CEMS Talk: Inclusive Workplace Culture hosted by Google

Dear CEMS Alumni,

We are delighted to invite you for CEMS Talk: Inclusive Workplace Culture hosted exlusively by Google. You can look forward to:

>> Welcome session by Tatiana le Moigne, Country Manager at Google
>> Interactive panel discussion on "How inclusive culture helps companies to succeed"
>> Excellent networking opportunities with fellow CEMS Alumni and Googlers

Location: Google Office, Stroupežnického 3191/17, Prague 5

Further details: Facebook
Registration: Google form

The capacity for the event is very limited. You seat will be confirmed based on the available no. of spots assigned to CEMS Alumni. We recommend to book your seat as soon as you can. You can cancel your attendance latest 48 hours prior to the event.  

Use this extraordinary opportunity to discuss, meet and share best practices with fellow CEMS Alumni and Googlers. 

For further questions please contact Pavlina at +44 7823 520 929. 

#March issue of the CEMS Alumni Newsletter: Warm invitation for great CEMS events in the upcoming weeks!

Dear CEMS Alumni, We are thrilled to invite you for greatly diverse CEMS Alumni events - all of them taking place in the upcoming weeks. And as a highlight do not forget to book your calendar on Thursday 19th April: The celebration of 20 years of CEMS MIM in the Czech Republic. CEMS Talk dedicated to a topic we typically do not talk about: Tue 20th March 7pm: CEMS Talk The Dark Side of Management Successful management career: it is easy to imagine the bright side of it, but what does it actually take? Come to discuss this topic with our top speakers. Location: Palac YMCA, Na Porici 12, Prague 1 Registration: Google Form Details: Facebook Upcoming events in April A traditional CEMS Alumni event: CEMS Alumni Sauna on 5 April 7pm Location: TBC Details: Facebook CEMS Alumni meet CEMS Students: CEMS Breakfast on Fri 6th April 8am Location: TBC CEMS Alumni Family Event on Sat 7th April 10am Location: Brumbambule, Kolbenova 9a, Prague 9 Details: Facebook CEMS celebrating 20 years in the Czech Rep. on Thu 19th AprilKey CEMS event in 2018: Meet the whole CEMS Community Location: University of Economics, Prague Program: Coming soon :-) Details: Facebook Share your CEMS Alumni Story for the 20th Anniversary CEMS Event

We need your support CEMS Alumni Association in Prague is a non-profit organization ran by volunteers To be able to organize events like this one in the future - we need your support. How can you support us? 1) Financial support To cover our costs (e.g. for space rental, refreshment during events etc.), we would like to ask you for your support. You can either join the Global CEMS Alumni Association or you can give a financial donation to our Alumni Association in Prague. For details please check this post. Our bank details are: IBAN: CZ16 2010 0000 0029 0011 9575, SWIFT: FIOBCZPP. 2) Space support Do you access to meetings / conference rooms or any unusual space (i.e. theatre, gallery) that we might use for future CEMS Alumni Events? Please let us know. 3) HR support Are you willing to give back to the CEMS Community? Do you want to join our team and prepare future events for other CEMSies? Please let us know.

We look forward to seeing you at one of our uproming events. To stay connected, join our Facebook group #CEMS Alumni Czech Republic

Pavlína, Kashia, Vojta, Honza and DaryaYour CEMS Alumni Board Team
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CEMS Talk: The Dark Side of Management

Successful management career - it's easy to imagine the bright side of it, but what does it actually take?
This time, at CEMS talks we want to address the questions that are usually kept to ourselves - how to learn to own and celebrate your success, if you always feel you could've done better? How to behave if your boss sees you as their own competition? Which myths are perpetuated by startups to retain dream employees in tough conditions and how to stand up for yourself? Is management consulting really a golden cage and how does it feel to leave?
The fellow CEMS alumni will openly share their experiences in an informal discussion, followed up with a dinner and drinks.

Many high achievers share a dirty little secret: Deep down they sometimes feel like their accomplishments are the result of serendipitous luck.

This psychological phenomenon, known as impostor syndrome, reflects a belief that, despite evidence that indicates you’re skilled and successful, you could’ve done even better. Success is rarely satisfying. But that’s neither productive nor healthy. Owning and celebrating achievements is essential if you want to avoid burnout, find contentment, and cultivate self-confidence.

We'll learn more about the impostor syndrome from Jan Neuberg Gemrich, ex-Googler and entrepreneur.

