AuthorMartin Hladík

“NAFIGATE will become a world-renowned cosmetics brand”

Ondřej Mynář, CEO, Nafigate Cosmetics

In October 2018, the Czech company Nafigate Cosmetics launched a new cosmetic product that does not use microplastics. This product has secured world primacy for Czechs in access to cosmetics. The new peeling shower milk with the natural polymer P3HB is based on a unique development by Czech scientists. There is a picture of a sea turtle on the product packaging, reminding the consumer of the serious problem of microplastics in water. As we deal with innovations in business regularly in Czech Leaders, I happily accepted the invitation to lunch from Ondřej Mynář, CEO of Nafigate Cosmetics. A work lunch has never passed so quickly. I admired how young and successful Ondřej is, while remaining modest and humble in spite of his success. He started as a summer worker in the company, slowly working his way up to the CEO chair and fully taking over the management from his mother, Lenka Mynářová. Ondřej Mynář faces the future with optimism. He has travelled nearly the whole world, but decided to continue doing business in the Czech Republic. He speaks of Czech scientists with enthusiasm, as he does of his dreams. Personally, I am glad that this special issue dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Czechoslovakia can feature him, a representative of the new young generation of leaders who are picking up the industrial tradition of the First Republic while having global experience and ambitions.

Ondřej, what was the path from academic research into nanofibres to a cosmetic product that is unique in the world?

The research started in Nafigate Corporation and focused on development of nanofibre applications for water and air filtering and on the application of nanofibres in biotechnologies. As part of its activities, Nafigate Corporation worked on developing nanofibres designed for skin use. Examining the transfer of active substances using nanofibres was one part of the medical research that appeared very promising. It showed that nanofibres can in fact actively bind pus from acne, for example. Eventually, a team of about 15 scientists decided to make a bold innovative leap: shift the research into cosmetics. Medical research is both money- and time-consuming in terms of approval and regulatory procedures, and it takes decades; we have to be able to respond within weeks. And it was based on this nanofibre research for cosmetics that Nafigate Cosmetics was established in 2015.

The story of Nafigate Corporation and Nafigate Cosmetics can be used as an example of combining primary and applied research. At the start, however, your key product failed rather than succeeded, which goes to confirm the well-known fact that initial failure is common in start-ups and means nothing.

Research into nanofibres and their effectiveness was indeed the foundation for Nafigate Cosmetics. Nafigate Cosmetics started as a spin-off project with the product AcneInvisible. Building a company on a single product was in itself not the best idea. AcneInvisible didn’t do well as a product. It cost us a lot of money and energy, but on the other hand we learnt a lot from it. We removed the product as such from the market after a year and a half, because it fell short of our high expectations. During the product modifications, however, we confirmed the effectiveness of nanofibres in cosmetics, customers began asking for more products, and eventually they demanded a whole product range. So we gradually developed Nano-Eye Lift, used for immediate wrinkle reduction.
A study verified by the National Institute of Public Health proves a reduction in wrinkles of up to 75% after a 30-minute application. At the same time, the nanofibres open up pores, enabling penetration of more active substances into the skin. Gradually, we’ve marketed creams, serums and other products, as is common with other cosmetics companies. The total number of our products has grown to 36 in three years. We have not only thousands of customers but also more than 350 partner parlours, where customers can test out our entire product range. We thus offer not only products focused on wrinkle reduction and hydration, but also a cream with active substances containing hyaluronic acid. We continue to market not only new products in the form of cosmetics but also technological innovations that make our products unique.

Your career story somehow reminds me of the American dream. You joined Nafigate Corporation as a summer worker and then you worked your way up to marketing manager and marketing director. At Nafigate Cosmetics, you’re the company co- owner, chairman of the board of directors and you manage the whole company.

Yes, I started by preparing documents and presentations. Communication in Nafigate Corporation ran at a scientific level, proceeded at professional trade fairs and focused on development. After establishing the cosmetics company, I was the only one with the basics of communication marketing, and I was able to communicate over social media and adjust communication to the end customer. Suddenly I started dealing with very different issues relating to legislation and base products. After three years, I can say in all conscience that we have everything working smoothly and the team’s well on its way! We employ 15 people and our turnover target for this year is over 8 million.

Let’s now look at your brand new product, which you launched in October and is unique in the world of cosmetics.

It’s a shower gel based on a biopolymer that’s never been used in cosmetics so far. This means our product doesn’t contain microplastics, which are microparticles that enter water and severely contribute to upsetting of the ecosystem, because microplastics take centuries to break down in the environment. The Hydal technology again originates from Nafigate Corporation. By the way, the Hydal technology won first place in this year’s competition Innovations for Sustainable Development. It’s a new technology, the only one in the world that can process industrially and reuse spent deep-frying oil and turn it into a brand new, high-value raw material, a PHB-type biopolymer. It’s used either as a raw material for bioplastic production, or as a naturally decomposing microplastic. Nafigate Cosmetics has been successful in grasping the ideas of excellent Czech scientists and linking them to the end market. I’m glad to bring to the market innovations coming from Czech scientists, who can do world-class science at a fraction of the cost. That said, the transfer of innovations from laboratories to the end market is very complicated.

It looks like you’ve found the Holy Grail of linking primary and applied research. Even big corporations have a hard time finding an answer to that. For you, it’s the customer who’s at the fore, not science as such.

There’s an underlying united effort of all those involved. We all strive for the best product for the customer. We face numerous challenges, legislation being the first one. If you’re a pioneer in something, for example in using biopolymers in cosmetics, you have to design special testing, because no-one’s ever done this procedure before you. The readiness of the whole team for action is shown when the first non-standard procedure comes. I’m really proud of the composition of the teams in both companies, Nafigate Corporation and Nafigate Cosmetics. Nafigate Corporation pays great attention to talent management; resolving the problem of not using microparticles involved an array of absolutely brilliant postgraduates, supported by more experienced corporate employees. The other team, at Nafigate Cosmetics, then literally dived into resolving the legislative issues connected with marketing the product. The point is that the customer demands all the standard properties in a product; innovation is secondary only to that. To give an example: when you use a shower gel, you have to get a pleasant feeling from using it, a gentle touch, foaming ability, and so on; the innovation really comes second in this case. The product’s properties have to be identical, to which we add a second value, namely an environmental approach, since the product is fully degradable in water. We have one stage in the product development cycle that not many companies have. None of our products will reach the market until we have favourable comments from customers. We use a network of cosmetics parlours for this, in which we regularly test our products. We pay great attention to feedback from our customers, and adjust our formulations based on it. Frequently we do this repeatedly. On the other hand, we’re very fast and capable of responding within weeks or several months. Sometimes we don’t market the product at all, because we know we wouldn’t be able to keep our promises and corporate values. We make our products without parabens, and if we use perfumes, then only natural ones.

Another frequently debated issue is successorship. You took over from your mother, but originally she wanted you to do sociological research. What’s it like working with your mum?

You know, sometimes it’s hard to have your mum at work. On the other hand, I realise many of my achievements are only thanks to her. She allowed me to travel, organise trade fairs in China, and try dealing with important business partners. As for business, each of us is different. I’d describe my mother as an energy hurricane. She handed the company over to me completely, as I don’t think having multiple leaders is viable. I was well prepared for successorship; I’d worked hard for it. All the employees knew me, as I’d hired some of them myself. The fact that I’d helped build the company and had an expert understanding of the issues helped me a lot. I often see cases where someone from the outside arrives to manage a company. Personally I don’t think it’s appropriate; you have to know the company from the inside. It’s also easier to gain people’s confidence if they’ve known you as a hard-working person with a vision for moving the company forward.

What is your vision?

To build a world-renowned cosmetics brand based on technological innovations. To use the magnificent potential of Czech scientists in the Czech Republic, which is a great country for doing business. I’ve travelled all over the Czech Republic. At present, we have facilities or collaborating institutions in Ostrava, Hradec Králové, Liberec and Prague. What we are lacking is better PR, and I’m glad to be able to contribute with my vision for a company that has the potential to change the world.

By Linda Štucbartová

(This interview is a loose continuation of the series on innovations. We recommend the previous interviews about nanotechnologies with Jiří Kůs and about circular economy with Soňa Jonášová. The interviews are available on- line at www.czechleaders.cz/interviews)

“I welcome any substantive discussion”

Alena Schillerová, Minister of Finance of the Czech Republic

How and with what feelings did you celebrate the 28 October 1918 anniversary?

The hundredth anniversary of Czechoslovakia’s founding which we celebrated this year inspired me to remember those who helped the newly emerging state to attain its place in the heart of Europe. Our predecessors weren’t just involved in the formation of our independent state, but also helped ensure that Czechoslovakia was recognized as an island of democracy within Central Europe. Although we certainly shouldn’t disregard the darker periods of our history either, because as Winston Churchill once said: “A nation that forgets its past has no future.”

This interview is for readers of Leaders magazine. How do you perceive leadership, what kind of leader are you, and do we have enough leaders today?

I think good leaders are drivers who believe in themselves, in their people and in what they’re doing. They can choose the right people and give them the space to show what they have within themselves. They can motivate their team and give it positive energy and inspiration. I have tried to adhere to these principles the whole of my career. And even in my professional life, I’ve had the opportunity to encounter loads of people who exactly meet these characteristics.

Forbes magazine has described you as the third most influential woman in the Czech Republic. Congratulations on behalf of the Czech and Slovak Leaders editorial board. How do you perceive this award?

It’s a great honour for me, and also proof that our work at the Finance Ministry is noticed and appreciated. At the same time, I consider the award a great commitment, and I take it with the same humility that my colleagues and I feel in working for the citizens of this country. We still see many things here we want to improve.

You are the first female Finance Minister. How do you perceive the debate about equal representation for women in top positions in the Czech Republic? Can you say what the new perspective you have brought to this role is?

