in both countries – but specifically in Slovakia – give me a reason to be optimistic. Of course, it is up to the citizens of each country to make sure that their prosperity continues. From my personal experience, which I can offer as an academic, I can say that it’s been great to establish, coordinate and collaborate on various international projects. Of course, the structure needed for a very efficient, smooth process is not always there – it can be at times a wild ride, but people we work with in both countries are very much interested in collaborating and try to do their best to make the process smooth. I would still claim that most people, both in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, are very much outward looking and progressive in their thinking. Of course, it remains to be seen where the current situation leads.

We both share passion in interviews and you also have become a contributor to the Czech and Slovak Leaders Magazine. How has the genre evolved and do you think that people still have time for meaningful conversations?

Goodness – to be meeting great, interesting people; to be able to talk to them, to discover what they believe, think, what makes them tick – is there anything more engaging? I am not sure whether the genre as such has changed. It allows you to be quite free. For example, I am not interested in dry, boring “question-answer” interviews. I enjoy a conversation – in fact, I am a contributor to different European journals/periodicals where my main contributions are interviews – but I prefer to call them conversations. I believe that to put together a good interview, it needs to show there’s a connection between the author/interviewer and the interviewee. It needs to draw in the reader – I want my readers to expect from the interview that they will really learn something new about the person being interviewed. Something should stay with them for a little while – to make them think, ponder, or maybe they discover something new, something that makes them question their own views, perhaps even helps them discover something new. My prep for every interview is detailed; I put many hours into research and then into questions. Then I put many more hours into editing – it’s not only the topics I want to cover; it’s also (as I have mentioned) very important that there’s a clear connection, a certain fluidity to the interview that makes the reader want to continue reading. If I can bring that to my readers, then I am satisfied.

You are publishing a book and preparing a book tour. Tell us more about it…

Yes – I am so happy about that. Actually, I have two books out now – one is part of a very popular and critically acclaimed series published by a US publisher. The book is a collection of noir stories from Prague that I translated into English. The entire series consists of noir stories from capital and large cities from all over the world. I believe the series has 40 or more books already. In Prague Noir, each story is from a different period and place in Prague. When, not that long ago, my family lived for a time both in Prague and Massachusetts, I actually translated some stories while staying in Prague, working in various beautiful Prague coffee shops – it was quite wonderful. The other book is on art and communication and I authored a chapter on art and entrepreneurship. It is a gorgeous book graphically – and I hope interesting topically! Thanks to the other co-authors (Drs. Jitka Cerna, Jana Bouckova, Olga Trckova) who became my good friends. The book is beautiful aesthetically thanks to Olga, a very well known gallerist in Prague, who chose all the art represented in the book. It was a whole lot of work, but it was great to work on both books. There will be a reading of Prague Noir in New York in May. The book on art, The Power of Communication and the Gallery, came out in the Czech Republic (in English).

What went wrong with feminism and diversity? According to the World Economic Forum statistics, it would take until 2186 to reach full equality. Moreover, the statistics in 2016 show a year to year decline. What can we do to make gender equality a relevant issue for the whole society again?

I would go further – relevant is not enough. It is urgent! This is such a dificult question – the complexity and detail it requires to answer it comprehensively and fully are impossible to fit into our interview. So I will give you thoughts as they roam through my mind.

Let me start with a few questions: who invented a mechanical dishwasher; an anti-derailment device for trains; windshield wipers; the first 100% solar-powered house, Kevlar; who discovered DNA double helix, developed stem cell isolation; or spread-spectrum technology that’s at the basis of all the portable devices we use today? All women – and this is a tiny portion of a very long list. Very few – if anybody – would be able to put names to these inventions!

This year at Davos, they put on a panel on equality and there was so much brouhaha about that. It’s a great idea, do not take me wrong – but do you know what the percentage of women taking part at the conference in Davos was? 21%. I’d say it’s shockingly low.

Do you know which country has the most women in parliament? Rwanda. Not that long ago, I asked a few of my good friends – senior men who either are, or recently have been in a position to affect somewhat public policy. They did NOT know – and were surprised. They, pondering the question, went through the “typical” examples – all the northern European countries. Then I asked a follow up question – do you know in which countries various policies aimed toward equality have not been as successful as expected? The northern European countries. And the situation there is, of course, much much better than in other developed countries. Our global awareness is not all that great and that is detrimental to any progress.
I wonder how many people know that February 11th is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science – has anybody noticed anything going on on that day this year? Maybe a token posting here and there, a token article on a not-so-busy website. But – everybody was bombarded with ads to celebrate and spend money on the de rigueur day of love (Valentine’s) – the cheesiest of them all. Instead of a whole lot of noise to support young girls and women in science – so very much needed because the stats are dismal – only the numbing and dumbing blanket Valentine’s ads. What we should do is to show a whole lot more love for and support to girls and women in STEM – and of course, generally and unceasingly but especially on a designated day.