When: 20 March, 18:30.
Where: YMCA, Na Poříčí 1041/12, 110 00 Nové Město.
Registration: Register here.

Darya
on behalf of your CEMS Alumni Board Team
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CEMS Talk: Managing In Multinationals 1st March 7pm

Dear CEMSies,

Book your calendar for Thursday 1st March for the first CEMS Talk in 2018 - this time dedicated to the topic Managing in Multinationals - i.e. how to manage a longterm career in an international corporation - what it takes and what it brings.

You can look forward to three excellent speakers:

• Alice Machova - Partner at Ernst & Young
• Zdenek Rihacek - Country Manager at P&G
• Maria Sochorova - Marketing Director at L'Oréal

There is a limited capacity for this Talk - secure your seat via registering at: LINK

The Talk will take place in the Reuters office at Vaclavske namesti.

Programme:

• 6:30pm Doors open
• 7pm: CEMS Talk starts
• 8:30pm: Dinner and drinks in a nearby restaurant

Look forward to seeing you!
Your CEMS Alumni Board Team

CEMS Talk on the topic Digital First: Business and Philanthropy in the Digital era

Digital career as the main topic, three amazing speakers, no slides, informal atmosphere, a beautiful venue, engaged audience: great CEMS Talk with vivid discussions.

Our November CEMS Talk took place in a co-working centre Opero, a perfect location for the topic Digital First. A key question of the evening was rather simple: What is career in a digital environment like? 

This CEMS Talk offered not only a unique chance to uncover a bit of the magic behind companies such as Google, Uber or Airbnb but also brought a real variety of choices and approaches how one can direct his / her career in a digital environment. 

What are the key take aways from this CEMS Talk?

• Use digital tools to get rid of repetitive tasks and focus instead on project bringing innovation and people development. 
• Be bold, trust in what you do and and use the opportunities arising around.
• Build your own network and use it - incl. the 2nd connections (i.e. friends of friends).
• Don't give up and follow what you believe it even when obstacles show up. 
• When going for a new job, choose a company culture fitting your personality. 
• Do not evil in anything you do. 
• Choose a career fitting your lifestyle and life values.
• Find something you want to fight for. And do it.

Who were our three speakers?

Vaclav Graf: Turning from GO to become a shared economy expert

Trips Marketing Manager Central & Eastern Europe at Airbnb

Vaclav's career is the most colourful mix one can imagine. After submitting a thesis about selling visas on eBay, he got offered a job in a governmental office in the Czech Republic. Soon after that, he joined OECD. When working on a project solving a housing situation in New York, he got fasinated by the concept of shared economy and looked for opportunities in this area. Later he became a key expert on the shared economy in the Czech Republic - bringing both Uber and Airbnb to the region of central and eastern Europe. 

His main advice for others: Use social media to your favour. Get in touch with those your are interested in. 

Petr Smid: Inspiring CEMS & Google Enthusiast

Head of Consumer Marketing, Central & Eastern Europe at Google

To describe Petr, I would say a great wave of inspiring energy. Petr is well known for his passion for both CEMS and Google and his desire to help others to succeed. After finishing his studies, he became a consultant at McKinsey. Just before the financial crisis came, he joined the MBA programme at INSEAD. Almost two years after finishing his MBA studies, he joined Google and until today is a greatly passionate Googler. During the Talk he mentioned three reasons he likes about the Google company culture, i.e. appraising performance, driving informality and creating positive impact. This year, Petr has been nominated for the CEMS Alumni of the year as the first Czech candidate in the category of senior leaders. 

His main advice for others: Choose a company culture fitting your personality.

Michal Zwinger: Socially conscious digital entrepreneur

Managing Director at Levebee.com (Vcelka.cz)

Yet studying CEMS and starting his career at Henkel, Michal is everything but a typical CEMS Alumnus. His desire to help others to live a happier life brought him soon from the corporate into the entrepreneurial world. Starting with the opportunity that seemed as the easiest back then - a tool helping people to read more efficiently, he created his first business. The company took off very well. Though the shining results were hitted by an unexpected law suit that his company eventually won. Yet it slowed down the company development considerably. The new restart came with a project vcelka.cz, an app helping kids and people with dislexia to learn to read. Michal mentioned a great thought: Find something you want to fight for and simply do it. 

His main advice for others: Be open, opportunities will show up. Do what you believe in.

We thank to our exceptional speakers for their time and effort as well as to all attendees for joining this great evening.

