ZUZANA ČAPUTOVÁ
Zuzana Čaputová is a Slovak lawyer, activist, and politician who became the first woman and the youngest president of the Slovak Republic in 2019. During her studies, she worked in public administration and was involved with children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. As a lawyer, she focused on environmental protection, fighting corruption, and advocating for public rights. In 2016, she received the Goldman Environmental Prize, also known as the “Green Nobel Prize”.
As president, she focused on protecting the constitution, human rights, supporting evidence-based decision-making, and reducing social polarization. She supported the establishment of centers for victims of domestic violence and promoted the rights of marginalized groups, including women, children, Roma, and the LGBTIQ+ community. She actively promoted climate action and transformed the presidential office into the first climate-neutral public institution in Slovakia.
In foreign policy, she supported European integration and Ukraine. After completing her term, she served as a visiting lecturer at Stanford University in the USA. She is the recipient of 11 international awards and 6 foreign state honors.
VÁCLAV DEJČMAR
Václav Dejčmar is an economist and philanthropist. He is an investor in projects related to the RSJ company, co-owner of the DOX Prague contemporary art centre, and an occasional producer, including the film I am Fishead about the role of psychopaths in business and politics, or Bufo Alvarius – The Underground Secret about the strongest known natural psychedelic. He enjoys engaging with disruptive ideas and is active in the Neuron Foundation, which supports Czech science.
YASMINE ABDU
Yasmine Abdu is an award-winning entrepreneur and founder of CarbonTrac, an AI platform gamifying sustainable grocery shopping to make low-carbon living simple, rewarding, and accessible to everyone. On a mission to cut UK emissions by 5 % by 2030, she believes that millions of small actions – like greener groceries – can create a movement, reshape supply chains, and bring us closer to net zero.
JIŘÍ MÁDL
The Czech actor, director and screenwriter Jiří Mádl is known for his roles in the films Gympl, Deníček moderního fotra and Modelář. His directorial debut Pojedeme k moři was critically acclaimed. As a director, he enjoyed great success with the film Vlny, which also received international recognition and was nominated for an Academy Award. Mádl actively supports young talent in the Czech film industry and is involved in mentoring programmes for aspiring directors and screenwriters. In 2017, he founded ArteFund, which financially supports artistically talented children from orphanages.
JETHRO TIEMAN
Jethro Tieman is a builder, disruptor, and occasional optimist. He founded FarmBizAfrica to fix agricultural systems, but his curiosity spans AI, biology, Europe’s future, and the design of everything from robots to revolutions. He’s chasing a life at the center of the action – where ideas spark change, and chaos becomes creation.
CONSUELO VANDERBILT
Consuelo Vanderbilt, a seventh-generation descendant of the iconic Vanderbilt family, has made her mark in music, business, and philanthropy. She launched her own record label, C&R Productions, with top Billboard hits like “Naked” and “Feel So Alive”. Beyond music, she founded Soho Muse and a jewelry collection. Consuelo is also deeply involved in philanthropy, supporting causes like ovarian cancer research, women’s rights, and diversity through initiatives like “SohoMuse Presents VOICES”.
SARA POLAK
Sara Polak is an archaeologist and evolutionary anthropologist, co-founder of the Mobilis Institute and ShellProof, and currently leads a research group at the FIT ČVUT. She focuses on studying civilizational resilience, the digitization of cultural heritage, and the integration of humanities with modern technologies, believing that only through education and an interdisciplinary approach can humanity reach its full potential. Sara is also on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, named Top Innovator (2022), and received the Business Revolution Award from the British Department of International Trade. She loves big dogs, Cimrman, historical trivia, and Monty Python.
PETR BANDA
Petr Banda is the co-founder of the Association of Young Roma and a member of the Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe. He is dedicated to strengthening the civic engagement of Roma youth, raising awareness of Roma history, and connecting young Roma across communities and countries.
YEMI A.D.