Let me use more shocking stats – or, let me be more specific – shocking for women who live or were brought up in Europe. The percentage of women working in the US is 47%. Less than half! Compare that with the EU – almost 70% and my other home country, Canada, where it stands at 80%! I will admit that my shock was partly caused by the fact that we tend to enclose ourselves in our own silos – in my case, that’s academia which is not your usual working environment. It is a very international place and (mostly – although not exclusively) – open minded, where curiosity (again, mostly) is tantamount to breathing; oxygen needed to live. A few years ago, I became involved with a non-profit organization based in Cambridge, Women Accelerators, where we promote advancement of women and address inequalities such as the gender gap, underrepresentation of women in various fields and leading positions, etc. I put together a panel of young women – all engineering undergrads. I asked them about their background and family support – not ONE of them said their mother was their example! I diplomatically furthered this conversation to figure this out – and discovered that all of their mothers were housewives. The moment they married their fathers, they became homemakers. Some of their mothers were college educated – one had a PhD degree. I asked why their mothers decided to become stay-at-home moms/wives. These young women answered in unison something along the lines of “it was, I guess, easier – they took care of us and Dad was the one making money”. I was stunned – but I also realized how isolated I was in my silo with other highly educated women; working while having children. These young women have as their examples their father and other women, not their mothers. I prefer to be the example to my son and daughter, along with their father. We talked about this, Linda – the two of us are women who support their husbands and are supported by their husbands (as is the case in other marriages, of course). We work every single day – while making sure our families are taken care of, both of us make sure of it – us and our husbands, fathers of our children. I want my children to see this respect, mutuality, both their parents working – realizing their potential, having satisfying jobs, careers through which they can affect change.

But because this is the United States, it gets more complicated. There are women who choose to stay home because they can afford it – and then those who have no other choice especially when they have children. Child care is prohibitively expensive in the US – and many women simply don’t have the choice to work and develop their careers. There are also those whose child(ren) may have a condition or illness and in order to take care of the child, the mother has to stay home (again, health care is extremely expensive). This is very complex and complicated – do note how it is almost always the wife/mother who stays home because they’re the ones making less money. It all comes back to the issue of equality. We must be honest and make sure that we talk about women who stay home because they have NO OTHER choice, not because they can afford to stay home because their husbands make a lot of money. Of course, I am sure there is a percentage of women who decide to stay home because they find it fulfilling – some of them volunteer in their communities so much that it pretty much becomes their full time job. I do not believe that this discussion is as honest as it could be. The stats would be more helpful if we had separate numbers for these different groups of women so that we can better understand what possible cultural, traditional or societal reasons there are for such a low employment of women in the US. I also believe that there’s far too much complacency. I’ve termed it “institutionalized complacency”. It can be pretty bad – an institution comes up with a policy, looking great on paper, making waves – becoming mesmerized by watching these waves…but eventually, they spread further and further, disappear completely and all we have left is an unchanging surface. We cannot see any change – but there’s always talk about all the implemented policies. Oftentimes, it takes on the form of self-congratulations – I dislike that extremely. The work we do for women through Women Accelerators does not allow us to become complacent or to self-congratulate ourselves because we pretty much walk in the trenches (all the self-congratulating policy makers should try that!) all the time, interacting with women who face hard challenges every day. We cannot afford complacency. On the contrary, only sincere concern can lead to meaningful and lasting changes. The cost of complacency and passivity is enormous – as the current dismal stats show.

I strongly believe that unless all of us change our attitudes, unless we all realize the urgency of this systemic and systematic injustice, we cannot expect much change. I believe we need men on our side – I am so lucky to have a husband and a son who are the best examples of feminists (equality and justice have become my son’s main concerns in his choice of education and future global work/career, I am proud to say). It is fundamental that we teach our children, sons and daughters, that we are all equal. That is a complex issue in itself – research shows that the support in elementary and middle schools for girls in terms of STEM education is essential and critical – this is where we are losing most girls. Those who persevere do not find the educational or working environment always supportive at other different levels, which leads to more losses. There has been some research conducted – but unfortunately, we have not seen any earth shattering results yet. In fact, as you Linda mention in your question, the numbers have gone down.

Another problem is that many become cynical upon hearing the word feminism. Its definition is so very simple: the belief that women and men should have equal rights and opportunities. Women constitute, roughly speaking, half of the global population. Let’s ignore the most blatant fact – that it is a human right for every woman to be equal legally, socially and in every other way to men. But – since economy moves this world – it is a fantastic resource of great economic power, all of us, women! How ignorant and unintelligent are those who have not realized this simple fact. But that’s because – let’s be honest – even the most developed countries do not pay much attention to educating their young people about all that women have achieved throughout history, despite their terribly difficult position. If anybody knows anything about perseverance and incredibly hard work, it is us, women.

Last, but not least, we must be honest and realize that internally, we can become rather disjointed. I fully realize that because of innumerable issues – in every aspect of life – in terms of progress for women an addressing the gender gap – it is not easy to have one streamlined, tidy movement. There are different movements, different organizations based on different matters, professions, interests, health issues etc. But we must make sure we are inclusive – and while we all can choose what specific issues we want to be engaged with, we should always be ready to support each other. And we need to make sure we get all the men who are on our side to work with us!

I absolutely believe that without all of us realizing the urgency of the situation, without understanding the history – at least some understanding of social and political causes of our terrible current status quo – and without being globally aware of women’s issues we cannot expect much change. It takes plain doggedness, resilience, hard work. I also believe that there cannot be effective, lasting and meaningful change if it comes only from institutional and /or governmental policies and regulations. We must change attitudes. Fairness, justice, inclusiveness and respect should be invited and supported by ALL members of our society.

So – how to get back on track, to see progress in terms of women being equal and having equal access to opportunities? I think it’s naïve to hope for a sustained, smooth progress. We have our differences – cultural, social, political and individual. We can institute policies – and we should, of course. But if that becomes just an exercise in checking o boxes on forms and reports – that is not enough. Our attitudes must change. And our expectations – we must expect all to respect women and treat them equally to men. That takes a lot of work, education and staying power. And you, Linda, and I both know that women are exceptional at demonstrating staying power. And unceasing will to go on, to communicate, to network, to listen, to state our goals clearly, to explain, to fight, to argue, to ask questions, to educate, to learn, to admit mistakes, to identify injustices, to look for the most effective ways to affect change, to be aware of global issues, to connect with others, to look out for each other. Let us never become complacent or too satisfied with our own work.