We are looking forward to seeing you at one of our next events.

Pavlina
on behalf of your CEMS Alumni Board Team

___________________________________________________________

CEMS Talk concept:

• Every CEMS Talk is dedicated to a unique topic related to life and career in today’s world. 
• Speakers are chosen based on their level of experience and relevancy for a chosen area. 
• The audience is built from CEMS students and alumni, both Czech and international. 
• The main purpose of CEMS Talk is to share real, authentic and honest stories and thereby inspire members of the CEMS Community in their future life and business choices

CEMS Talk: Digital First

Thursday 30th November at 7pm: CEMS Talk - Digital First
Top digital leaders sharing their inspiring stories.

Location: Opero Prague
Registration at: cemsalumni@seznam.cz
Speakers: Petr Smid @Google, Vaclav Graf @Airbnb, Michal Zwinger @Levebee.com

Petr Smid: Head of Consumer Marketing, Central & Eastern Europe at Google
Petr is an exceptional leader, great digital expert and truly inspirational personality not only within the CEMS Alumni Community:

• Petr spent 7 years at McKinsey and initiated the process of them becoming CEMS corporate partner.
• Petr helped VSE students to establish country's leading student consulting (Club 307) and digital club (ClickIt - a direct result of CEMS business project)
• Petr hired 7 CEMSies to his teams at Google and supported several more in joining other teams.
• Petr is nominated for the CEMS Alumni of the Year. You can still vote here!

Vaclav Graf: Trips Marketing Manager Central & Eastern Europe at Airbnb

Vaclav is an innovative leader passionate about technology with broad experience in both start-ups and global companies.

• Vaclav launched Uber operations in Prague, the first CEE market
• As Country Lead managed the expansion of Airbnb in he Czech Republic
• Vaclav worked a Consultant for a governmental office, EY as well as OECD
• Currently he is bringing Airbnb experience to Prague, Tel Aviv and Athens
• In governmental office

Michal Zwinger: Managing Director at Levebee.com (Vcelka.cz)

• Michal's own introduction says everything: "With passion for perfection and technology, together with my team, we build online services that make people happier. Our apps improve other people's lives."
• Michal is a managing director at Legentas.com / Rozectise.cz and thereby helps people to read more efficiently.
• For more than 3 years, he is leading Levebee.com / Vcelka.cz and thereby improves reading capabilities and helps people with reading disorder conditions, including dyslexia.
• His specialities: User Experience, User Interface, Gamification, E-learning

Pavlína
on behalf of your CEMS Alumni Board Team
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CEMS Talk on the topic Going the Other Way: Are you living the life You want to live?

Alternative career choice as the main topic, three amazing speakers, no slides, informal atmosphere, beautiful venue, engaged audience: unique CEMS Talk with unique findings.

Our October CEMS Talk took place in an art gallery, a perfect location to discuss Going the Other Way choices. A key question of the evening was simple: Are you living the life You want to live? 

We are extremely happy that this topic raised a lot of interest among CEMS students and alumni and thank all for all the rich discussions that arose during and also after the CEMS Talk.

Although all three speakers have started their career in the corporate environment and until today they are managing projects and people, their career paths have been all but ordinary. It was such a refreshing experience to spend an evening with these extraordinary, smart, courageous and humble people, who do really create an impact on the society and world around us. 

What is the key take away from this CEMS Talk?

• Explore what is truly important for You in Your life. Once You find it, do it.
• Pushing does not work. Be open and let things, people and situations come to You.
• Slowness brings answers to key questions in life.
• Follow Your intuition first, before making any decision think it properly through  (not the other way around)
• Have good friends, who will help You to come back on Your path, when You are wobbling. 
• Have great teachers, who will inspire You. 
• Leave your comfort zone & take a break from your normal life.
• Follow Your personal values in Your life as well as in Your career without compromising them.
• Follow the signs
• Give back

CEMS Talk concept:

• Every CEMS Talk is dedicated to a unique topic related to life and career in today’s world. 
• Speakers are chosen based on their level of experience and relevancy for a chosen area. 
• The audience is built from CEMS students and alumni, both Czech and international. 
• The main purpose of CEMS Talk is to share real, authentic and honest stories and thereby inspire members of the CEMS Community in their future life and business choices

 

Who were our three speakers?

Dagmar Goldmannova: Philanthropy consultant and project manager

Dagmar has left her corporate career in order to do what she loves - helping others in a meaningful way. She was working on projects in many countries in Africa, Asia and eastern Europe. Since December 2016, she is leading a philanthropic consultancy company back in the Czech Republic.

