11.04.2026
Can a company succeed in today’s economy if it is built on values, responsibility, and care for people? And are Bata’s principles merely a historical inspiration, or a functional model for contemporary business as well? The Bata Forum: Paths to Responsible Leadership conference at Prague’s Žofín Palace will bring together the experiences of leading Czech entrepreneurs with the perspectives of economist Tomáš Sedláček, physician Tomáš Šebek, and Paralympian Jiří Ježek. Baťa CEO Panos Mytaros and one of Tomas Bata’s granddaughters, Rosemarie Blyth-Bata, will also participate in the discussion.
The full-day conference program is divided into four thematic blocks, which together paint a picture of “Bata-style” leadership in practice - from values and working with people to personal resilience and health.
The first block, titled “Values as the Foundation of Successful Business,” will explore the question of whether it is possible to build a company over the long term without a clear moral compass. Successful entrepreneurs Artur Gevorkyan, Ivan Baťka, Miroslav Hofman, and Stanislav Martinec will share their specific experiences here on how they strive to incorporate the principles of responsibility, trust, and service into the day-to-day management of their companies.
“The conference will feature testimonials from successful entrepreneurs who build on Bata’s principles and apply them to the modern world. The goal of the gathering at Žofín and the entire Bata150 project is to show that Bata’s principles and values remain relevant to life today, even after more than a century,” says Gabriela Končitíková, the director of the Thomas Bata Foundation, which is organizing the conference as part of the year-long Bata150 project.
The second session, titled “People Bring It to Life,” will focus on employee development, corporate culture, and education. Working with people was one of the fundamental pillars of the Bata system, and today it is once again proving to be a key factor in competitiveness. Štěpánka Kubicová from Škoda Auto, Petr Ropický, the director of the retail distribution network at Česká spořitelna, and Martin Janský, CEO of Randstad Czech Republic, will offer insights into HR practices and experiences from the environment of growing companies.
The third part of the program, “Health as the Foundation of a Creative Spirit,” will highlight that a company’s performance begins with the well-being of its people. Doctor Tomáš Šebek, Paralympian Jiří Ježek, and nutrition expert Petr Havlíček will offer insights into physical and mental resilience as prerequisites for long-term performance. “At a time when a name was still being sought for the condition we now call burnout, Bata was already systematically working on its prevention through an emphasis on balance, regeneration, and overall human well-being,” adds Gabriela Končitíková.
The conference’s closing session, “Everything Is Constant Change,” will then link an economic perspective with the personal responsibility of leaders. Economist Tomáš Sedláček, in a discussion with Bata’s global CEO Panos Mytaros and Fosfa owner Ivan Baťka, will explore topics such as values, responsibility, and humility in a material world.
A Glimpse into the Bata Family Kitchen and a Concert by No Name
Two new publications will also be unveiled during the evening. The book Tomas Bata – The Desire to Create explores the legendary entrepreneur’s perspective on work and responsibility. The book The Culinary Art of Marie Bata will showcase the Bata family’s favourite flavours and offer a glimpse into their private life during the First Republic era in Zlín.
“We are delighted that on this festive day we can present the Bata legacy in true depth and within a broader context. We will also examine Tomas Bata’s philosophy through the artistic lens of Jaromír 99, who has prepared a comic book exhibition for us, whose main message is a thorough insight into Bata’s thinking. And the book of Marie Bata’s recipes will be ceremonially presented by actress and singer Kateřina Winterová, who has already collaborated with us on the book 99 Sweet Dots by Marie Bata,” adds Jakub Malovaný, the project manager at the Thomas Bata Foundation.
This inspiring day at Žofín will conclude with a social program featuring a concert by the band No Name.
The Bata150 Project as a Social Topic
The conference at Žofín is part of the year-long Bata150 project, through which the Thomas Bata Foundation commemorates the 150th anniversary of the birth of Zlín’s most famous native son. Throughout the year, the project will feature thematic conferences, traveling exhibitions, lecture tours, and the musical The Bata Clan, starring Tomáš Klus in one of the leading roles, which will have its premiere in June at the Kampa Museum’s Summer Stage.
The goal of the Bata150 project is not historical reflection, but rather to open a public debate on whether the principles upon which a global company was built a century ago can still hold up in today’s world.
For more information about the project, visit www.bata150.cz.