As one of my favorite writers, Zadie Smith, says: “Progress is never permanent, will always be threatened, must be redoubled, restated and reimagined if it is to survive.”

By Linda Štucbartová

“Values and Meanings in Politics”

Andrea Tittelová, Founder and CEO of Youth Politics Education and Co-founder of Forum Dobrej Politiky with Lubica Ragulová, her business partner and co-founder of Youth Politics Education

Andrea, I have been nostalgically remembering Czechoslovakia as one state. You have not lived during these times. How do you perceive the Czechoslovakian past and how do you perceive Czechoslovakia nowadays?

I saw an image of Czechoslovakia through the lens of my grandfather who was a politician in the Dubcek era and afterwards I was taught about mementos of Czechoslovakia in the context of the Velvet Revolution… the memory of two countries which wanted to stand on their own and show their statehood. Nowadays, Czech Republic occurs to me as a country where entrepreneurship is greatly increasing and innovations are present. On the contrary, the political situation shows the huge polarity of the nation. Czech Republic strikes me as a dynamic country and Czechs, as the nation demonstrates, very creative. In May 2018, we are preparing a Day on Innovative Politics in Prague and while organising this event, I can really feel how open and flexible the Czechs I work with, are and do behave. Additionally, civic society protests against the mandate of Mr. Ondracek have shown the deeply rooted legacy of Vaclav Havel in Czech Republic even after so many years of progress and development.

Czechs and Slovaks tend to compare one to another. What could we learn from one another?

I see that Slovaks are mostly driven by competitiveness once being in the presence of any Czech national. We do take different reactions and approaches when we, Slovaks need to cooperate with Czech colleagues. I will point out one thing: the thing that Czechs could learn from Slovaks or get inspired by is to show more emotions in their decision processes and in the way they pursue collaboration. The Slovaks can get inspired from Czechs from their drive, innovativeness and creativity.

You are organizing a conference on Innovative Politics in Prague in May. This conference will discuss new technologies, enlarging engaged groups and finding new answers to current political challenges. What is the main aim of the conference?

Innovative politics 2018 is an event where people who have contributed to policy changes in their respective countries exchange their ideas and improvements they have made in the area of public politics or citizens’ initiatives enhancing the changes in the sector of politics and policy making. We see that the current state of politics and the way of policy making isn’t currently based on innovation, the needs of the citizens, or grass root initiatives. We see that the world of business and start-ups has increased in innovation and the sector of politics and policy making risks being left behind. The intention is to open the space for debate about innovative approaches in politics and policy making. We will bring people who are in action in different countries in Europe who have demonstrated successful grass root approach. We are looking for new approaches to policy making that can bring positive value and directly influence the quality of life in our region. We are bringing the people who have taken their stand for innovating the public sector and policy making and have demonstrated this new way in their respective countries. The criteria is to bring and work with the people who have driven large scale innovations for this sector.

You proudly describe yourself as the ambassador of women and young people in politics. What is the achievement you are most proud of?

I am honoured we were selected among semifinalists of Forbes 30 under 30 Europe in the category law and policy. I am proud of the legacy Youth Politics Education has left in Slovakia from the 4 years of its existence. We have managed to deploy many of our students of Youth Politics Education in Slovakia, in Switzerland and also some of our alumni ran their own campaigns for the municipal elections in 2017. I feel proud that YPE, through collaboration with Dialogue, (Centrum Dialog, a non-profit collaborative which was instrumental in creating the National Values Assessment), have managed to make differences in society by organising the Forum of Good Politics. And I feel proud to be the ambassador and the speaker of already 3rd Constellation Summit 2018 organised by Global Institute of Extraordinary Women.

Besides politics, you are the proud owner of a winery. What has wine-making taught you?

To understand the Discipline. I found real love for the soil in the vineyard. If you decide to postpone some small thing in business it might have a big impact, but also it could have no impact. But if you break the rhythm of the vineyard, the rhythm of nature, the rules when to cut the branches, when to seek out the parasites and when to protect the branches with pesticides, you can lose all of your fruits and you will not produce any wine in a specific year.

Your final words for Czech and Slovak Leaders Magazine readers…

I am an advocate of consciousness and femininity in politics and public administration. I believe that our future will depend on three key principles: dialogue, the ability to listen, and collaboration. I believe that the principle of feminine energy present in national governments and in society, and collaboration between men and women will lead us to wealth and peace in the world. I believe also that taking a stand for something will be the vehicle for societal changes. As one of my role models Lynne Twist says “When you take a stand, it actually does shift the whole universe and unexpected, unpredictable things happen.”

By Linda Štucbartová

“There is only good or bad research”

Prof. Ing. Vladimír Mařík, DrSc., dr.h.c.

Congratulations, Professor, on receiving the Medal of Merit state award. How did you feel receiving the award?

It was certainly a great feeling, perhaps one of excitement, leading me to look back at my life up to now. I appreciate the award, because there is no higher award I could get in the Czech Republic. I’m happy my work has been valued at home too, having received a similar Austrian award, specifically a Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 13 years ago. This award, however, is not just for me, but also for my colleagues. Today’s Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics could not have come about without the courage and passion of over a hundred of my colleagues, who shared my vision of building something new and necessary for the whole Czech Republic.

Looking back at your career, what do you see as the key milestones?

