I had the honor of being part of the evaluation committee for the prestigious Manager of the Year 2024 competition, which has been recognizing Czech management personalities for more than three decades. This experience was not only an honor for me, but also confirmation that the academic world we are building together at the Faculty of Management and Economics of TBU in Zlín (FaME) shares a common goal with management practice – to develop leadership, innovation, and responsibility in management.
I greatly appreciate that it is thanks to the cooperation with the Czech Management Association (ČMA) that the ČMA Center of Excellence – FaME UTB Zlín has been established and is now launching its activities. This new center connects managers, the university environment, students, and innovators, creating a platform where practical experience naturally connects with research and education.
The center is based on the tradition of Tomáš Baťa – responsible entrepreneurship, an innovative approach, and the connection of theory with practice. It offers educational programs, mentoring, a leadership academy, networking, professional conferences, and digital forms of development that respond to the current challenges of the management profession.
CMA Center of Excellence – UTB Zlín: pillars that connect theory and practice
📘 Education and development
The center offers a wide range of activities focused on continuous professional and personal growth:
- Leadership Academy – a series of workshops, masterclasses, and certified courses with experts from the field.
- Mentoring & coaching programs – connecting experienced managers with students and young talents.
- Shadowing managers – students accompany managers in their daily work and gain direct insight into practice.
- E-learning, podcasts, blogs – digital content supporting lifelong learning.
🤝 Networking and ecosystem
- Thematic meetings, conferences, and round tables focused on sharing know-how and best practices.
- Professional management conference – an annual flagship event attended by top managers, academics, and students.
- Startup incubator – support for start-up entrepreneurs, mentoring, and acceleration.
- Partnerships with companies, clusters, and the public sector – joint projects and financing of innovations.
🧩 Forms of cooperation with universities
- Joint educational programs (MBA modules, certification)
- Applied research in the fields of management and technology
- Startup incubators and student business competitions
- Mentoring, internships, and shadowing managers
- Conferences and networking in cooperation with partners
New challenge: ČMA Morava – a community of managers and innovators
On October 7, 2025, I humbly accepted a new challenge – to lead the ČMA Morava section.
Our goal is to create a vibrant and open community of managers, innovators, academics, and representatives of institutions that connects the business, public, and academic sectors and strengthens the development of the entire Moravian region.
🎯 Vision of the Morava section:
- Regular sharing of best practices
- Supporting companies towards innovation
- Strengthening links between the association, universities, and local government
🧭 Mission:
To support new trends and technologies, exchange experiences and benchmarking, connect the corporate and public spheres, support the local economy and the creation of startups, and create a strong network of relationships and cooperation.
🏆 Goals for the first period:
- Strengthen the perception of management as a profession
- Support cooperation and the sharing of know-how
- Organize visits to companies
- Open up new trends in management
- Develop future generations of leaders
Mission and concept of ČMA clubs
ČMA clubs are an open platform for managers across disciplines and regions to meet, learn, and share experiences. Their mission is to support professional growth, innovation, and sustainable business through cooperation and knowledge exchange.
The goal is to create space for the development of professional and personal competencies, build a strong management community, and strengthen ethical management principles. The clubs provide tools and opportunities to improve management skills and contribute to the competitiveness of the Czech economy.
Program of activities of the CMA clubs and the Center of Excellence
1) Professional workshops and seminars
Current topics in management, innovation, leadership, digitization, and ESG, led by experts from the field and academia (e.g., FaME).
2) Mastermind meetings
An exclusive form of experience sharing among club members – mutual support, brainstorming, and collective problem solving.
3) Networking events
Informal evening meetings, themed breakfasts, and lunches focused on establishing professional relationships.
4) Mentoring and shadowing
Connecting experienced leaders with the younger generation of managers and students – personal development, career growth, inspiration.
5) Case study events
Analysis of real management problems using the approaches of the finalists of the Manager of the Year competition.
6) Company excursions
Visits to successful companies and innovative projects followed by thematic discussion panels.
7) Thematic discussions and workshops on soft skills
Development of emotional intelligence, presentation and negotiation skills, time management, and stress management.
8) Conferences and round tables
Annual meetings of managers, academics, and government representatives. A conference with the finalists of Manager of the Year is also planned in Zlín and Prague.
9) Social events
Networking, gala evenings, charity events, and cultural activities connecting the management community.
10) Online platform and educational resources
Digital library, webinars, newsletters, and sharing of best practices among CMA members and partners of the Center of Excellence.
Common vision: leadership, innovation, responsibility
The establishment of the CMA Center of Excellence – UTB Zlín and the CMA Moravia section represents a new model of cooperation between academia and practice.
Its goal is to strengthen the management profession, support responsible leadership of organizations, and inspire new generations of leaders who can combine expertise, humanity, and the courage to innovate.