Yemi A.D. is a choreographer, producer, and innovator with over 20 years of experience in arts and technology. He was selected for the dearMoon mission around the Moon, is the founder of JAD Productions and the Moonshot Platform, which supports young leaders and social innovations. He has collaborated with Kanye West and received the Henry Crown Fellowship. In 2022, he was awarded the Silver Medal for his contribution to social innovations.
NANUSHKA – Sandra and Peter
Founded in Budapest, by Sandra Sándor in 2005, and under the leadership of Peter Baldaszti, Nanushka designs womenswear, menswear, and accessories made from carefully chosen materials with low-impact credentials. Focusing on craftsmanship, detail, and fabric, Nanushka builds an elegant, modern wardrobe that combines traditional craft with contemporary design. Celebrating the beauty in imperfection, Nanushka brings pure design and conscious creativity together in a refined bohemian perspective informed by travel, innovation, and respect for heritage.
MICHAELA BAUER
Michaela Bauer, a member of the Board of Directors of the ČSOB Group and the supervisory boards of several innovative companies, has over 20 years of experience in banking. She has led revolutionary changes, including the transformation of a bank into a technology company. She advocates for innovation, the practical use of technology, and supports startups. She also hosts a podcast. Michaela is among the most influential women in the Czech Republic and one of the most-read top executives on LinkedIn. She actively supports other women through initiatives such as #Finzeny and the Inspire & Impact Network.
IVANA TYKAČ
Entrepreneur Ivana Tykač ranks among the ten most influential women in the Czech Republic. She is one of the most prominent figures in the Czech real estate industry, active in the field since the early 1990s. She owns a development company that focuses on the renovation of historical landmarks, the development of small luxury residential buildings, and property rentals. Since 2012, she has been deeply involved in charitable work. She is the director and co-founder of the non-profit organization WOMEN FOR WOMEN, which helps single parents with children, children, and entire families in need.
MAREK PRCHAL
Marek Prchal is an expert on the Czech population and arguably the most well-known Czech marketer. After a decade-long career in politics, he decided to seek answers to the questions posed by his generation and the generation of his children. He lectures at the University of Economics in Prague and has published a book about his work titled Duše národa.
MIROSLAV BÁRTA
Miroslav Bárta is an Egyptologist and a member of prestigious global scientific organizations, including The Explorers Club and The American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has been working in Egypt since 1991 and has led research at Abusir since 2010. Beyond Egyptology, he focuses on the comparative study of civilizations and the state of the modern world. He is a recipient of the Czech Republic’s highest scientific honor, Česká hlava.
KATEŘINA MELENOVÁ
Fragrance designer Kateřina Melenová specializes in aromapsychology – the influence of natural essences on the human psyche – and in creating functional fragrance compositions. She designs bespoke scents for the AOMU brand and is the creator of her own method of aromatic art therapy. She is a pioneer of functional fragrances in the Czech Republic.
JAKUB LANDOVSKÝ
Jakub Landovský is a Czech diplomat, lawyer, and political scientist currently teaching geopolitics and international law at Charles University in Prague. Prior to assuming the position of director at the Aspen Institute Central Europe, he served as the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to NATO since 2019. Between 2015 and 2019, he held the position of Deputy Minister of Defense, responsible for the management of the Defense Policy and Strategy Section. In this capacity, he played a key role in the formulation and development of defense and security principles and strategies for the Czech Republic.
MICHAELA SEEWALD
The founder and CEO of V24 MEDIA, publisher of Vogue CS and Vogue Leaders for the Czech Republic and Slovakia. As a visionary in the fashion industry in the Central European region, Michaela is responsible for the strategic direction of the company, which focuses on connecting global brands with the dynamic and rapidly growing Central European market. In 2018, in collaboration with Condé Nast, she launched the magazine Vogue Czech Republic and Slovakia, which quickly became a symbol of modern style and creativity. The print version of the magazine reaches over 100,000 readers monthly, while the digital platform attracts more than three million visitors. Vogue CS offers top-notch editorial content and stunning photography, which has rightfully earned it the title of “fashion bible”. Michaela also founded the platform Vogue Leaders, organizes conferences since 2020, and in 2024 introduced the project “Most Influential Woman”. Michaela graduated from the Faculty of Law at Charles University, studied at the University of Zürich, and is a member of the Czech Bar Association.