One of the key milestones is building up the Cybernetics Department at the Czech Technical University, which I established in 1999 and led until 2013. This department has received the European Union Centre of Excellence title and the European Commission’s prestigious European IST Prize. Besides ourselves, only two companies have received this award, and when it is received by a department it demonstrates its outstanding quality. The next stage in my career began in 2008-2009, when I came up with the idea of building a new type of institute. In so doing, I aimed not just to integrate research in the subject area and secure a synergy between different workplaces, but also to become a kind of doorway to the world of industry, along the lines of Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University and Tokyo University. We must seek a solution such that we can transfer the knowledge which is concentrated at university and continuously expanding, to industry and put it into practice within society. We realise we are funded from the government budget. We are seeking a model for connecting excellent research with useful results to apply in practice.

I can feel your energy and passion, so I must ask about your further plans. We’re talking in a new building, the just opened and unique Testbed, but I’m sure you’ve got other visionary ideas in your mind.

Our first task is to make this institute fully operational by 2020. I anticipate the institute will have fully met its capacity of 350 researchers within three years. Already at the end of 2017, we have 180 positions filled. The institution won’t just be a showcase for the CTU, but for Czech higher education in general. We need another three years to implement this. We’re always aiming for the new; we’re currently supporting Industry 4.0 and Society 4.0 in the Czech Republic. We want to be home to a National Centre which will support not just implementation of Industry 4.0 ideas within industry itself, but also support smart cities, smart regions and modern energy systems. These three areas are closely related to today’s industrial revolution and represent three cornerstones on which quality of life will be dependent in future. Besides the Testbed, a new research and experimental workplace focused on Industry 4.0, we also want to have Smart Cities, Smart Regions and Smart Energy laboratories. And I’m going to mention one more longterm vision which goes beyond 2020. I want to connect our institute within a European research infrastructure in industrial manufacturing. Together with our partner institutes in Saarbrücken, Germany and other Austrian institutes, we want to lay the foundations of European virtual infrastructure for researching manufacturing facilities and systems on the basis of the utilisation of virtual reality. And then I’ll be able to retire.

I really appreciate your approach of not separating primary and applied research. In Israel, they consider this separation outdated.

I’ve held the opinion for many years that there is only good or bad research, and not basic and applied research. Both categories overlap so closely that no-one can say exactly where the border is. Some research is naturally closer to investigations of how the world works – physical, biological and other principles, while other research is closer to industry. Look at the graphene nanomaterial, for example. Where is the border between basic and applied research here? If I’m researching something, I need to test whether it is going to work in practice, and then use this feedback in further research closer to the core of the matter. It’s an artificially created border. Those whose research mainly results in publication outcomes endeavour to create their own world. Those with financial or industrial results should not enter this world. But one cannot live without the other. Here I deliberately set up mixed teams so that both categories of scientist are represented; both those closer to theory and those closer to practice. Expert theoreticians, who prove mathematical theorems and who are difficult to understand, work alongside those who can take intermediate results and test them out in practice. This is the best approach to ensure scientists working on socalled basic research do not become isolated in their own bubbles.

Another thorny issue is co-operation between universities and business. Why do some still look down on this type of co-operation?

Dare I elaborate. Do you mean they look down on it as something which is dirty, dishonest, inferior? Let’s go back to the start of our discussion. We’re at university, we travel the world, we collect knowledge, and all using public money. This means we have an obligation to do something for the state. The state needs to support the economy; it needs small and medium-sized companies which are going to respond to global trends to be competitive. Unfortunately, the Czech Republic does not own large companies such as Siemens and IBM, and small and medium-sized companies do not have enough funds for research. Thus our job is to assist small and medium-sized companies and bring them results. So why do I think there is so much grumbling that co-operation with industry doesn’t work? Co-operation with industry at sums of tens of thousands of crowns is not attractive, and doesn’t make sense. Only co-operation which is both long-term and systematic makes sense. That’s why we need a system which is stable and won’t change every two years depending, for example, on the decisions of academic senates. Teams which co-operate must be set up for the long-term, and must be stable and of a certain size. I am an open critic of the Czech higher education environment because it is not governed with a management style, but rather through senates with great powers but no responsibilities. Thus the environment closes in on itself and publications and taught lessons are valued, rather than transferral to real practice.

You’ve said that large and small companies are important for co-operation. Could one give a specific example of such co-operation in the large company SAP, with your centre as mediator, and Linet as a representative of small and medium-sized Czech enterprises?

You’ve put your finger on the fact that we do act as a mediator between multinational companies which set the trend, the research community and small and medium-sized businesses. This “triple alliance” is needed in applying new technologies within small and medium-sized firms. It is here that our economy’s momentum is created. And now let’s be specific. SAP has its own programme supporting universities and implementing cooperation. Institutes such as ours are a suitable partner because we are a platform both within the CTU and within the Czech Republic in general. If SAP is supplying software solutions or technical support, then it is basically supporting all faculties and opening up the doors to other universities who have workplaces here. We have created a single place where the complex SAP system can be established, and thus which can demonstrate all of its various aspects. We are gradually beginning to take up individual aspects and implement them into teaching, and we will subsequently be providing consultation to small and mediumsized enterprises. It should be said that there were a number of large companies that expressed an interest in co-operation, but discussions often ended merely at the level of promises. SAP, however, took action. They implemented a system, made a contract on co-operation with similar centres in Europe, were very accommodating in the needs of teaching and released the system for industrial co-operation with other businesses. Thus, in our Testbed we can demonstrate how physical production facilities can be connected to SAP. Investment from the company and our efforts are always required to begin with. We, however, teach small and medium-sized enterprises to use all the technologies we have available to us. It would be a shame if they didn’t use the systems because nobody understood them. You really need to bring in students to the systems, let them have a go on them and implement a smaller solution. In line with current trends, then, a large company with a very interesting global product which, however, is difficult to operate, can find a university which plays the role of mediator both for teaching future users, and also to enlighten current users.