Being a woman in charge of a department might seem like an advantage, because as women we have a somewhat different method of communication than men. But I’ve never tried to deliberately exploit this. Over my whole life, I’ve endeavoured to ensure that it is my abilities and my work which speak for me. I hold the position that if you do your work well, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a man or a woman.

Let me yet avail of your expert perspective – how do you see the gender pay gap problem, which is the second highest within the EU here in the Czech Republic?

According to Eurostat, on average women here earn 22 % less than men, which seems really appalling. There are many reasons for this difference. It is almost exclusively women here who take parental leave, putting their career on hold for a number of years during which time men reach higher positions. These differences are less clear in the over-55 age category however. Also, more women work in education and health, fields where people earn less in general than in fields where more men work – e.g., in construction. But I certainly don’t want to downplay the problem. On the contrary. By law, employers must follow an equal treatment principle in rewarding their employees, but unfortunately this principle is still quite often breached. Women’s lower earnings are reflected in the size of their pensions – women receive pensions of around a fifth less than men and, as such, are more frequently at risk of poverty.

As Finance Minister, you are mainly linked to the introduction of electronic sales records. The Finance Minister isn’t exactly popular right now, nor is the electronic sales records concept. What is it like in general to enforce unpopular measures?

I don’t think electronic sales records are unpopular. On the contrary, sociological research suggests it is consistently supported by around two-thirds of Czechs. But of course, I regularly meet many people with different opinions to me on many matters. And that’s okay. I relish my work, and thus I welcome any substantive discussion and I don’t object to reasonable suggestions. From time to time I also encounter criticism which I consider unfair and full of misrepresentations, but I certainly won’t let it frustrate me. That’s why I also think my mission is about clearly and matter-of-factly explaining the what, why and how of what we’re doing.

I know you’ve given lectures in the past. Do you still find time for them?

I currently lecture at various specialist seminars or at meetings with entrepreneurs. In the past I was an external lecturer at the Faculty of Law’s Department of Financial Law and Economics at Masaryk University in Brno, but now my busy schedule means I just don’t have the time. But I’m always happy to return to academia, and I will certainly be happy if the opportunity again arises in future to lecture to students.

As a member of the Brno University of Technology’s Scientific Board, I’d like to ask you how you’re managing to link science and the practical world.

As Finance Minister, I think it is important we are able to give more money to this field. In the draft state budget for next year, we have boosted expenditure on higher education by 2 billion crowns, and education overall has also seen significant improvement – by 29.6 billion crowns. Besides that, we are also increasing expenditure on science and research by 1.5 billion crowns to a total of 36 billion crowns. And as a former member of the Faculty of Business and Management Scientific Board at the Brno University of Technology, I can confirm that when I held that position it was very common for students to acquire practical knowledge during their master’s studies. The faculty’s doctoral studies and science and research activities have continued to develop, and I believe that co-operation with the practical world and the business sector is today expanding. I trust that other economic and technical faculties are doing similarly well.

What would your advice be if you were mentoring yourself twenty years ago?

To be honest, I wouldn’t give my younger self any specific advice. I’ve made progress in small steps over my career, and I truly appreciate what I have finally managed to achieve. Now I’m Finance Minister, and that didn’t just come out of thin air. It’s the outcome of the decisions I made at crucial forks in my previous life. And it’s also because I’ve managed to overcome various challenges. Building a career is a life-long path during which one acquires the necessary experience and learns from one’s mistakes. Looking back, there’s nothing I would change.

By Linda Štucbartová

“We Tell Stories”

Michal Lukeš, Director of the National Museum in Prague

At the age of 26, Michal Lukeš was the youngest director of a national cultural institution in Europe, and after over 15 years in the position he is one of the longest-serving museum directors. Under his management, the National Museum has repaired most of its dilapidated buildings, such as the National Monument at Vítkov, the Czech Museum of Music and the Ethnographic Museum. He pushed through the renovation of the National Museum building on Wenceslas Square and secured funding for it, and acquired the former Federal Assembly building for the National Museum. He has managed to repair the National Museum building in an incredibly short time – just 42 months – and open it for celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia on 28 October 2018.

What feelings did you have as an individual – as a husband, as a father to two daughters – when celebrating the 100th anniversary of Czechoslovakia, coincidentally also the first day of standard operations after the official re-opening of the National Museum?

I did not have much time to celebrate for myself during the 100th anniversary celebrations since I had a lot of work and official duties. My wife and daughters symbolically baked me some gingerbread with icing in the colours of our national flag. I try to educate my children about history, and ever since they were small I have brought them up in a traditional spirit and with love for our country. My feelings on 28 October were celebratory, and I’m glad our celebrations went well and people commemorated the 100th anniversary of our Republic spontaneously and on their own initiatives. I’m glad we have the good fortune to live in a prosperous, safe and, above all, democratic republic.

Do you remember the first time you visited the National Museum? How do you attract your youngest generation of visitors? What about the oldest? And what would you suggest foreigners visit?

Probably like everyone else I remember the whale skeleton and loads of animals. We attract the youngest generation with a whole range of special programmes for schools and families, and all our exhibitions have kids’ and educational features. We try to make the museum intelligible and fun for them. We attract adults through unique experiences and exhibits which they won’t find anywhere else. I’d invite everyone to visit our New Building to see our Celts exhibition, or our fascinating Noah’s Ark zoological exhibition. In our Historical Building, besides our renovated interiors you can admire the 200 rarest exhibits of our museum at our 2x100exhibition.Buttherearealsofascinating exhibitions at the Czech Museum of Music and the Náprstek Museum. Anyone who wants to learn more about modern Czech history should visit the National Monument at Vítkov, where they can combine a museum visit with admiring a fantastic view over Prague from the roof of the monument.

You’re well known for often using your sense of humour in your role. Were there any times during the renovation when you lost your sense of humour?

I haven’t yet lost my sense of humour, not even during the renovation, and even in the most serious of moments I have always tried to encourage colleagues with humour. Although I am a fan of black humour, so I don’t know whether I’ve always succeeded 🙂

You ́ve had the honour of being first in two areas – at the age of 26 you were the youngest director of a large national cultural institution in Europe, and now after over 15 years in your position you are one of the longest-serving museum directors. In terms of leadership, what stage is the most difficult?

I can’t say what stage was most difficult. When I took on the role at a very young age, I had the task of shaking up and modernising a somewhat dusty institution. And we did a pretty good job. We managed to push on with loads of innovative projects and investments, both in museum infrastructure and buildings. The museum is growing dynamically, but running these projects requires a lot more management work and responsibilities. Each stage of my leadership here has had its pros and cons, but together I think they form one of the most coherent and positive stages in the history of the institution.

What museums in Europe / in the world do you like visiting? What museums could be a model for the National Museum?

We visit, find inspiration in, and above all co- operate with, a wide range of worldwide institutions such as the British Museum, the Natural History museums in New York and London, the Smithsonian Institute in the USA, the National Museum of Scotland, and also museums in smaller countries such as the Estonian National Museum. Polish museums are very inspiring, such as the Warsaw Rising Museum. Naturally, our closest partner museum is the Slovak National Museum. But it’s not about which specific museums can be a model for us; we endeavour to find inspiration from the best of them, while also learning from errors others have made.

I had the opportunity to visit the Friends of Zion Museum in Jerusalem in October, and this is at the absolute cutting edge in terms of using modern technologies, appealing to visitors, working with stories, emotions and literally drawing visitors into the story. On the other hand the museum has no real exhibits or collections. Probably little will remain of our generation except in the digital world. How do you see the future of museums and collections?

The job of a museum is to look after the cultural heritage of our ancestors, document our era and preserve as objective an image of it as possible for the future. Museums’ collections and original objects will always remain at the core of their purpose. Naturally, in today’s modern era we store a lot more digital information besides objects. In our exhibitions, we don’t just showcase individual objects, but rather aim to tell stories. Our exhibitions also include multimedia technologies, both to expand the information they provide, and for fun and to interest visitors. Methods of presentation have changed, but the meaning of museums has remained the same for centuries, and I think it will continue to do so.

I’d also like to ask about the much-debated Pantheon of leading Czech figures. I feel a lack of women there. Which women would you like to see there?

You’re right; there aren’t many women in the Pantheon. But the Pantheon represents the intellectual and social legacy of the 19th century. It’s not about which women I would like to see there. The Pantheon is essentially a kind of museum document showing how our ancestors saw the world.

What future career/personal challenges have you got in store?

I definitely want to build a complete new National Museum exhibition. We’ve managed to repair the beautiful Historical Building, and open a number of exhibitions within it, but it is the museum’s permanent exhibitions which give it its spirit. That is currently my greatest challenge.

By Linda Štucbartová

“The fate of Czechoslovakia on the background of personal stories 1918, 1938, 1948, 1968 and beyond”

Linda Štucbartová, Chief Interviewer and Judi Challiner, a teacher, a writer and a storyteller

The most powerful stories are written by life itself. In order to commemorate the 100 years of the state of Czechoslovakia coming into existence, I decided to dedicate this article not merely to important historical events but to link it to the fates of individuals. As I have not lived through much of the period, I asked Judi Challiner, my dear friend and mentor, to co- write the article. It also serves as the sequel to “My Life as Defined by Two Quotes”, published last year which received many positive reactions as well as requests for Part 2.

Linda: “We concluded our interview one year ago about you applying for Czech citizenship. Let me quickly summarize your story. Your father was a Czechoslovak citizen, and a medical doctor at the clinic of Baťa Shoe Factory in Zlín, before his escape to England in 1938. There he served as a medical doctor in the Czech Airforce and fought alongside the British. Your grandmother together with twenty-five members of your family could not escape and were murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust. What are the recent updates not only with regards to your request for Czech citizenship, but also your journey to discover more about your Czech roots?

