Jana Filipa and I have known each other for several years since I started tutoring her in French. I have had the opportunity to get to know her family as well and I admire the way she and her husband raise their two children. Every time I see them, I think that if all their peers were guided in the same way, humanity would not have to worry about its future. A bit of a sentimental introduction to our conversation. But I'd like to introduce Jana professionally and mention her new, albeit external, role at the Telegraph. Jana has spent a year and a half as a business developer at the Innovation Centre of the Olomouc Region. She regularly supplied me with tips on activities worthy of consideration. That's why I decided to establish cooperation with her within the Telegraph, for which she will provide lectures, seminars, workshops with interesting personalities in the field of business and personal development, IT, sustainable business, corporate culture or modern leadership.
You had a very busy year last year and I think you got a lot of inspiration from the work side. Is there an area that has interested you the most?
You're right. Last year showed me the possibilities and needs of companies in the Olomouc region. I hadn't thought locally before; I have professional experience in a corporation where business knows no borders, in a logistics company that had major customers in Mongolia, and in a non-profit that went from local education to a nationwide online concept in a flash out of necessity. My time at ICOK led me to narrow my focus to the Olomouc region. And it's just as exciting. Maybe even more so because it's all happening right around me. My attention has been particularly drawn to agriculture and the topic of sustainable business. Agriculture is, in my opinion, the industry of the future, after all it feeds the entire planet and with new technologies, robotics, regenerative agriculture and plant research there is huge potential for innovation. For the last few months I have been doing a lot of self-education in coaching at the Neuroleadership Coaching Institute. I realized that I saw a lot of "buried" potential around me and I had a huge desire to bring it to the surface, I just didn't know exactly how. Professional experience wasn't enough, so I started studying. I have already completed two levels of certified courses, started coaching, and am preparing for international certification. I see a huge sense of purpose in it, it's energizing to see both sides of the coaching journey shift.
Under the ICOK banner, you've been involved in organizing conferences, bootcamps, ... What did you take away from that? What do you think is the importance of organizing such events?
Last year I was in charge of the first edition of WE CONNECT conference with the theme Innovation & Business Sustainability. I tried to present the potential of the region in all areas. We are not just talking about the corporate environment. Let's not forget that Olomouc is a major university city with a top university hospital. Lots of interesting people took turns on the stage who would not have had the opportunity to meet in their bubbles. And I think this is the main benefit of events like this. Networking, creating a space for mutual dialogue, gaining new inspirations, the emergence of new projects and connecting the seemingly unconnected. What did I take away? That organizing events of this size requires the involvement of a larger team :-) It was challenging. Anyway, it was incredibly motivating for me to do more smaller events. It showed me that if you know why and have a strong argument, you can get almost anyone on stage. At the same time, I'm convinced that it makes a lot of sense to combine different industries and disciplines.
What draws you to organise self-development or business development events?
I'm good at it :-) Seriously. I've mentioned before that I like change, people and self-development. I've gradually found myself in it. I love the energy of a lively discussion and the unanswered questions hanging in the air ... This is where we met you and the Telegraph. I'm grateful for the opportunity to collaborate.
What do you think the business of the future looks like (AI involvement, sustainability...)?
With the speed and breadth of adoption that AI is flooding the market, I wouldn't presume to guess at all. Will digital twins replace us in training? Will we produce meat in test-tube labs? Will the accountant position no longer exist and vertical farms spring up in cities? Who knows? I believe that much more attention and emphasis will need to be placed on education and creativity to keep up with all the changes that are coming (whatever they may be) and use them to benefit society, business and the overall sustainability of our planet. I am convinced that sustainable business will no longer be just a phrase, but part of the global economy.
No one is afraid of new technology entering the workforce, how would you convince them that they don't have to be afraid of it?
What we don't know, we fear. That's natural. The human brain is primarily set up to seek out potential threats so that in the event of danger it can react quickly and save our lives. So such AI may be cracking the bushes from which a lion attacks us. To put this idea into perspective, there is nothing easier than to learn about AI and become familiar with its friendliness. This opportunity is on offer in the Telegraph on 19 September and the floor will be taken by expert Jan Hubka, senior business consultant at Digitsku, founded by Filip Dřímalka. We will talk about how to prepare for a future that includes AI. Among other things, Honza will advise us on how to use AI to write the minutes of the meeting so that it is no longer a thankless job for someone in the team. Our meeting will be full of such practical examples.
What are your next plans for the Telegraph, what kind of writers would you like to see here?
By the end of the year, we plan to jointly introduce the business community to the potential and importance of the topic of mental hygiene, presented by Olomouc psychologist Leona Vysloužilová, and look at the opportunities of the circular economy and its place in the market, presented by CIRA Advisory CEO Laura Mitrolios. For December we are preparing something more subtle, we will talk with Vlaďka Kouřilová, coach, fashion designer and entrepreneur about fashion, its importance in business and overall self-presentation. We'll see how this year's educational block will go, but in any case, in the future I would like to welcome Markéta Vinkelhofer, for example, who will draw the audience into the topic of social entrepreneurship with incredible passion. I'd like to invite Antonín Milata to the Telegraph with the topic of brand entertainment, an emerging trend in advertising, and it would be great to welcome Thea Kučerová, journalist, marketer and now editor-in-chief of the Czech version of the lifestyle monthly ELLE. If there is interest from the public, we would like to develop individual topics in a series of more detailed workshops.
How do you perceive the Olomouc "business" scene - do you see businesses that are progressive, using new technologies?
New technologies and innovation go hand in hand with sustainability, which is growing in importance in business. At the same time, it is supported by EU legislation. Companies are and will be pushed to track an indicator that reflects the company's impact on the environment, society and the way it is run. This reality creates new opportunities. Companies are finding savings in areas that they previously did not consider business relevant: water consumption, energy, waste management, leadership and diversity of teams, etc. And where the money is, that's usually where the focus is. Where there is attention, new ideas, technologies, innovations and new business emerge. In Olomouc we have a lot of major subsidiaries that are pushing this by virtue of their corporate structure. But not only big companies are the drivers. We have aquaponics, precision agriculture, creativity is developing. Worth mentioning is the development of zero-waste biogas plants, plastics recycling, natural cosmetics production and lots more. When we talk about Olomouc, I must not forget science - we have a classical university where the potential for scientific activity is extensive. Let us mention fields such as nanotechnology, plant genetics, modern optics and medicine. And it is precisely the connection between science and business that moves us all forward.
Finally, thank you for the interview, for the opportunity to bring interesting guests and topics to Olomouc. I am looking forward to it, I believe it will be an inspiring ride for all involved and especially for our audience.
By Alžběta Smejkalová / House Manager