And how does Linet come into this scheme of co-operation?

I’ve been following Linet since the very beginning; it is a company which is growing very successfully through the managerial abilities of its founder, Mr Frolík, whom I know personally. Our scientists have helped at various phases in solving certain elements of technology, whether in terms of developing special sensors for measuring particular patient bodily functions directly at the bedside, or in terms of a system using collected data from sold beds to help to secure so-called after-market service. At the current time, our co-operation is leading to improvements in current products, and we are considering what additional technologies can be added, whether in terms of computer vision or assessing biomedical data from sensors we have available. Linet is another example of a company which has always promoted co-operation with universities. Last week, we received their newest type of bed, which we are going to have in our so-called “intelligent apartment”. We’re going to be testing out all the equipment in this apartment. The apartment has standard furnishings, with a kitchen, staircase, living room with seating, a bed, but it also contains a network of sensors which are going to be collecting data on the movement or falls of individuals. Thus it will be able to monitor older, sick or disabled people. Basically, we’re going to have an overview of what’s happing within the apartment. And what does Linet expect to get from us? Testing their product in operation, feedback, involvement in the development of further solutions and last but not least, students learning about their product. Many students may become engineers in hospitals and will have an awareness of the brand and its products. This co-operation is evidence that small and medium-sized companies who work in developing technologies can become large companies. The Czech Republic can do this. This is the right vision for the Czech Republic. Small and medium-sized companies, which really are the driving force of the economy, will be able to penetrate not just beyond the Šumava mountains with their ideas and products, but even across the Atlantic Ocean, as Linet has demonstrated with its approach. Linet doesn’t just co-operate with us, but also with other universities, some of which they have already managed to join us up with.

Can representatives of other companies contact you about co-operation?

Yes; we have a procedure for co-operation with businesses. As I’ve said, we are always interested in long-term co-operation. We offer businesses the creation of shared laboratories where company representatives can investigate and prepare new technology solutions alongside our experts. The Czech Republic has much better conditions for this type of co-operation than many other countries. We have clever engineers with the gift of innovative thinking who can handle any situation.

So even Czechs can teach the world something?

Exactly; I’ll give an example I’m proud of. In 2016, we signed a contract with a German institute for artificial intelligence when Angela Merkel came to visit. Mrs Merkel promised 1 million Euro for the purchase of shared equipment. From the Czech politicians, we’re still waiting for the money promised, but our German colleagues had the money in their account within 14 days and today they have purchased 16 collaborative robots. We wanted to do an experiment in which we would take the robots and use them in our lines. After calculating the transport costs, we were forced to find another solution. As such, the machines can remain in Germany, but we can involve them in testing the production line using the internet. We sent our products to Germany electronically, and our colleagues printed them out. In this way, we created the first virtual Testbed in Europe. Some machines were on the ground floor, we left heavy robots in the basement and two robots were involved in Germany. We tuned their functions and using Google Glass we saw them on the screen as if they were here. On the neighbouring screen, we checked that they are connected in Germany as we had anticipated. Our colleagues in Germany really liked this first experiment. It is we who are today preparing a large European project within virtual reality. And an innovative solution such as this was the result of a lack of funds to move the robots. The possible outcomes, and resultant changes in the business model hand in hand with flexibility and speed represent the endless opportunities of the future shared economy.

By Linda Štucbartová

Photo: Vladimír Weiss

The journey from law offices to heading the Military Police

Brigadier General JUDr. Pavel Kříž, L.L.M.

Brigadier General Pavel Kříž studied Law at university in Plzeň, then at the University of Greifswald’s Faculty of Law and Economics. He worked for a law firm in Germany, then undertook practice within the German judiciary and at the bar. He found the work and relations in large law firms did not nourish him and in 2006 he joined the Military Police.

He also studied in Charlottesville, Virginia, for the George G Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Germany and for the Peace Center in Turkey. In 2011-2012, he participated in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. Since 1 June, he has been the head of the Military Police, reporting directly to the Czech Republic’s Minister of Defence. Pavel Kříž is married with three children.

General, first of all I would like to congratulate you on your appointment as Brigadier General, a rank you have received at the age of 39 after 11 years of service. Are you the youngest general in history?

Thank you for your congratulations. I see my appointment to the rank of Brigadier General more as an appreciation of the work of all military police officers.

Incidentally, I am not the youngest general in the history of the Czech Republic and Czechoslovakia. I believe this was Ludvík Krejčí, who became Brigadier General at the age of 33.

But you arrived in your career in the Military Police the long way round through the judiciary and the bar. Working in a large law firm did not suit you, however. I can appreciate this; confronted with reality, quite a lot of young people choose to leave large corporations. But you’re the first to leave for the Military Police. What led you to this decision?

The possible disillusionment you mention can probably happen in any sector, including the legal sector. I was lucky that I enjoyed my work, but I didn’t find quite the fulfilment I was looking for in it. Since I had always been an enthusiast of sport and hard physical exercise in general, for me it was a logical step to try working in one of the armed forces, perhaps the police or army. In the end, it was a compromise of the two and the Military Police came out on top. And considering the position of legal advisor to the MP’s Special Operations Unit I held, I also remained “loyal” to law, which I enjoy.