Judi: On February 8, 2017 I remember walking with you, as my (friend) Power of Attorney, to the Prague 1 municipal office. That began a long and a complex journey until I was finally granted Czech Citizenship on October 17 last year! Since then, quite a few British citizens have done the same, in protest against Brexit and to remain EU citizens.

I often say that 8 is my lucky number. Look at the date of the beginning of this process! The address where I was granted Czech citizenship is the Office of Prague 1, Vodičkova 18. Also, the digits of October 17 add up to 8. This was a very happy turning point in my life! Receiving the official papers, I listened to Mrs. Stanislava Sábová, an incredibly helpful and professional Czech official, summarizing the documents of the Zlín archive about my father’s family and my grandmother’s desperate attempts to remain a Czech citizen in 1938. There was even a mention of me, as a three-year old girl, being granted permission to take the journey back to Great Britain with my English mother in spring 1948. A flood of emotions swamped me. What would my grandmother and father have thought of me re-claiming the very citizenship they were forced to renounce? Flying back to Manchester with my proud husband , I thought of my easy life compared with my grandmother and father. For them, 1938 and 1948 completely changed their identities, their belonging to their beloved Czechoslovakia. They became in the words of our Prime Minister, Theresa May ‘Citizens of Nowhere.’ The consequences for them both in those two years were brutal.

Judi: It was Madeleine Albright who said: “Years ending in 8 are of outsize importance in Czech history.” As we are celebrating the centenary of the first Czechoslovak Republic this year, what can you tell me about Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk? I remember from our conversations that thanks to your grandmother, you have many special memories.

Linda: I remember very well my grandmother Rose recalling Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, the “little” father of the nation (tatíček), as he was nicknamed. My grandmother was 11 years old when Czechoslovakia declared independence and the spirit of the First Czechoslovak Republic very much determined her values and memories. The same is true for me with the Velvet Revolution. I was only 13, yet it has influenced my life profoundly. But back to my grandma Rose. She taught me about Masaryk and the First Czechoslovak Republic. She always remembered the three principles on which the First Czechoslovak Republic was built. The first one was that daily work, however small and mundane it might seem, if done continuously, can achieve great results overtime. The second part was the high ideals on which the republic was built. The third part was patriotism, not as destructive nationalism as we experience it today but as an attachment and commitment to one’s country; throughout her life my grandmother reminded me to be a proud daughter of a small country that has given so many leading personalities in all spheres to the world.

Linda: I must mention that the fact we can talk about this history without any ideology and any repercussions still means a lot to me. More than ever before, we should recognize how democracy and freedom of speech is precious and should be protected.

I remember quite vividly grandma proudly showing me Masaryk’s Encyclopedia mentioning my relatives and acknowledging them for their patriotic and economic achievements. By the way, did you know that this Encyclopedia was the second largest encyclopedic volume after Encyclopedia Britannica to be published in 1930’s? I think this illustrates the degree of development of the Czechoslovak society at that time and the values put on education, history and learning. Listening to my grandmother and her accounts was so interesting and so very different from what I learned in school. It was in the early 1980s, before the Gorbachev era, shortly after the martial law had been declared in Poland, a period of a fierce “normalization in the Soviet Bloc”. Naturally, I could not wait to share it with my classmates at school and with my civic and history class teacher. After I bragged about my family history not only to my classmates but to my teacher, who happened to be a zealous communist, my parents were summoned to school. My grandmother was forbidden to share anything with me, my true historical upbringing had to wait until the regime change in 1989.

Linda: The first Czechoslovak Republic was only allowed to prosper for 20 years. The next date to mention is 1938, the year when the so called Second Czechoslovak Republic came to existence. This year also marked the first wave of Czechoslovak immigration abroad in 20th century, which consequently led to the loss of élites, the fact that still can be felt in the Czech society one century later.

Judi: 1938 marked the end of my relatives’ existence as well–liked, respected citizens in Karlovy Vary. My father was working as a young doctor in Zlín, so he was not around when the Nazis marched into his home town and ordered my grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and her young son to get out of the family home. They tried to get registered in Semily but ended up in an over-crowded flat in Prague. My grandmother only thought of the safety of her sons and insisted they leave Czechoslovakia. As for her, she had to look after her mother who was in her 80s and thought nothing would happen to them – they were too old. How many people of a certain age thought that, only to be brutally deceived and murdered? Her life ended in the gas chambers in Auschwitz.

Linda: Your father and your uncle, serving in the Royal Air Force, survived. It took almost 60 years to build a memorial for them. How does visiting the memorial feel?

Judi: When I first came to the memorial of the Winged Lion, it did not take me long to spot the two precious names among 2,500 inscriptions on the bronze tiles listing all the Czech and English personnel who fought for freedom in World War II.

POSNER | Erich Alfred | F/O | 311 | Medical Officer

POSNER | Jan | W/O | 311 | Pilot

There, immortalized forever, were my father and his brother. I wonder what they would have thought of me, bursting with pride, looking at their memorial. Yet I was filled with a huge sadness too. Two decades ago, in 1997, I had stood in the Pinkas Synagogue on the other side of the Vltava river staring at a wall with tens of thousands of names. At eye level I had found my grandmother’s last official record POSNEROVA ANNA 24 X1 1877 18 X11 1943.

In a bizarre way, I, Judi Challiner, born Posner, have paid tribute to them all and carry my Czech citizenship with even more pride because of them.

Linda: “Much as we celebrate the centenary of the Czechoslovak Republic, we should also remember 80 years that marked the event that I remember being lauded in the communist textbooks as a Victorious February of Working Class. In fact, after the nationalization of the property, the communists took away the prestigious pharmacy located at Pohořelec Prague Castle Area from my grandparents. My grandfather, a successful pharmacist and an entrepreneur, never recovered from this loss. Your father, on the other hand, had to escape his fatherland for the second time. It was the second wave of immigration that the country suffered.”

Judi: I completely understand this sense of loss. 70 years ago, my father made his second escape from Czechoslovakia. Again, he was working as a doctor in Bata’s hospital in Zlín but this time he was married and had a three-year old daughter – me! The grim discovery of what had happened to his mother and family haunted him for the rest of his life. Before escaping in 1948, he had returned to the family home Rossini in Karlovy Vary and managed to ship furniture and family possessions which had been hidden in the cellar to England. In England, he became an eminent consultant of chest diseases in Stoke on Trent. He was part of the “Lidice Must Live Working Party” with Sir Barnet Stross, set up a fund for Czechoslovak students at Keele University in 1968, wrote many papers including studies of Johann Gregor Mendel’s work in Brno. Yet unlike many similar Czech naturalized British citizens, he always, always yearned for his beloved Czechoslovakia and like your grandfather never really recovered from the loss of his mother, his home, his country and his life there.

The communists in 1948, built a dossier of lies about him and his family, which I discovered when applying for my Czech citizenship. They recorded that his mother, and father went to Australia to escape the Holocaust. His date of escape from Czechoslovakia was completely wrong and he was branded as a criminal, even worse, a Jewish criminal. Leaving in 1948 meant that he escaped the infamous Slánský’s trials and almost certain execution.

Linda: “Let us talk about 1968, as we celebrated 50 years since the Prague Spring and your first visit to Czechoslovakia that you remember. You visited Prague once by yourself in April and later with your father, mother and sister in August 1968, just before the Russians invaded again.”

Judi: I returned to Prague in the euphoric days of the Prague Spring. I made contact with my father’s old friends, doctors he had worked with and journalists who had helped him in the dark days of 1948. Wonderful people who were delighted to entertain me with trips to castles, theatres, wine cellars, restaurants, etc. However, all these treats were eclipsed by one afternoon of coffee and cake at Kampa, with none other than Jan Werich. He and my father’s student group were all part of the theatrical milieu in Prague. During the 1960s Jan Werich regularly visited London and whenever he was in town my father would meet him. Going to his flat on beautiful Kampa to have coffee and cake is still etched in my memory. He appeared from his study, wham! Layer upon layer of funny, sad, satirical anecdotes meant the coffee went cold, the very dry sacher-torte was left untouched. Werichova Vila opened in June 2017 for all to enjoy and on Oct 7, my birthday, I went to pay my respects! The goosebumps began when I climbed the stone stairs to the floor which had been his flat. Sitting at his desk looking at photos, I could hear his voice, his laugh, I could see his expressions. I remembered a quote of his that I had written down years ago, “One woman often sees more than five men with binoculars.” I don’t know whether I saw more than those binoculared men, but the pictures which I had in my mind from that visit in 1968 were countless!

After 1968, the pictures stayed in my mind until a short visit in 1997 when I made a promise to the Pinkas Synagogue’s inscription of my grandmother’s name to return more permanently. In 2004, I came back to live and work and move back and forth between Manchester and Prague. 14 years later I am still dividing my time between the two cities.

Linda: Both, you and the country you are now a citizen of, have in common the pattern of events which happened in years ending in 8. So how has your 2018 been so far?

Judi: 2018, has been an extraordinary year for me. At the beginning of January, I wrote to the Jewish Museum in Karlovy Vary to find out more about my Posner family. In a matter of days, I had the address of the house, Rossini on Bulharská 17, photos of my grandfather’s tombstone with the commemoration of his wife underneath and an invitation to go and see the curator Lukáš Svoboda to find out more. In March, my husband secretly booked a hotel two blocks down from Rossini, the hotel manager arranged that we could cross the threshold and go inside my father’s family home and we spent three amazing, educational hours at the Jewish Museum. After that whirlwind, kaleidoscope of events I know this is where my Czech roots are and a bit of me belongs. Later, at the end of June, we had a family party at the Karlovy Vary Film festival. This time my sister, her daughter and I, represented three generations of Posner women, who are proud to be descendants of this great family.