Her main advice for others: Be the one, who is deciding about Your life. Let things come to You. 

 

Jakub Stransky: Spontaneous and inspiring financial expert

Jakub's dream was to serve a local community. He has been working in a local Czech production company, studied PhD, lived in Lyon, taught CEMS subjects at the university, joined the Institute for the examination of totalitarian regimes and recently is enjoying his sabbatical - i.e. parental leave. 

His main advice for others: Live the life that you want to live. Have great people around you.

Valerie Kozelska Schafer: Socially conscious entrepreneur

Valerie has managed to combine her great business talent with the deeply rooted wish to help and support others. During her MBA studies in Taiwan, her and her husband, have started to build their social enterprise. Living in a small Moravian village, Valerie is managing their own company and at the same time is renovating a historical building in the center of Znojmo.

Her main advice for others: Be open, opportunities will show up. Do what you believe in. A life is too short to waste it. 

  

We thank to our exceptional speakers for their time and effort as well as to all attendees for joining this great evening.

We are looking forward to seeing you at one of our next events.

Pavlina
on behalf of your CEMS Alumni Board Team
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PS: Thank You for Your positive feedback shared during and after the event :)

E.g. One of the many reasons why CEMS is a great choice: The frequent and insightful events with Alumni. Shoutout to the Alumni Team for organizing this talk! 

Florian, current CEMS Student

CEMS Talk - Going the other way on 16 October

Dear alumni
I would like to invite you to another CEMS Talk event. This time it will be devoted to cemsies who chose not so typical career path for a cemsie.
How did they end up in the role they are doing now? What are they enjoying and what are  struggling with at their careers? What does the statement "make an impact" mean to the? What kind of lessons have they learnt about life and career choices so far?

Who are the speakers?

Jakub Stransky: CFO at Institute for Study of Totalitarian Regimes
Jakub is an exceptional financial expert. Instead of living in Wall Street, he has been managing finances in a one of the top institutes in the Czech Republic. Before that he worked in a NGO and also taught at the university. Come to explore his story, find more about his motivation as well as learn about the reality of a daily job in a non-corporate sector.

Dagmar Goldmannova: Executive Director at Via Clarita
Dagmar has left her HR career at L'Oreal to lead international NGO projects. In 2016 she founded a company providing philanthropic consultancy. Join our CEMS Talk to explore what is means to manage philantropic consultancy, how corporate HR differs from HR in an international NGO and what working in NGO is really like.

Valerie Kozelska Schafer: Founder at Coelsol & Preserver of Stara pekarna
After working at Henkel, Valerie relocated to Taiwan to study MBA. Back in the Czech Rep., she has founded a social entrepreneurship business importing solar systems and also started to renovate an old bakery house. Which learning from the corporate world can be applied in own CSR business? Why studying MBA can change one's life? How to run business from a small village?

Where does it take place?

At Nová galerie, Balbínova 26, Praha 2

Ready to come?

Then sign up at cemslumni@seznam.cz and join us on Monday 16 October at 7pm! Check out the Facebook event.



We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Vojta
on behalf of your CEMS Alumni Board Team
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CEMS Talk on the topic Building BIG: What an impressive start to CEMS Alumni autumn 2017!

Three top speakers, engaged attendees, beautiful venue, and great wine tasting created an unforgettable CEMS Talk.

What is the key take away from the CEMS Talk on the topic Building Big?

• Learn from the best ones: Get the job in a top company in your area of interest
• Become an industry expert: Understand the business you are in
• Follow your personal values in your career as well as in your business without compromises
• Find what you enjoy: Go for it, work on it, stay hungry, humble and persistent
• Find a gap: Fill it in with a unique offering
• Grow wisely: No need for rapid jump up
• Choose great people who are better than you are: Don’t go only for good ones.
• Be flexible and adaptive: See and use new opportunities that are constantly arising
• Follow the signs
• Give back

              

 

CEMS Talk is an event concept inspired by TED talk:

• Every CEMS Talk is dedicated to a unique topic related to life and career in today’s world. 
• Speakers are chosen based on their level of experience and relevancy for a chosen area. 
• The audience is built from CEMS students and alumni, both Czech and international. 
• The main purpose of CEMS Talk is to share real, authentic and honest stories and thereby inspire members of the CEMS Community in their future life and business choices.