You were part of the ISAF mission in Afghanistan, for which you were also awarded a Grade III medal for Service in the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic, and a Non-Article 5 NATO medal, ISAF Operation. What has this mission given you, not just from a professional perspective, but also personally?

Experience abroad is always a great lesson. Contending with different nationalities, different mentalities, habits, the approach to carrying out one’s duties, perception of time and values; this is something that is hard to equate to anything else and describe: you just have to experience it. When on top of all that you are also being deployed in a war zone, the effects of everything I have just mentioned are multiplied about a dozenfold.

So to summarise my experience in a few words – it was an experience you can’t get in the Czech Republic, at both a professional and personal level.

Do you miss being on missions abroad? Does soldiers’ willingness to be deployed in missions change once they’ve started a family?

Before I was appointed head of the MP, I did want to go abroad at least one more time, which I guess won’t surprise you after what I’ve just said. But now it’s not realistic, and so I’m not even considering the issue. I know I can’t, so there’s no point in thinking about it.

The second part of your question would probably need a whole psychological study. I can hardly speak for anyone else, but in my case my willingness has not changed though I am more aware of possible consequences should anything happen. Personally, I think soldiers’ willingness and engagement do not change; in my opinion service abroad is a welcome challenge for most soldiers.

What does the public not know about what the Military Police do and should know?

I suppose not everyone knows what the Military Police’s actual mission is. The public usually associate us with the guarding of certain important buildings, or perhaps accompanying motorcades on visits to the Defence Ministry. The Military Police’s activities, however, go much wider. Some of our key services include not just the protection of buildings, people and entourages, but also traffic and enforcement services, protecting planes and flights, protecting supply facilities (formerly munitions depots), military pyrotechnic services, cynology services focused on finding drugs, weapons, munitions and explosives, and criminal services.

You are a public servant; is it possible to plan where your career will take you next?

There have been discussions for many years within defence on the necessity of progressively implementing a career system set up so that every soldier has an idea of how his career will develop in future. This should apply to soldiers across all ranks and all positions. Considering the role I hold, it is clear that in terms of career growth there is nowhere further for me to go within the Military Police, but a huge challenge for me is securing the Military Police’s further development and staff stabilisation. Recently, the Minister signed off on the MP Development Concept up to 2025 and one of the great tasks in front of me is to execute this progressively so it does not remain merely on paper.

What are your thoughts on reintroducing compulsory military service?

Personally, I don’t think we should go back to the model that used to be here, the compulsory year of basic national service. Considering how the technology we use today is developing, professional armed forces are clearly the right choice. On the other hand, I believe that all young men should be able to handle a weapon to a basic level, and be physically, morally and mentally prepared to serve their country if required. I think there is a lack of a sense of real patriotism and a certain respect for history in today’s society. This might sound a little emotive, but what bothers me the most is when I come across people who just hold their hand out but don’t offer anything themselves; they expect to receive but don’t offer anything themselves. As J F Kennedy said: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

By Linda Štucbartová

“Children are universal”

Pherooz Karani, Head of School at International Montessori School of Prague

Born in India, Pherooz was raised in Boston, Massachusetts, where she attended a Montessori school – founded and owned by her mother – from two months to twelve years old. She has spent her entire career in Montessori education, eventually moving from teaching to administration. In addition to her Bachelor’s degree in Education, she holds Association Montessori Internationale diplomas for every age level, from Infant and Toddler (London), Primary (New York) to Elementary (Prague) and an American Montessori Society diploma in School Administration. Currently, she is completing a Master’s of Education program at Endicott College in Massachusetts with a specialization in Integrative Montessori Leadership.

Pherooz, what brought you from sunny Florida to the country suffering from long, grey winters?

The answer to this question is two-fold. My partner is Czech, so I was actively looking to move to Europe and ideally, Prague. At the same time, I was in contact with Katka Bečková, the Executive Director of IMSP, who had offered me a teaching position a few years prior. This time she was looking for a new Head of School just as I finished a previous contract and things fell into place very quickly. Now I’ve been happily settled in Prague for more than six years, and married to my partner for over four.

Apart from winters, what was the most challenging to adapt to?

Well, although I had lived in Florida for the two years prior to coming to Prague, I spent most of my life in Boston, which gets significantly colder than Prague, so the winters were not an issue! Instead, I found it surprisingly dificult at first to navigate the cultural differences. Czech people tend to be much more reserved and private than the average American; they are much less likely to put on a cheerful or enthusiastic persona. However, I quickly learnt that Czechs are just as warm and welcoming as Americans, they just show it in different ways.

What was most surprising?

The religious underpinnings of Czech culture. As a Christian who nonetheless firmly believes in separation of Church and State, in America I was always very mindful of not mixing religion in my professional life (for example, avoiding religious carols in the Winter Concert). Here, instead, I encountered many people participating in, and enjoying, Christian customs and traditions without necessarily connecting them to the religion itself, such as the baby Jesus or St. Nicholas bringing presents to children.

Have you learned Czech?

No, much to my mother-in-law’s disappointment. Working in an international environment has made it more challenging to learn an already dificult language. I keep trying though and have gotten fairly decent at ordering a meal!

An international career offers many opportunities to travel. Which countries have you visited and what have you learned?

My career has taken me to the United Kingdom and across several states in the United States before Prague. The work is the same anywhere you go, it’s just communication with parents and team members that changes based on their cultural experiences and expectations. In my personal life, I’ve travelled across Europe, North America and South Asia, and enjoyed all of it; I’ve found common humanity through a wide variety of local cultures, environments and places, each with their unique beauty. Somehow many Montessorians I know are avid travelers, fulfilling Montessori’s concept of global citizenship, and that’s certainly how I feel and how I encourage students to see themselves.