In September, I went with my power of attorney to collect my Czech passport and ID. In October, I finished the book which I am co-writing with you, my friend. The title of my story is ‘Grandmothers are forever’. Although I never met her, Anna Posnerova has led me on a lifelong, pathos filled yet exhilarating journey. When I crossed the threshold of Rossini on March 11, 2018, I walked on the same tiles, held the same wrought iron banisters and looked through the same windows that she did. Then
I knew that years ending in 8 are truly magic.

Whatever happens with the populist lies of the Brexit debacle, I know one thing. I am a citizen of somewhere, where Václav Havel’s eternal quote is still my favorite message for us all. “Truth and love will overcome lies and hatred.”

By Linda Štucbartová

“The most important thing in politics is to keep learning”

Ivan Bartoš, Chairman of the Czech Pirate Party and the Deputy Representative in the Parliament of the Czech Republic

Ivan Bartoš is the Chairman of the Czech Pirate Party and the Deputy Representative in the Parliament of the Czech Republic where he chairs the Committee for Public Sector and Regional Development. He has been a member of the Pirate Party since its foundation in 2009. Even though people believe Mr. Bartoš had studied mathematics and informatics, in fact he studied psychology and information science at Husite Theological Faculty, and he ended up with a PhD degree from the information studies and librarianship from Charles University, which is a combination of information, society and systems on the social level. His working experience ranges from public institutions to NGOs and large multinational corporations. Ivan Bartoš has had a long-lasting interest in social topics and quality of life even prior to entering the politics. When Ivan Bartoš had more spare time, he enjoyed being a DJ, playing accordion and singing in a band, but these days he is too busy. He is married to Lydia Franka, also a member of the Pirate party.

Ivan Bartoš says that the Pirate party is the only truly democratic political platform that reflects the reality of the 21st century. „Technologies we have at our disposal can help us and make our lives easier to a great extent. However, we should avoid that they become a tool for a digital totalitarian régime“. Understandably, freedom and mutual respect are the values most important to him.

I was lucky to meet Ivan Bartoš not only at a time when the Parliament was in session but also during the times of interpellations. Our interview was interrupted and, on a screen, I could watch Mr. Bartoš interpellating Prime Minister Babiš regarding the non-transparent ownership of Agrofert and the possible consequences with regards to the EU sanctions. The atmosphere in the Pirate party club in the Parliament was relaxed and less formal on one hand yet buzzing with activity on the other. No wonder. After 10 years on the political scene, the Pirate party has many reasons to celebrate. Thanks to their results in the last municipal elections in September, they have become key players for many coalitions in various towns and cities, including Mr. Zdeněk Hřib who later that day was announced as the future Mayor of Prague.

Mr. Bartoš considers himself a true European. Given his age and experience, he is one of the few top-ranking Czech politicians who speaks English fluently. I am proud that you, the readers of the Czech and Slovak Magazine, can enjoy this interview in the original version, not the translation. Enjoy this unique opportunity, reading an interview with a leading Czech politician in English!

Mr. Bartoš, it has been 10 years, since the Pirate party was established and 10 years, since you entered the politics. Congratulations! Were you aware of the anniversary?

We started the Pirate party as a rather spontaneous action and I was not the founder. We were not aware of the consequences, however we believed in fast success. If you do something that you believe in, you hope for fast victory, not a long-distance run. Thanks to Facebook reminders, and it is necessary to mention that Facebook has existed longer than our party, we are reminded how much the party has grown. We still manage to keep the joy in doing politics, one thing that differentiates us from the other parties. The party itself is changing, a younger generation of people is coming and joining the party, which means that they are 18 years younger than me. I must admit, that little by little, I seem to less understand them and their way of living. Imagine, they were born and grew up in an era of having the internet in every household, since childhood they are used to the cellphones. The founder of the World Pirate Party Movement himself, Rick Falkvinge, predicted the generational change and appealed to us to “let them do their work” whenever we find out we do not understand the latest issues and trends. Overall, I must say that I feel very proud and thankful to all the people who have helped us. If I compare us to a product, we have become a very good product, an easy one to market as well. We are not the ones to spend hundreds of million crowns on a campaign just to keep the results from the previous elections. We are the most cost- efficient party with regard to campaigns.

From your personal anniversary to the anniversary of 100 years of Czechoslovakia. What are your thoughts – nostalgia, hope or something else?

I must admit that I am not having any other or different thoughts about the way I think about society in general just because of this special day. We do have many interesting personalities, in terms of politicians or scientists, but the heritage of the nation is embedded in the every-day work of the ordinary people. My social media status for this occasion deals with the issue of bravery. Many people talk about this trait but in fact bravery depends on the options people have. People in the Czech Republic have their own problems like everywhere in the world. For someone, bravery might be demonstrated just by getting up, going to work, raising their children. I am happy that thanks to my family and my education, I am equipped to try to change things. However, I would like to stress one thing. The anniversary is not only for the Czechs and Slovaks, but we should also mention all foreigners who either live here or abroad but have made a considerable impact on society.

Based on the results of the fall elections, the year 2018 for the Pirates will not be remembered as the symbol of centenary, but as a substantial victory in regional and municipal elections, that brought the Pirates to the position of the Mayor of Prague.

Again, I have to point that we started from zero. We had no major funding from large corporations. Each election is, to some extent special. The proof of how wide-spread our concept is in how the party grows and functions“. We currently have 22 women and men representatives in Parliament. The most important thing in politics is to keep learning. You can make mistakes, but you need to learn from them and build on the knowledge consecutively. I am known as a sci-fi and a Star Trek fan, so now a very useful story comes to my mind. An intelligent star is approaching the earth; a star which calls itself VGer and which is looking for its creator. The Americans treat it as a threat and make contact with the artificial intelligence only to discover that it is a probe that NASA sent into space many years ago in order to investigate space and acquire knowledge. There was space dust on the probe and once it had learnt so much that it was able to look at itself, it saw the name VGer – the original inscription for Voyager. With the aim to improve its ability to learn. Sometimes, I feel like Pirates are a satellite thrown to the politics that learns and tries to improve with each mistake. In general, I can say that politicians lose the ability to do so, once they enter the politics; they usually accept the status quo and the rules of how politics is done, and they do not dare to challenge it. The more we are trying to improve the system, the more we need to be better educated, as we are not an artificial intelligence, but we are intelligent people who like to learn. I believe this is the foundation for our growth and our good results in the elections. Again, all by ourselves, without any PR agency or external advisors.

I must say that I find your system, that allows anyone interested to approach you and become active on an issue they find relevant, quite remarkable. A year ago, I attended your conference on education and social affairs that was opened for many key players and stakeholders not only from various institutions but also with truly different viewpoints. I know if I want to approach any of your members of parliament, I just open their diary on-line and make an appointment. Your meeting minutes of the party leadership are also on-line.

This is the hardest way to do politics, as anyone can approach you anytime. In the future, this might even become an issue of personal security. We have started with complete transparency and everyone around just kept saying that this is not the way to do it. Some areas where politics is done behind the scenes can actually be closed for us, as we are not part of that. In the long term, such openness has helped us, especially every time there was a campaign against us. The transparency on the other hand protects us. Every Pirate shares their contacts with lobbyists, so there is little that someone can expose about us. This openness is also essential for out of the box thinking. In case you are preparing a legislation challenging the status quo but applicable to the “real world”, you have to accept feedback from the “real world” from the beginning, not after you are done with the proposal. It is only natural to get upset after you have worked hard on something alone for a long time. Therefore, we involve as many stakeholders as possible from the very beginning, to end up with a solution that is acceptable for everyone who has participated. That is how we will run cities in the future.

I come from Jablonec nad Nisou and as a citizen, I am informed about the finished result. This is the passive way of communication. However, the world is an interactive place. It is not an evening movie where you just consume the final product. Therefore, we want to get people involved in the first place. If we take the field of construction as an example, the projects are finished much faster when you deal with any objections and concerns in the beginning compared to already presenting the future visualized project and being sued by various non-governmental organizations and interest groups. We invite and even challenge the experts to criticize our program, right now in particular on the topic of accessible housing. Some scientists are sometimes still a bit shy and reluctant to share their opinion, being afraid that we will be upset that they come with a different pointofview.Youdonothavetoaccepteverything but definitely you should be able to deal with a different point of view. We are also challenging the fact that we have no access to the data owned by various ministries, as we are not part of the government. We always have to ask the ministers for the data, however the data does not belong to them. When we get to some relevant data, we immediately share them to improve awareness.

You talked a lot about learning. Where do you get your inspiration from?

Everything is a copy or a remix. Even for the Prague elections, we sent Mr. Zdeněk Hřib to visit several European cities that are unique in specific approaches to green fields, transportation, intelligent systems, parking lots, etc. Since we are in the European Union, we look mainly there. I myself, do not distinguish between the EU and the Czech Republic, I am European. Politically, the Pirates are based on the traditional principles of direct democracy, dating back to the ancient Greek society. Let me also mention that we also want to inspire others, that is why everything we produce is open and copy-left. We promote open data and open-access.

Who is Ivan Bartoš, when he is not a politician, and a leader, but when he is by himself, just as a private person?

I do not think I am a different person, I cannot be. I am aware of the fact that I am under public scrutiny all the time. Sometimes, I find I am perhaps less spontaneous and more sensitive about my sense of humor. I do not have time for my hobbies anymore. Other than that, you will find no difference. Otherwise, the media would have already disclosed it. I am simply transparent and open. I believe that this has already become the DNA of the Pirate party.