Who were our three speakers?

Jan Hrdina: an extraordinary entrepreneur

Jan has managed to grow a family owned business into an internationally recognized company, #1 on the Czech market for wooden products. 

His success lies in the combination of:

• unique product offering, 
• focus on top quality, 
• choosing the best people and 
• following and embodying his personal values such as: fairness, honesty, transparency, family business, ecological approach, giving back. 

Radomir Salitros: a top star all across

Radomir became a VP in an Austrian banking group before he turned thirty. 

With his CV and experience, he could have had easily an amazing and secured career in the financial industry. 

Instead he decided to do what he enjoyed. He moved back to his home town in eastern Slovakia and founded a company producing luxury beds that is one of the top companies in this field internationally.

What is the magic behind? 

• being transparent and honest,
• staying hungry and humble, 
• following the signs, 
• learning from the best companies and then applying that in own business and 
• based on his experience not trusting anyone.

Frantisek Peterka – a modern start-up entrepreneur

Frantisek does not see a difference between doing business in a digital or real world. Frantisek has already managed to establish and grow several top digital companies. 

His passion is the first stage of the entrepreneurship journey: building new company. 

Aiming to build a business for his wife, he founded the biggest and most successful shopping platform for kids and mums in the Czech Republic. 

Frantisek’s secret is build upon:

• his desire for building new solution for customer needs, 
• being adaptive, flexible and open to new opportunities and 
• doing business with people he can trust as his family, friends, former colleagues.

We thank to our exceptional speakers as well as to all attendees.

We look forward to seeing you at one of our next events.

Pavlina on behalf of CEMS Alumni Board

PS: We are extremely happy for you feedback, below a few notes:

Hi Pavlina

Just wanted to thank you for a great event on Thursday, I had to leave quite early so didn't have a chance to say it in person Looking forward for more events like that

Nika (CEMS Student)

_________________

Dear Pavlina, 

thank you so much for organizing the event yesterday - we all loved it! 

Kate (CEMS Student)

_________________

Ahoj Pavlíno, 

včerejší akce totální liga, smekám za organizaci a děkujeme za úsilí, které jsi tomu věnovala.Budu se těšit na dalších akcích

Richard (CEMS Alumnus)

_________________

Ahoj Pavlina,

Este raz dakujem za pozvanie a perfektnu organizaciu vcerajsieho eventu. Bol to velmi inspirativny a myslim, ze aj najviac autenticky event zo vsetkych CEMS podujati, ktore som dosial navstivila. Tesim sa uz na dalsie stretnutie. 

S prianim pekneho dna,

Gabriela (CEMS Student)

Pavlína
on behalf of your CEMS Alumni Board Team
Blog :: Facebook :: LinkedIn

CEMS Talk - Three inspiring stories - one topic: BUILDING BIG on 21 Sep

How to turn a passion into something "real"? How to build on it and grow? How to expand? How to build BIG? There are the questions for our next CEMS Alumni event on 21st September at 7pm. 

Who is this evening focused on?

On those, of you, who:

• want do some movement in their career,
• would like to start your own business but are not sure how,
• are entrepreneurs and want to move own business forward,
• simply want to meet with inspiring people.

Who are the speakers?

Jan Hrdina: Managing Director at Asko a.s.

Jan has managed to turn his passion for wood into building a top company with wooden products in the Czech Republic. Jan is one of the most recognized personalities in the CEMS Community and for years a big source of inspiration for many CEMS entrepreneurs.

Radomir Salitros: CEO & Co-owner at Saffron Beds

In 2007, Radomir left his consultancy and banking career in order to follow his desire for quality sleep. Not only he established a successful company producing luxury and healthy beds but he also managed to acquire a major investor helping Saffron Beds to expand internationally. 

Frantisek Peterka: Founder and former CEO at Prodeti.cz, Founder and CEO at Driveto.cz
Frantisek is a modern entrepreneur, who has built two successful eCommerce companies within past 8 years. After creating, leading and lately selling the biggest eshop with goods for children in the Czech Rep., he has started recently his new project driveto.cz

Where does it take place?

At the FloorFloor! venue at Na Pankráci 30 A, 140 00 Praha 4

Ready to come?

Then sign up at cemslumni@seznam.cz and join us on Thursday 21st September at 7pm!

Want more :-)?

A part of the evening will be dedicated to little wine tasting

Check our Facebook event. 

In case of any questions, please let us know!

Your CEMS Alumni Board