Can we say that children are the same anywhere in the world or can you see differences between different places? What are the differences between Czech and American children?

Children are definitely universal. I believe their development and human tendencies are exactly the same the world over, in mansions and huts alike. Of course, the local culture plays a role but less than you might think. I think you can start seeing cultural differences in the Elementary age, when children begin mirroring social mores in their communities, but still their needs and tendencies are universal, for example – at this age – the need for acceptance and understanding your place in the world. Montessori definitely saw this and wrote about it at length. This is why her method is so successful around the entire world – because it’s not based on local cultural or historical tradition, but on studying the children themselves.

You studied theatre and you like to attend theatre performances in your free time. How do you find Prague’s theatre scene? What are your tips?

Naturally, I miss lot of Prague’s theatre life as I don’t speak Czech! The English scene is quite small, of course, but very enthusiastic, and growing rapidly, especially in the past years. Fringe Fest – a weeklong festival of English-language theatre, is one of my favourite times of the year and we always attend multiple performances on each of its days; it’s a great way to find new performers and make connections. The Cimrman English Theatre is doing fantastic work and I’ve loved being introduced to those iconic Czech pieces in my language! And finally, I saw several stand-out performances through the Prague Shakespeare Company and Divadlo Na Prádle. There’s also several smaller companies doing excellent work.

What are your next plans?

For now, I am committed to stay at IMSP at least through June 2019. I love Prague and I can imagine living here for many years and starting a family here. Career wise, after I complete my MEd, I’m looking forward to embarking on the Montessori teacher training for Secondary Schools. Once I complete that training, I will be Montessori certified from birth to age 18, a rare achievement in the Montessori world. I also enjoy consulting with other schools so look forward to continuing this important work as well.

What are your tips for expats in Prague?

Marry a Czech, it makes life so much easier! But on a serious note, get connected. There are so many wonderful events and groups, centered around interests, hobbies, skills, family, study, and much more. The expat community in Prague is very dynamic and I believe anyone can find company and camaraderie in it. A good way to start is to monitor the Prague Expat Facebook groups – Crowd Sauce is one I’ve found terribly helpful.

Linda Štucbartová

“In Israel it’s about what you know, not who you are”

Delana Mikolášová, first Czech Attaché for Science, Research and Innovation in Israel

We met in Tel Aviv, in Café Masaryk on Masaryk Street under a larger than life-sized wall-mounted picture of the first Czechoslovak president. The venue alone demonstrates how unique and lasting Czech-Israeli relations are. It was Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk who was the first statesman in office to travel to the then territory of Palestine in 1927 to support the idea of establishing an independent Jewish state. But good diplomatic relations can’t rely solely on history; new trends and areas have to be focused on too. The modern State of Israel, termed a “start-up nation”, excels in science and research. Although the Israeli population represents just 0.1 % of the global population, in terms of scientific publications, Israeli scientists produce a respectable 0.5-0.8 % of worldwide output. It is no coincidence, then, that in 2015 it was to Israel that the Czech Republic first sent out a scientific diplomat. And as Leaders readers know me as an equal opportunities advocate, I am twice as proud that the first scientific diplomat role has been filled by Delana Mikolášová.

Delana, let’s begin with the recent past; it’s your two-year anniversary in this role. What have you achieved over this relatively short period of time?

A lot has been achieved; first of all I should mention the establishment of institutional co-operation with the Weizmann Institute of Science. This institute is considered one of the ten most prestigious science institutes in the world. In spring this year (2017, author’s note), Deputy Prime Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, Pavel Bělobrádek, visited the Weizmann Institute of Science accompanied by a scientific mission to sign a Declaration of Mutual Co-operation with the Institute’s president, Daniel Zajfman on behalf of the Czech Republic. As a result of this meeting this meeting, the Czech Academy of Sciences has already arranged scholarships for Czech post-doctoral students. Our young scientists will now have the opportunity to undertake research at the Weizmann Institute for up to three years. We can be proud of this success, as with the exception of bilateral agreements with the USA and partially with Germany, no other country of our size has achieved an agreement for such an extensive and direct form of co-operation. I am extremely pleased that the first two Czech researchers have been working at the Weizmann Institute since November 2017 and more will follow next year. Another success I would like to mention is the links forged between scientists and researchers from the Academy of Sciences with their Israeli counterparts. Within eight months, a total of over 150 scientists from both countries have met as part of a mobility grant, which is an exceptionally high number. I am pleased that there is mutual interest in co-operation. Besides prestigious institutions such as the already mentioned Weizmann Institute, the universities in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and Technion in Haifa, the Israeli Chemical Society is also actively engaged in the Czech research environment, sending its experts to the prestigious international organic chemistry conference organised by Masaryk University in Brno. When I started out in this position, one of my main tasks was to establish working cooperation between Czech and Israeli institutions and research sites engaged in science and research. I think we have achieved this. Now both Israelis and Czechs know whom to contact if they are interested in co-operation. Important partners for me in Israel are in particular the Ministry for Science, Technology and Space, and the Directorate for Science and Research for Co-operation with Europe, part of the Ministry of Economy. I’m involved in the process of establishing Czech-Israeli co-operation as a kind of facilitator; I don’t deal with the academic side of the matter, but rather help mainly through brokering suitable contacts and accelerating cooperation on both sides. Scientific co-operation is very interesting within diplomacy; political topics are sidelined and you are confronted with all the different fields, from biology to physics, something which is incredibly interesting.