By Linda Štucbartová

“Never Leave Out the People Aspect”

Philipp Zielke, Chief Financial Officer, SAP CEE

Philipp is the CFO of SAP’s business activities in Central Eastern Europe, supporting 16 legal entities in 11 countries. After graduating in Business Administration at the University of Mannheim, Philipp joined SAP in 2004 as Executive Assistant to SAP’s former Group CFO, Werner Brandt. Later on, he joined SAP’s Corporate Development organization, specializing in supporting and executing mergers and acquisitions for the SAP group. Philipp gained his first experiences as CFO during his assignment as group CFO of SAF AG, a software company headquartered in Switzerland, followed by his appointment as CFO of SAP Austria. Before taking on his current position back in 2015, Philipp was heading a global post-merger integration project for two keystone acquisitions, SAP Ariba and SAP SuccessFactors. I was looking forward to interviewing Philipp, as I was told that he has a great sense of humor and did not succumb to the stereotype of an introvert number cruncher. Philipp started his presentation with a joke (making fun of Germans while being German himself) and ended up with the plea to “never leave out the people aspect in the transformation journey”. Welcome to the future of finance!

One of the topics of the SAP NOW Week conference is the future of finance in times of digital transformation. In your keynote speech, you actually mentioned that the future of finance is already here.

The trends of this everlasting challenge are already visible. In particular, there are two driving forces related to digitization with regards to the CFO function. The first aspect deals with the operational part of finance work, which is becoming more automated, and with the help of new technologies like machine learning and digital networks, the process of automatization will continue to increase. As a consequence, we will be able to use the freed-up capacities for value-added services. Each finance function carries three different hats: a steward who is taking care of the compliance part of the role, a business partner who is supporting the business and providing the services needed, and a transformation agent who helps the organization become an intelligent enterprise. For us at SAP, we have maintained and stressed for a long time that digitization is a topic for the whole management board, not only the IT department. The primary task is not to define the company strategy for digitization but to define the strategy for the digital age, as this touches every function in the company.

I really appreciated that you shared the transformation journey SAP has taken. From processes to people and then systems, from one business model to multi-business models. You have also mentioned several phases of the transformation. Which one do you consider to be the most challenging one?

For SAP, the journey started several years ago and since then we have been going through a continuous transformation and innovation process. The crucial message is to take it step by step, from the process side, then streamlining, harmonizing, standardizing, digitizing to pairing it with new technologies and innovations. Each phase brings its own challenges. I see quite frequently that the mindset challenge is breaking with the past, as there is often the tendency for autoresistance in terms of thinking “we have always been doing it like this” or “we are so unique and therefore special”. Therefore, standardizing and harmonizing across the whole company presents a challenge. One cannot stress enough the people aspect, to develop people to be able to cope with new challenges and to truly help them to evolve to the next level, so they can start performing in the role of the transformational agent.

Speaking of employees, the most admired innovative companies share all relevant data with their employees, so they know how the company is doing in financial terms, how their particular team is contributing, and so on. How does the SAP system and Digital Boardroom enable this?

We have to be careful, as a New York and Frankfurt Stock Exchange listed company, about sharing the corporate key performance indicators in real-time. We share these after the results have been published, but then on all different levels, countries, market units and regions. Of course, the leadership teams receive all information that is relevant for them in real-time. In addition, the most important figures to steer the business have already been gamified. As regular reports show “end of the race” comparisons, you see how you are doing compared to your targets but also how your peers are performing. The transparency often provides some extra needed motivation towards the end of the quarter to not only meet the budget but also to come first!

What a change to the times when I started my corporate career. I remember how only few privileged ones had access to several printed excel sheets at their hands that they kept debating for long hours behind closed doors.

This has totally changed. From hidden links on the sheets shared on a corporate portal to info shared via emails handed from generation of controllers to the next ones, we have created a huge analytical layer and an organization being responsible not only for defining KPIs (key performance indicators) but also for providing all the reports necessary for steering the company. These reports are stored at what we call the enterprise analytical store, in one place that every employee has access to and can look via a search for the reports he needs. Of course, you have to have the authorization to see what you are supposed to see but the analytical assets are available to everyone.

You have already mentioned gamification, motivation and the end of quarter adrenalin race. How can spreadsheets be fun for someone outside the finance department?

I might be biased on this issue, as I truly enjoyed building complex financial models, designing these and making sure that everything was linked, it reminds me of an art piece. This being said, I also understand those who do not understand it. Spreadsheets are still powerful tools, providing flexibility in manipulating or simulating data. On the other hand, we see the tendency of moving away from spreadsheets. In former times, if you were preparing a presentation for the management team, you took several reports from the system, combined and compared them in Excel, enriched them and finally you exported the view you wanted to present to the management to be included in a PowerPoint presentation. We are moving away from these and towards our Digital Boardroom, which provides real-time insight into all company performance elements, so we can look at the online reports according to our needs in real-time, not as of several days ago when the presentation was being prepared. The days when every piece of management information and data had to go through Excel and PowerPoint are definitely over! Furthermore, the use of the SAP Digital Boardroom presents additional advantages. It stimulates live collaboration between board members, as participants all see the same data regarded as one single source of truth for all with no data duplication needed, no separate Excel or PowerPoint files. Total transparency is increased by the fact that standard-based reporting on key functions such as financials, operations, marketing and sales and the analytics is no longer done by stakeholders (who might be biased individuals), but by an independent system. Digital Boardroom is simple to use, has intuitive user interface and – as the next generation is said to be a visual one – rich visualizations of live data eliminate static presentations. Last but not least, Digital Boardroom can be used not only for reporting, but also for fast, flexible, precise decision-making using pattern recognition, simulation and predictions which again brings the transformational agent function that we have discussed already.

We are reflecting on 10 years since the Lehmann Brothers crash this September. Speaking not only about data, but also about the ability to use them, how was SAP prepared for the crisis? What have CFOs learned since then? Can you predict the next crisis coming?

I was with SAP and living in the United States in the Bay area, so I truly had first hand experience. I would not say the crisis came out of nowhere but for sure the fall of such a large bank was a shock. I do remember when the news started and suddenly the whole financial industry was affected. I think no one was prepared for that crisis and it caught us by surprise. Not overnight but over a few weeks, roughly 50 % of our pipeline had disappeared in certain markets. Everyone was stopping IT projects and investments. SAP got through the crisis not only managing costs but also having a stable backbone thanks to the reoccurring maintenance revenue scheme. The lesson that CFOs had learned was to build more robust, more predictable and more flexible business models. The transition of SAP to become a cloud company was accommodating this ambitions. By 2020, we expect up to 75% of our revenue from the cloud and maintenance services. I believe that many companies have done a similar thing reinventing their business models and moving towards subscription-based consumption models. I also must mention cost flexibility. The topic of contingent labor is highly sensitive and political, but from the financial side a reasonable one. Last but not least, I believe the crisis was a point of awakening. Opportunities come with risk. Mitigating the risks has the same relevance as managing the opportunities.

In 2020, another crisis is being predicted. Are companies in better shape to face the potential upcoming financial crisis?

Although economically we are in a slightly better shape, a crisis is a crisis. We have seen certain economical and financial crises in the past and each of them brought some learning effect with regards to a run for profitability and opportunities to make money. The next financial crisis will be different, the fire is likely to start somewhere else, but in this globalized world spill over is quite easy not only geographically but also industry-wise. There are plenty of potential contentious sparks, such as a US-China trade war or China and its booming economy with its lending, and the Euro crisis has not been solved either. Plenty potential candidates but if I were to name the one and when, I would be running my own hedge fund and would have missed the opportunity to work for SAP and do this interview for the Czech and Slovak Leaders Magazine.

Does it make you nervous somehow to be an expert, to know that we are approaching the top and from the top you can only go down?

That is a very good question. I look at it from a “circle of life” perspective: It is in our nature to push for growth and profits, to run for the opportunity and money. But this comes very often with a self-fulfilling side-effect that risks are being under- and market values are being overestimated combined with the hope or believe that the rally will not end. Although our outlook might be more optimistic, the history shows many crises, such as the great depression which started in 1929, that one could not have been fully avoided. Getting nervous does not help. You need to prepare yourself as best as you can and then take every crisis as a new challenge and learning opportunity, question your performance and turn the crisis into advantage.

You were heading a global post-merger integration project for two keystone acquisitions, SAP Ariba and SAP SuccessFactors, being responsible for the financial aspect. Each merger is said to have three phases – analysis, implementation and then post- implementation phase. What have you learned? Is one phase more important than the other?

As I was supporting the merger and acquisition execution for more than three years earlier in my career, it was an interesting learning experience to also be responsible for the back-side of it, namely the post-merger integration. While the first part mainly deals with the identification of financial targets, followed by financial models to the final contract negotiations and decision to acquire the company, the post-merger integration is all about realizing the expected synergies while merging process and organizations – in my humble opinion the for sure more challenging part and where you can win and lose a lot. My take-away from the post-merge can be summarized in the following statement: “One size does not fit all”.The post-merger and acquisition phase is more about careful hand-tailoring of the integration to the corporate strategy, to the challenges of the market and most of all, to the purpose of the acquisition and to the acquired company itself. With regards to SAP SuccessFactors and SAP Ariba, we had two goals: becoming a cloud company and therefore we wanted not only to protect their agility in the market, the knowledge about cloud and the business thinking connected to cloud solutions, but we also wanted to take all these components and infuse them within the SAP environment as such, to become a true cloud company in our DNA. The focus of integration is definitely centered around people. Do not underestimate the topic of change management, talent management, clear communication, all these are important, as the value of the company comes with the people.

Philipp, in your surroundings, you are known to be a CFO with a great sense of humor. Are you aware of that? Why are CFOs often labeled as boring, pessimistic and introvert managers?

Are they? I would agree with the introvert dimension, but that does not mean lacking a sense of humor. I am a forced extrovert during presentations and I always make sure to include jokes, as you could see. I find humor truly essential, particular in the work place. You cannot have just business facts and reports without a chance to laugh with your colleagues. I laugh a lot, sometimes with tears. How do you manage to keep your optimism, even when looking at “bad numbers”? I take not-so-good results as a challenge for improvement. I get a lot of energy from the people I work with. SAP has a truly wonderful work culture, combining a high degree of professionalism with a lot of personal touches. I also love sports. Cycling, playing golf and I am already looking forward to skiing in the winter.

