The Unyielding Engine of Leadership. From the Workshop to the Top
www.posiv.cz ǀ 21
POSITIV MAN
I take photos for joy, not for money
– and if I do earn anything,
it always goes to charity.
different operating conditions and motor behaviours
without the need to build physical prototypes.
We developed parametric models that we now use
in simulations and when designing new product lines.
Last year, for example, we completed a full digital twin
of the Frenštát plant, including the entire machine fleet.
Artificial intelligence will undoubtedly transform how
companies operate, and it holds great potential for
making production more efficient. We‘re just at the
beginning of this journey, still exploring and testing
the possibilities within the context of customised,
specialised manufacturing.
As CEO, you often represent the company externally.
What do you enjoy most about these meetings,
and what do you usually take away from them?
It’s the exchange of experience – I have a strong drive
to keep moving things forward, and I enjoy learning
from others. That’s also something we, as a company,
aim to offer to other members of the associations we’re
part of. Just recently, for example, we hosted members
of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic
at Innomotics in Frenštát this May. And this autumn,
we’ll be attending the International Industrial Fair
in Brno for the first time, where we’ll be at a joint stand
with the Electrical and Electronic Association of the
Czech Republic, with whom we’ve established a close
partnership. We’re also a founding member of the
Leaders Club of the Moravian-Silesian Region, and I’d
even say that there, it’s no longer just about sharing
experiences – it’s also about genuine friendships with
other members.
Do you have any tricks that help you maintain
your energy and performance during demanding
workdays? And are you able to find time for yourself
and your interests despite your hectic schedule?
Sometimes it’s really tough – especially when you’re
both the managing director of the entire company
and the head of a plant at the same time. Personally,
three things help me. First, personal contact with
people in the company – sometimes I simply take a walk
through the production floor to recharge and have
a chat with the team on the shop floor. Second, active
rest through sport helps a lot. I love the mountains
and try to seize every free moment to hike up a hill
here in the Beskids. For my 50th birthday, I challenged
myself to climb Velký Javorník 50 times in a year –
and I managed it. On top of that, I added another
30 peaks as part of our company challenge, Innopeaks.
My third passion is photography combined with travel,
so whether I’m heading to the mountains or an exotic
destination, I usually go fully equipped to capture
a good shot. That recharges me the most. I enjoy
landscape photography, but I also love capturing the full
moon behind a structure, like the transmitter tower
on Lysá hora, to create the effect of a massive moon
with a small silhouette in the foreground – something
you can’t see with the naked eye. I shoot for joy, not
for money – and if I do earn anything, it always goes
to charity. The prizes from photo competitions I’ve
won have gone to the children’s hospice Dům pro Julii.
And the proceeds from last year’s charity exhibition
of my photos, titled “Cestou, necestou” (On and Off
the Road), held at the Frýdek-Místek château by the
Leaders Club of the Moravian-Silesian Region, reached
an incredible sum of 135,000 CZK. I donated the full
amount to the Via association for people with sensory
impairments. Thanks to that, children with sensory
disabilities can now look forward to a summer trip
to the mountains, complete with a full programme
to support their development.
Do you have any rituals or habits that help you grow
as a leader? Do you pursue further education, find
inspiration in books, podcasts, or the people around
you? And is there someone who has had a significant
influence on your professional journey?
It’s definitely a mix of all those things. At different times,
different sources have helped me. In my early days,
the person who had the biggest influence on me was
Jaromír Zapletal, the former director of the Frenštát
plant. His pointed questions often made me reflect
on myself, which helped push me forward. Over
five years, he gradually prepared me to take over
the Frenštát plant, before retiring in 2016 after nearly
25 years in the role.
Lifelong learning is also key – in my view, it’s something
anyone aspiring to a leadership role should commit to.
The world around us is changing at an incredible pace,
and the words of Jan Neruda ring truer than ever: “He
who stood still for a moment is already left behind.”
Thank you for the interview.