To what extent is the role of science diplomat, or more specifically Attaché for Science, Research and Innovation, widespread in other countries?

The fact we are building up this network puts us alongside larger countries. In Israel, countries such as Great Britain, Italy, Holland, France, and from the Visegrad Four also Hungary, have filled this position.

For a long time, you were the only science diplomat the Czech Republic had appointed.

There are two of us now. My colleague was appointed to Washington in summer 2017. I think it is really important to expand a network of science diplomats, as it is becoming an ever more influential part of modern diplomacy in the West. The Czech Republic should not be left behind here. Once the other party becomes familiar with our position, it greatly facilitates communication for all involved.

What was your career path?

I studied Political Science and European Studies in Olomouc. I spent almost two years on an exchange study programme at the University of Tel Aviv during my studies. I taught for a while at university, and I then underwent a selection procedure at the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affair’s Diplomatic Academy. After completing my diplomatic training I worked for three years at the Middle East and Africa Department where I was responsible for relations with Israel and the Palestinian territories. As I’ve already mentioned, I don’t consider myself an expert in science; my contribution is more a knowledge of the environment, contacts, culture and mentality. Israelis are focused on accomplishments and speed; they are used to make decisions very quickly. It may occur that Israelis change times or venues for meeting at the very last minute and you shouldn’t take this as a sign of disrespect or disinterest. It is also important to take Jewish holidays into account, and the fact that here Sunday is the first day of the working week. Czechs too often aren’t aware of these facts, and this can lead to unnecessary misunderstandings.

Israel presents itself as an interesting partner or investor. What else should Czechs know about Israel?

Israel is very close to Europe. Today we’re sitting here together in a café. in the centre of Tel Aviv, and as you can see for yourself you don’t need to worry about complex cultural differences or be afraid of the security situation. News in the media, in particular regarding security, does not always reflect reality. Regarding science and research, in terms of number of scientists per capita Israel is ahead of powers such as the USA and Japan. There are 8 400 scientists per million population in Israel; in the Czech Republic we have 3 400 scientists per million population. There are 5 000 technology start-ups here, and 500-1000 more popping up each year, which is the highest concentration after Silicon Valley. In Israel, it’s mainly about what you know, and not who you are formally. This is a society which gives great opportunities to women; gender here does not play a role. Furthermore, all Israelis have army experience, where women hold roles as commanders, and so they don’t have problems with women in high management. Israelis are also very family-oriented, establishing their families earlier than in Europe. Israel only gives short parental leave of just three months. However there is also a very well-developed system of care for small children in the form of various crèches then nursery schools which allow women to return to work quickly without their career having suffered in any major way through setting up a family. I would also like to say that Israelis don’t insist on authority and as such it is relatively easy to meet with even high status people. And you will always get the chance to showcase what you know or can offer. It is purely up to you how to take advantage of this.

I’d like to return to Israel’s successes, especially within the exact sciences. Are the humanities in decline in Israel? And are there some proven practices which the Czech Republic could apply?

Humanities and social sciences comprise the bulk of subjects studied at universities; science and IT only represent about 30 %. The reason Israelis aren’t afraid of science is that from the beginning of schooling they are taught to build a natural relationship with science. 2nd Grade of the Elementary School children begin undertaking certain science projects. Politicians are also involved. Former Israeli President Shimon Peres promoted high school student visits to university laboratories. These models are then important within communities. It has been shown that Israeli Arabs do not have so many natural role models in their families in terms of academic
workers. However, if they visit university with their peers they can easily find their own models. Science knows no borders. It was Shimon Peres who promoted the idea of Israel as an innovative nation. The Shimon Peres Centre, which Peres founded during his lifetime, does not just focus on studying peace, but another important part of its agenda is to promote science and innovation across all sections of Israeli society. Shimon Peres declared that, “Israel’s size should not be measured in square kilometer, but in the number of scientists per square kilometer.” Basic research is not particularly differentiated from applied research, and an entrepreneurial approach is part of the university approach. A title is not of itself important. A doctorate in biology is no guarantee that your start-up will also be a success.

I feel your dedication and energy. Israel has infected you in a good way then.

Yes; after a few days you begin to feel that absolutely anything is possible here. I’ll give my friend Helen Wexler as an example, who was nominated amongst the 60 most influential Israelis under 30 on the basis of a prestigious ranking put together each year by Forbes magazine. At 27 she is leading a successful start-up engaged in sustainable architecture on the Moon in collaboration with a NASA team. Her second project focuses on supporting the start-up ecosystem in Jerusalem, and co-operates with Jerusalem Municipality Council. She also lectures at the Hebrew University and often takes part in conferences in Europe and the USA. Yet she still has time for her friends and her partner. These stories enrich you while also making you think about what you can do. As I have already mentioned, the ideas of “If you want to, you can” and “There are no obstacles” really are infectious in a positive sense.

Finally, I’d like to ask you for any recommendations for anyone interested in co-operation with Israel.

Israelis don’t lack the self-confidence to showcase their ideas and test them out even if they don’t always succeed. We Czechs still tend to underestimate ourselves. We have great experts who sometimes feel that Israelis are better informed. Yet this often isn’t the case. Israelis merely know how to present facts better. Note that in the renowned book “Start-Up Nation”, many of the projects showcased were not implemented or even fell apart. The facts that start-ups fail is considered a normal state of events. And similarly it would be strange if you applied for a position in some company without experience in at least one start-up. It is entirely common to change your job or field of work, with specialisation put off until later. It is important to adapt to what is needed. This flexibility can give us inspiration.

By Linda Štucbartová