By Linda Štucbartová

“It is our responsibility to reach the goals”

Sandra Lang Linkensederová, the Ambassador to Brazil, Guyana and Surinam

I have known Sandra Lang Linkensederová since the beginning of her diplomatic career in 2002, which started with her training at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After the Diplomatic Academy, she worked at the Department of Security Politics at the so called “headquarters”, abroad, she served on various postings in Lisbon, Peking and Brussels. Parallel to her postings, she continued her university education in Lisbon and Moscow. She is married and has a son. In her free time, she likes photography and playing tennis. In May, she was appointed the Ambassador to Brazil, Guyana and Surinam. She has served in Brazil as the deputy ambassador since 2017 and in August 2018, Sandra Lang Linkensederová received a special medal for the Peacemaker for the advanced development of the Czech- Brazilian relations.

Dear Sandra, congratulations on your first ambassadorial posting, being appointed the Ambassador to Brazil, Guyana and Surinam. Can you share with the Czech and Slovak Leaders Magazine readers what does it feel like to receive the credentials as an ambassador from the President?

Receiving the credentials from the Head of State is undoubtedly a very special moment. It is a great honor to be trusted. It might be also a joy or a certain relief because it is the end of the process called agrément, meaning that the hosting state does not object to your appointment.

However, above all you realize that you have accepted an enormous responsibility towards your country. The solemn moment of presenting my credentials to the president of Brazil is still to come. Due to various circumstances, I am likely to present these already to the new Brazilian head of state who shall be elected in the presidential election to be held in the month of October. Presentation of my credentials in Suriname and Guyana will follow.

You became an ambassador in May and already in August you received a special medal for the development of Czech – Brazilian relations. What is the current state of bilateral relations and what is your agenda for further development?

LatinAmerica,andparticularlyBrazilisoneof the most natural and logical overseas partner for the Czech Republic, having rich and long cultural as well as historical ties with Europe. Our mutual relations have been very friendly and stable for centuries. The first footprints of the Czechs in Brazil can be traced back to the 17th century when the first Jesuits came into the New World, followed by court scientists and adventurers. In the 19th century, Brazil had opened the door for European colonists, including Czechs, seeking a fertile land to cultivate. It is important to mention that Brazil was the first Latin American country to recognize the newly founded state of Czechoslovakia in 1918. Since then Czechoslovak products gained a very good reputation and the Czechoslovak companies were able to seize a part of the large Brazilian market. The Czech Republic was not only able to further develop cooperation based on favorable conditions but also add new dimensions of cooperation in other areas, such as academics, military, and research and development or joint development in industries such as aviation, just to mention few examples. My natural ambition is to further strengthen our cooperation, supported by high level visits exchanges. Supporting the Czech business and Czech companies and finding new stimuli for economic cooperation ranks at the top of my agenda.

When speaking about Czech-Brazilian relations, it is worth mentioning that both countries do not have any geopolitical antagonisms. This fact permits partnerships in the area of defense and security industry. Therefore, the Czech Republic opened a Military Attaché Office in Brasilia in 2015 to further strengthen the area of cooperation. I was decorated with the medal called Medal of the Peace-Maker (Medalha do Pacificador) and is intended to reward, among others, those who contributed to the amicable relations between the Armed Forces of Brazil and the nation they represent. I am restrained to believe I have already contributed significantly, however, it is a great and unexpected honour and I will continue to do my best to prove that I deserve this gesture of enormous value.

My frequent question to ambassadors is the following: what is it that Brazilians do not know about Czechs and what Czechs don ́t know about Brazilians?

I was very pleased to find out how many Brazilians had already visited the Czech Republic, despite the fact that my country is not that close and the touristic competition in Europe is quite high, and Brazilians returned very satisfied. Many Brazilians know famous Czech beer and the Czech crystal glass. Prague’s Infant Jesus represents a special spiritual value for historical reasons and his little statue can be found in many Brazilian households. Many Brazilians are aware of a very particular detail in Brazilian history – Brazilian president who had founded the new capital Brasilia (inaugurated in 1960) was called Juscelino Kubitschek and, indeed, he had Czech roots. As for the Czech people, their notion about Brazil depends on what area they are from. If we speak about the general public, most of Czechs have heard about beauties of Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian carnevals, Bossa Nova music or the breathtaking beaches. Last but not least, let us not forget the art of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.

Let us continue with a retrospection. It has been 16 years since you entered the Diplomatic Academy of the MFA to pursue the diplomatic training. Looking back at your beginnings, what beliefs and hopes you had have stayed the same and which ones changed?

I actually wished to join the foreign service at the age of eight, when I lived in India and I met diplomats for the first time in my life. From my childish perspective, they had a highly exciting profession, super-secret, tremendously important, and in addition to that, they were allowed to travel to abroad. Of course, this reflects the times of late 1980’s, during Czechoslovakia and the Cold War. This reality has changed soon after, but my determination stayed. The reality in the age of on-line media and on-line social platforms is changing very fast. Before we get used to a new world order, it is being changed again. That is why I usually do not create expectations. I like to face reality without any preconceived ideas, which was the case with my beginning of the diplomatic training. However, I am convinced that everything we get in our life has a great added value because it creates a substance that can be further expanded. I remember being very happy at the Diplomatic Academy, I enjoyed new people, new experiences and new perspectives. The Diplomatic Academy management had a great approach, creative and highly professional. In a friendly environment, it was our tutors’ ambition to make us the best possible prepared. However, every school gives only the basic guidelines. It is our responsibility to reach then the goals.

If someone told you that in 16 years you would become an ambassador, how would you react? Looking at the new generation of diplomats, what is the career advice you would give them from a position of a senior mentor?

Had someone told me that, I would have said: “that is good news because it confirms that I chose the right professional path, where I will succeed by working hard and having some luck at the same time.” My advice to the new generation of diplomats is simple: “Do not rush with regards to career positions, stay humble and try to place the information into the right context in order to understand the reality”.

For many women, you might be a role model. Working mothers in leading positions are still rather an exception than a rule, both in public as well as in private sector. What is your secret sauce?

Frankly speaking, I consider myself a traditional woman and I have no doubt that my family and my little son is my clear priority. If I want to perform demanding and time-consuming work without abdicating to the effort of creating a cozy and thriving family place, I must strive for good time management and a rational list of priorities. Offering compromises in order to get them back is also something I would stress. However, choosing the right and a strong partner is the condition above others and I confess I would have never accepted this challenge without the consent and support from my husband.

Last but not least, we are celebrating 100 years of Czechoslovakia. Being a representative of a state, what is your anniversary greeting to the state?

Well, Czechoslovakia does not exist anymore. However, a new and a beautiful child named the Czech Republic was born. I wish to the Czech Republic admirable achievements, hardworking people and may their intellectual potential can bring not only the deserved portion of the world market but also prosperous and fulfilled future.

By Linda Štucbartová

“Life is work and work is life”

Stephen B. King, the US ambassador to the Czech Republic

Stephen B. King, the US ambassador to the Czech Republic, is a prominent public servant and businessman. He studied political science and worked as an investigator for the FBI and later as a special liaison between the United States Department of Agriculture and the Committees of the House and Senate. As a businessman, he successfully acquired, built and sold a specialty chemical manufacturing business and founded a family investment business. Ambassador King served as a National Committeeman for the Wisconsin Republican Party from 2007-2017. He is married to Karen Ruyle, they have three grown children and seven grandchildren.

Dear Mr. Ambassador, as you studied political science, let me start from a broad perspective. This interview is to commemorate and celebrate 100 years of Czechoslovakia coming to existence and also 100 years of US-Czechoslovak ties. However, looking at the world today, what is left of the idealism of Woodrow Wilson in terms of US foreign policy?

I believe that the idealist motion set forward by both Wilson and Masaryk lives on and has transformed into practical reality. Let us not forget that not only has the American-European alliance survived over the course of the century, but after World War II, it reemerged as the most powerful and meaningful alliance on the planet. Top American leaders and representatives, including President Trump, Assistant Secretary of State Mitchell and myself, call this alliance a union of freedom loving people. It is the very foundation of freedom in the world. There is not any major challenge that freedom loving people could face successfully without the Alliance of the United States and the European continent.

From idealism, let us move to trade and commerce, the second passion of yours. I recall my final exams at the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva and a question about the United States in the era of splendid isolation of the 1920s and 1930s. I passed successfully by pointing out that the US did not retreat completely from world affairs, it only shifted its attention from international politics to trade and commercial relations. However, the same relations seem to be questioned and threatened nowadays.

These perceptions might come from some media outlets on both sides of the Atlantic, but personally I do not agree. I believe that trade relationships are as strong as ever, although we might face some rocky moments. I would compare current trade to the movement of a glacier – it moves slowly as it moves ahead, and nothing can stand in its way. The United States and the European Union are each other’s major trade partners, our trade combined creates one third of global GDP. However, the President, being a business person himself, is concerned about the fact that there is not a level playing field for free trade. Let the statistics speak for themselves. The simple average tariff in the US is 3.5%, while the simple average tariff for the EU is 5.2%, which means that the EU imposes almost twice as many tariffs as the US. President Trump and his administration promised that something must be done for the American worker, as many American factories are laying people off because they cannot compete with unequal, draconian import duties. Therefore, increases in tariffs were proposed to many countries for certain products around the world. We hope that the negotiations will be successful. We already see progress in negotiations with Mexico and Canada. With the USMCA agreement to replace NAFTA, the attention will turn to the EU. A fair and level playing field is the only thing the US is looking for. Let the free market and competition win the day. This leads me to conclude that I can be optimistic about both economic relationships and a future on hopefully more equal terms. We are not in a dire economic confrontation over trade. The trade between the US and the EU reaches the volume of one trillion dollars and certainly no one wishes to disturb that reality. Prudent, reasonable representatives of respective countries will eventually come to the table, realizing that they will give up a bit of the advantage they have enjoyed over the decades to secure and profit from mutually beneficial outcomes.