MICHAL ORSAVA
A visionary in the fields of video marketing, AI, and personalized content. He co-founded Webout, a platform that connects interactive video with artificial intelligence.
He is also a well-known creator of viral videos that have garnered over 30 million views. He founded the creative video production company Filmagix, where he creates content for major brands.
In his talks, he demonstrates how to use AI to boost engagement and conversions, and how to create the campaigns of the future - today.
NASTYA PODOROZHNYA
Nastya Podorozhnya is a Ukrainian-born sex educator and human rights defender. She is the founder of Martynka – a grassroots collective that has grown into one of Central Europe’s most visible and impactful migrant-led nonprofits. Her work focuses on combating gender-based violence, reproductive injustice, and the systemic failures of humanitarian aid. In 2025, she starred in “Polish Movie About Abortion”, a groundbreaking documentary on reproductive rights. Nastya is the recipient of the Susan Treadwell Memorial Award for Feminist Activism and the Moonshot Emergency Response Award, and was recognized in Forbes Women Poland’s “100 in Sex Ed” ranking.
MARTINA NOVOTNÁ
MUDr. Martina Novotná is a gynecologist who genuinely cares deeply about women. She admires their strength and determination to succeed in the life they have chosen, despite the many obstacles placed in their way. She sees the incredible potential they have to influence their surroundings and families, and through that, to change the world for the better. She considers it her life’s mission to support the women she encounters in her work and to help them care for their health.
EVA HERZIGOVÁ
The most famous Czech top model, Editor-in-Large of Vogue Czechoslovakia, mother of three sons, and one of the most prominent ambassadors of the Czech Republic abroad. She continues to shine in the fashion industry thanks to her unmistakable charisma, elegance, and professional attitude, which have kept her at the top of the modeling world for 35 years. She has stood in front of the lens of the most renowned fashion photographers, including Peter Lindbergh, Steven Meisel, Mario Testino, and Helmut Newton, and has collaborated with the most prestigious fashion houses such as Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Giorgio Armani. In addition to modeling, she occasionally pursues acting, having appeared in films such as Modigliani and The Fairy-Tale Teller.
RADKA DOHNALOVÁ
Radka is an entrepreneur building an international ecosystem focused on developing leadership for strategic management and the long-term growth of companies. She is the founder and CEO of ATAIRU, a company specializing in strategic leadership and consulting, and the co-founder of the AI platform Alaigned, designed for strategic alignment within organizations. She earned her MBA from Harvard Business School, where she contributed to research on authentic leadership. Among other roles, she worked at McKinsey, where she led the study “Unlocking the Full Potential of Women in the Czech Economy”. She has long been dedicated to supporting women in leadership positions.
ZAHRA AFSHAR
Trained in criminal defence and human rights law, Zahra Afshar channels her deeply principled outlook into Ahmad Tea, a family-run business with a presence in over 90 countries. As Head of Legal, Human Rights, and Sustainability, she champions equality, legacy, and long-term impact in business.
Zahra leads initiatives that go far beyond corporate responsibility – from addressing the living wage gap for tea workers head-on, to implementing nutrition, sanitation, and education programmes that uplift entire communities. Her dedication was instrumental in earning Ahmad Tea the King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development in 2024, recognising the brand’s commitment to putting people and planet at the heart of its growth.
Educated at Bristol University and the London School of Economics, and called to the Bar, Zahra’s vision embodies the future of ethical leadership in global business.