Friendship, security and economic prosperity are the three legs of a stool that represent your vision to move Czech-US relations from above average to excellent. We have discussed economics, what about the other two areas?

I have chosen the three-legged stool as a parallel to illustrate a very stable object. The first leg of friendship is important as it is based on shared values. Let me stress that this is true not only with regards to the Czech Republic, but also the EU. The values we share are freedom, democracy, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, government transparency, and many others. Values are important with regard to any relationship, starting with marriage all the way to relationships between countries. They are the cornerstone of our relationship and the reason why we are proudly celebrating 100 years of Czechoslovak-US relations. The second leg, particularly important in this era, comes out of friendship and it is our rock solid security relationship. Friends look out for friends. That is why we have both multilateral as well as bilateral security agreements. NATO is an example of a multilateral framework; on the bilateral level we have numerous partnerships, exercises and agreements. The US is very appreciative of Czech sacrifices and support for both NATO and US efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Czech Republic is also the US protecting power in Syria. Together we participated in the Baltic exercises and we highly value Czech expertise in its chemical warfare units. It is great to see that the security leg is also firmly in place. The third leg is the one that I call the glue. This is the one that supports the others; without it none of them would last long. This leg is about economic prosperity and it is another aspect of our relationship that can still grow. There is a reason that the US became the most powerful nation in the world. The reason was not sheer size but the fact that the US was economically prosperous. Free markets and the concept of capitalism allowed us to become the most powerful engine in the world, and it is also what will keep us there. We enjoy strong economic relations with the Czech Republic. The amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Czech Republic is growing, and the same is true about Czech FDI in the US. I hope that my legacy will translate into the growth of GDP based on our economic relationship. I do not expect that the Czech Republic will dramatically impact the US GDP, but I would love to see growth based on the development and enhancement of mutual economic cooperation. The US has already made considerable investments in the Czech Republic. Companies such as IBM, Honeywell, GE and Amazon all combine to provide more than 50 000 jobs. Conversely, I have met with many Czech investors in the United States who are looking to grow their businesses there. I am here to advocate and support both sides.

You often describe your vision as 2+2+2+2 equals thousands, not eight.

I hope that by now all readers of Czech and Slovak Leaders Magazine are clear that I am speaking about thousands of jobs created. The formula stands for growth in a calendar year made by two new Czech direct investments in the US, two expanded investments by existing Czech businesses in the US, and two new US direct investments in the Czech Republic as well as the expansion of two existing U.S. businesses here. Finding new Czech investors might be a bit challenging but I keep telling everyone that now, when the economy is booming, is the best time to invest. I am confident that it is going to stay that way for a couple of years. Do not hesitate to invest in the world’s largest market. My team and I are ready to assist with partnerships and the opportunities.

The previous administration concentrated a lot on Asia. How can we make “good old Europe” attractive for the US younger generation again, so they do not see it only as a good place for vacations but also a great place for a business?

First of all, you are not appealing just to the young generation, you need to attract the young business people and young investors who are able to invest. We have a saying “strut your stuff”, meaning the Czech Republic should present itself more proudly. Your economy is one of the fastest growing in the EU in terms of GDP. The size of a country does not always matter; moreover, the Czech Republic has a central location. It is a safe country. Present opportunities to start a business or expand a business into a country that is doing well. The only challenge you are facing is the potential availability of work force. I am trying as much as I can to“strut your stuff”and advocate for your beautiful country.

You and your wife have been in the Czech Republic for eight months. To further strengthen mutual understanding between Czechs and Americans, what is it that the Americans should know about the Czechs and conversely, the Czechs should know about Americans?

As far as Americans and their understanding of Czechs is concerned, I believe that the wonderful Czech work ethic should be stressed. Czechs are very industrious and the well known saying about the Czechs having golden hands is true. Throughout the centuries, the Czechs have had the reputation for being the best manufacturers. The times have changed but the manufacturing, automotive in particular, has still remained the leading industry. ŠKODA-AUTO has both an incredible reputation and quality production. Often, if you talk about quality skilled labor and production in Europe, Germany comes to people’s mind. I put the Czech Republic right next to Germany. As far as Czechs and their understanding of America is concerned, I definitely mention the American love of freedom. We are a nation that is 242 years old, which is a drop in a bucket compared to more than a thousand years of European history. Czech and Slovak history is full of iterations, moments of oppression and lost sovereignty. We have never had that, we founded our country based on a desire and love for freedom and we still cherish that. I do not know if people appreciate how strong and how advantageous that feeling is. Rule of law is another element that is particularly acute in our country. No matter who you are or where you are, if you are not following the law, you will suffer a penalty. Transparency is another important element to recognize, although there is still room for improvement. The last thing I need to mention is the American belief in a strong defense. We know we have something valuable and we need to protect it. We will always try to have the strongest possible defense against any potential adversary. We have an advantage as we have got two big ponds on both sides of us, and we are big. Since we are strong, and we have shared values, we are willing to make sacrifices for others. Remember the amount of American blood that has been shed on this continent or the amount of treasure used to rebuild this part of the world.

Last question will be on a personal note. How do you maintain work-life balance?

Life is work and work is life. I enjoy life. When I speak to young people, I end my remarks by suggesting that they consider the following: “Fulfill the promise of what you are good at.” Then I ask: “How many of you have figured out what you are good at?” Only a few hands usually appear. I continue: “Don ́t worry, sooner or later there will be someone who will tell you, either a parent, a teacher, a manager, a religious person, a coach, a friend. Someday, somebody will tell you that you are good at this particular thing. Once you realize what you enjoy, pursue that gift, talent or skill with passion. Once you find what you are good at, life will not be work anymore. By doing that you will fulfill the promise of what you are good at, why you are on this planet. And on top of that, you are going to enjoy it.”

By Linda Štucbartová

“Buying and Collecting Art Should Be Part of One’s Upbringing”

Louise Beer, Prague Art Works, Art Collector

As I entered Louise Beer’s apartment in the Prague Vinohrady quarter, I felt like I was traveling through time. At first, it reminded me of the end of 19th century or even the early stage of the first Czechoslovak Republic, as we were under the spell of preparations to celebrate the centenary anniversary. I was transported back to the era when nobility and the bourgeois supported artists by buying their pieces. Buying art at that time was not a speculative task to make fortune, as it is nowadays suggested by business magazines; art was simply a part of life. As soon as I sat in the living room decorated with modern Czech art, an elegantly designed electric fire place, old and modern furniture combined together, and Louise started passionately sharing her purpose in demystifying art for the younger generation, I realized that instead of the past, I entered hopefully the near future. Times when middle and upper-middle class realizes that not only attending classical music concerts or theatre plays are part of the upbringing. Buying art to surround oneself with artistic inspirational pieces while supporting artists will come naturally hand in hand. Louise Beer has had a remarkable career and during the last decade she has managed to turn her life passion of arts into a profession. Born in Montreal, she studied at a prestigious hotel school and built a career in hotel business. She was the Director of International Affairs at the Montreal Convention Centre and she was the first woman on the Board of Directors of L’Institute de Tourisme et d’Hôtellerie du Québec. In 2002, she followed her husband to Prague. She remembers the year and the period quite vividly. As Prague was heavily devastated by the August floods, she soon found herself helping homeless people on the streets. She admits donating about one-third of the furniture that was shipped to Prague, as suddenly she realized she did not need that much. Surrounded by art and inspired by many galleries, Louise turned into a collector and expert on Czech art, getting to know Czech artists personally. Even Olbram Zoubek, who typically did not enjoy talking to strangers, became Louise’s friend, since he enjoyed speaking French to her. Since 2010, Louise has established several art companies, currently managing Prague Art Works.

Since 2017, Prague Art Works has organized an annual event showcasing art. This November works of 37 Czech contemporary artists will be presented at the modern, industrial looking premises Pankrác House. Are you curious how the office space of 1 500 sq metres will become a pop up Art Gallery? The event is by invitation only, however, Czech and Slovak Leaders Magazine readers are invited to request their entry ticket to the exhibition at info@pragartworks.com. Make sure to reserve Wednesday November 21 or Thursday November 22 from 11 am until 4 pm to experience such a unique event.

Louise, many people think that passion for arts comes with age and wealth. Your journey proves the opposite to be true. When did you discover a passion for art?

My passion for art started during my late teenage years, when I was a student at a prestigious hotel school in Montreal. My friend’s mother ran her own gallery and I just loved visiting it. Not only did I get the best advice regarding art, being that “art does not go out of fashion”, I also had the option to buy a piece of art on an installment plan. As a student, I had already gotten used to saving money, so I could afford to buy one piece of art per year. Little by little, I started to build my own collection.

Your purpose is to demystify art particularly for the younger generation. Your rule is simple: Buy the art that you love!

Definitely! Go to a gallery, see a piece you like, talk to the artist, and then make an arrangement to buy a piece. Follow your heart. I am not a supporter of “investment art”, of buying a piece I do not like, just because it might become fashionable and valuable someday. Everything you buy should be able to be hung on a wall or put on display, to enjoy the pleasure of looking at it. That is the true purpose of art, as it cultivates our lives. Start early. Not after your house is completely furnished and you have no place left. By starting early, you also set an example for children. The same way as you do when you go to concerts, theatres or museums. Children should see art being part of everyday life.

You have started specializing in Czech art. What do we not know and should know about Czech art?

Czech art is truly unique and multifaceted in many ways and it can cater to everyone’s taste. I still insist that you should buy the art you love, but let me also mention the business perspective. As many Czech artists are still not very well known abroad, you get excellent art for an affordable price, compared to western European or Chinese art.

For those of us who want to become art lovers, can you share with us your favorite galleries and some hidden gems?

That’s like asking a parent which child is the most favorite. There are so many different galleries. One more specific about Prague is that it is quite easy to get to an opening night. Definitely they are not a VIP red carpet event, accessible to few privileged ones, as in many cities. As for big or well-known galleries, I always suggest Rudolfinum, Kampa Museum, Dox, MUMO or Veletržní palác. For small gems, I like Gemma, Art in the Box, Havelská Gallery, Prague Cabinet and Zdeněk Sklenář Gallery. I could continue since it seems that new galleries are almost mushrooming, to reflect the Czech reality and favorite past time.

Last but not least, you generously decided to extend the invitation to your exhibition in November. Readers interested in attending should write to info@pragueartworks.com. Who can they look forward to seeing?

I feel like a parent who needs to single out one favorite child out of a few. I will mention the artists I have known for a long time and had the pleasure working with. I have had the pleasure of knowing Pavel Roučka, and as we became friends, he kindly introduced me to many of his artists friends as well as his family. The same was true about Pavel Forman from Ostrava who introduced me to Marek Schovánek, Dan Trantina, Petr Sadovský and Ivana Štenclová. It is worth to mention that all these talented artists also have had studios in Berlin and have become famous there. Kateřina Štenclová has further introduced me to Anna Neborová and Kristýna Šormová. It was an enormous pleasure to see how this small group started to grow and good friendships based on trust have resulted in great business relations. I am also proud to have worked with the younger generations of upcoming stars like Matěj Lipavský, Tomáš Tichý, Jakub Flejšar, Lukáš Rais, David Strauzz. I love their energy and spirit and it is a great pleasure to do business with them. All 37 artists I am now working with made my work a delightful business and help my mission to promote Czech Art across cultures and generations.

By Linda Štucbartová

“Poetry in Architecture”

Andrea Klimko, member of the Royal Institute of British Architects

Andrea Klimko considers herself a truly “Czechoslovakian”. She was born in Czechoslovakia, graduated as an architect from the Slovak Technical University in Bratislava, Slovakia, with subsequent studies in Vienna, Austria. Currently, she is working in three cities, London, Prague and Bratislava. She devotes herself in architecture for more then 18 years, running her own studio Andrea Klimko. In reality, this translates into designing more than 150 projects. Andrea Klimko is not only an architect, she is also a passionate urban traveler. She loves both architecture and urban design. Having visited 35 countries in Europe, Asia, America and Africa, she also writes a blog helping to discover the culture in architecture, spirit of the cities and beauty of the cultural diversity and hoping to encourage others to seek travel experience as well.

Andrea Klimko is a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Having 185 years of existence, the institution is considered the arbiter of the world-class architecture. The elite professional institution selects its members purely on the quality of their work. Andrea is also an active member of Czech and Slovak Chambers of Architects and recently she joined American Institute of Architects.

On top of that, Andrea and I share the same passion about supporting women. Andrea is the founder of the non-profit professional organization Women Architects, aiming to encourage women interests in architecture and career development.

Andrea, you have recently returned from the United States. You travelled all over the East Coast, one of the reasons was to attend a conference in New York, as a new member of the American Institute of Architects. What were your impressions?

It was my first visit to New York and my expectations were fulfilled. Particularly Manhattan and Lower Manhattan also known as Downtown. I like the area around the World Trade Center and design of the newly constructed buildings like Oculus. I was able to enjoy the skyline at the sunset from the One World Observatory. I made sure to visit all the elevated scenic places. I will definitely come back to the city that never sleeps. As you mentioned in my introduction, I am a urban traveler. I do not mind crowded, busy places. I like large cities. For me, people represent life. As we live in a virtual world, people often tend to make impressions based on photos of the cities and architecture found on internet. Even the best picture cannot reveal the complete feeling from a particular place. Is it a city friendly for pedestrians and those travelling by public transport? Is it a city that energizes people or the one that drains them? I enjoy experiencing and discovering the haptic dimension of architecture. Being born under the communist regime, being forced to graduate from obligatory Russian language, travelling for me is a substitute of learning, enables me to study languages and cultures which I could not discover due to the fact of spending my adolescent years behind the Iron Curtain. I learned English by myself 20 years after my high school because I have strong motivation to understand, to read and to speak with people in English.

You studied in Bratislava, then in Austria and Germany. One of your offices is in London. Your projects are in more countries. How do you define yourself?

I do not like to put myself in a box. I like to consider myself European. I truly enjoy the ability to travel without borders. I enjoy the comfort of being able to pay in Euro currency. The European Union is a wonderful project, I leave aside politics and administration. European culture and history that can be felt from each city amazes me.

I would like to elaborate on the conference theme Blueprint for Better Cities. How do you perceive the two cities that are the closest to your heart, Prague and Bratislava?

Being born in Czechoslovakia, I still have strong feelings about the fact that the two countries split up without people having a say in a referendum. It was a decision made by politicians. Therefore, I perceive Czechoslovakia as one entity. Since my childhood, I learned Czech, as I was used to watching Czech fairy tales and movies. Prague is a beautiful city, it has its special place in Europe, not only thanks to historical buildings but also some modern buildings deserving attention have been built recently. Prague is not only bigger but also more international city compared to Bratislava, you hear English being spoken on the streets quite frequently. Prague also attracts many international students. The sheer size of the market brings more opportunities. Bratislava is a smaller city, but it has changed considerably. There is an enormous amount of construction going on. Some quarters are almost impossible to recognize.

By the way, I am asked this question frequently. I personally do not like comparing or contrasting these two cities, as I like to think about them as two cities belonging to one country.

When you talk about your work, you say the following. “The philosophy of my work is to find the poetic language in architecture, an interface connection between poetry and reality. I like to feel pure tectonic, dynamic context and physical presence.” How was your work impacted by the fact that you started to work in the post-socialism period? The 1990s were quite unique.

I remember this period as a period of scarcity of work for architects. There was a chaos and nontransparent situation on the market. It was hard even to study architecture as a discipline, old textbooks were the only resource available we had. Imagine, no internet! At that time, there was not even a possibility of an internship abroad. Imagine that there were not even student exchanges such as Erasmus available. I remember I wanted to study Spanish and the lessons were cancelled due to the lack of students. I felt the vacuum of this period. I missed the opportunity to experience the feeling of not only designing, but also seeing the construction process. The changes you have to make as an architect during the construction represent a unique learning experience. Architecture and construction go hand in hand and both are essential particularly for a young architect to experience.

Speaking about the challenging period, what was the impulse for you to become an architect?

At first, I wanted to study either philosophy or psychology. The mystery of a human mind has always intrigued me. I am glad that both disciplines have remained areas of my interest until nowadays. I still manage to read a lot. Next to reading, I have always enjoyed drawing. I decided to go to Bratislava to study architecture at Slovak Technical University (STU) and then continue at Technical University in Vienna. I liked the fact that the result of an architect’s creation is represented by a visible object / building. I enjoy being able to bring the abstract visions to life. I have a personal and close relationship to each of my projects, they are my babies. The element of making the specific object was the element I missed in humanities. You can see that my notion was quite a naive one.

You are a very successful female architect in the field that is traditionally considered a domain of men. On top of that, you are also a mother of a son. Zaha Hadid or Eva Jiřičná, to name some of the world most famous architects, do not have children. What was the moment you realized that you are different? In 2012, you were nominated for a Crystal Wing Award, not only as the first woman architect but also as the youngest one. Next to managing a studio, you are also invited to be a jury member or a keynote speaker.

I have never thought about being special. I have simply tried to create the best architecture. I like what I do. I concentrate on my work and the rest is bonus. There are two types of architecture: the good one and not so good one. It does not depend whether it is created by a man or a woman. That is how I see it. For a long time, I was hesitating whether to initiate any group with regards to women architects. If one was to achieve something, then he or she should dedicate himself or herself to it. In Europe, we have conditions for both genders to be successful. However, the phenomenon of leaking pipeline occurs also in the field of architecture. We have about 50% of female graduates from architecture, only about 5% make it to top positions or start their studio on their own, without a male business partner. I do not want to complain that women have more challenging position. I believe that men and women can both defend their positions. This being said, I admit I sometimes find tiring being a mother, a wife and an architect at the same time. The work of an architect is a demanding one, particularly due to combination of high level of stress and deadlines. I dedicate myself fully to the profession, often sacrificing either time for myself or for my family. Often, people tend to think that the low number of top women architects is due to the motherhood. I think that such perception touches only superficial layer of the problem. I see the attitude as the main challenge. Women are simply much less risk averse than men. It is hard to live permanently in uncertainty while supporting a studio. Will I have enough clients? Will my projects succeed? Will I be able to pay all people working for me? I also had to get used to the uncertainty. I tend to challenge myself and I know that learning happens outside the comfort zone. I learned out of the comfort zone quite often. Unless you try, you never know. I never understand people who do not try new things but have an expert negative opinion on most issues. I borrowed my life motto from Marc Twain: Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.

How do you define success?

For me, success lies in finding a balance among three elements dear to me – my family, work and my personal development and integrity. We often hear attributes such as money, growth and fame linked to the success. Hardly anyone recognizes that for a woman, a success can be upbringing a child. Upbringing children who will become happy, fulfilled and stable. Individuals who will continuously develop themselves. Such aspect of motherhood is enormous gift for the society. Today, such result is considered normal, even ordinary. But it is not, even a modern motherhood needs a lot of energy, time and effort involved. I enjoy my work but I do not measure it by ordinary criteria, such as budget size, square meters or number of awards. The inner quality is what matters. Let us aim for the success measured by the quality of authentic conversations, new relationships, new journeys taken and new horizons experienced. I just wish to remain healthy and active, so I can continue working on inspiring projects. It does not depend only on me but also on clients that will give me the opportunity. My aim is to create projects that will make others happy. Architecture can contribute a lot to improving our lives by making our cities, buildings and public spaces appealing and enriching.

By Linda Štucbartová