Wednesday - 13 / 5 / 2026
Registration, breakfast, networking
Part A
Short-term outlook and long-term perspective across time and space
What will it be about?The short-term outlook provides a forecast of the main macroeconomic parameters, GDP, unemployment, inflation, interest rates, and external relations of the Czech economy. The second part focuses on assessing the Czech economy from a longer-term perspective, in two dimensions: historical development and comparison within Europe.
David Marek works at Deloitte as a Chief Economist and Director in the Clients & Markets department. He is dedicated to client services in areas using economic analysis, such as valuation, processing impact studies, economic and statistical analyses, and consulting on mergers and acquisitions or restructurings.
He previously worked as an economist at the Czech National Bank, Česká spořitelna and as a Chief Economist and member of the Board of Directors at Patria Finance. He is a member of the Czech Economic Society, the Scientific Council of the Czech Banking Association and an advisor to the Chamber of Commerce of the Czech Republic.
David Marek successfully completed his doctoral studies at the Institute of Economic Studies at Charles University in Prague. He also completed a number of professional certified courses of the International Monetary Fund.
Labour market developments in 2026 through data
What will it be about?In this session, you will learn how employers operating in the Czech Republic are responding to recent key events, what challenges (and opportunities) they are currently addressing, and what their prospects for future growth are. You will also discover how wages (and household finances) are evolving, what the dominant motivators and biggest barriers to job change are, where people most often find meaning in their work, what currently troubles them the most, and how all this relates not only to performance but also to the ability to innovate and manage change in turbulent times.
Tomáš Ervín Dombrovský maps the main phenomena and trends in the interconnected worlds of education and work through research and other data sources. He regularly presents conclusions and recommendations that can help improve the environment for collaboration to people from HR and organization management. In addition, he also takes care of public benefit activities that go beyond the daily business of Alma Career Czechia.
Robotic warehouses and automation at Rohlik Group
What will it be about?Rohlik Group has invested hundreds of millions in robots in warehouses, but that's just the beginning. I'll show you where automation specifically improves operations at Rohlik, how we measure its return on investment, and what the CFO of any company can take away from it.
Jiří Machala is Group CFO of Rohlik Group, where he has held the roles of Chief of Staff to Group CEO, Head of Products - Ops and Group Finance Director since 2020. Before Rohlik, he managed transformation projects at KPMG, worked in Czech engineering and started in marketing at a global FMCG company. He graduated from the University of Economics in Prague and completed a semester at the American UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.
Volatility is the new normal: flexible financing in a new era and changing monetary policies
What will it be about?The current macroeconomic environment is characterized by increased volatility, geopolitical risks and uncertain monetary policy developments, which fundamentally affect the cost of capital and the availability of liquidity. In these conditions, it is becoming clear that traditional, rigid forms of financing often deprive companies of the ability to react quickly. The presentation will focus on the growing need for flexible and freely usable financing that supports corporate resilience and strategic agility. It will also show why banks must simplify and innovate their product offerings to keep up with the pace of change.
Matej Molčan is Head of Corporate Banking at VÚB banka (part of Intesa Sanpaolo Group) in the Czech Republic and has over 15 years of experience in corporate banking, corporate finance and structured finance solutions. During his career, he held several international positions within Intesa Sanpaolo Group, including stints in Italy and the UK, where he gained practical experience with cross-border clients and complex transactions. He focuses on supporting companies in managing volatility through flexible financial structures that enhance resilience and strategic agility.
INTERVIEW: Czech technologies at the forefront of the fight against global threats
What will it be about?In this interview, you will learn about the key steps that brought Ondřej Vlček and his team to the global top of the cybersecurity industry almost immediately after AISLE was launched. The discussion will also cover the ingredients needed for a company to succeed in this role, not only from the perspective of a globally unique solution but also from a managerial standpoint
Ondřej Vlček je přední osobností české i světové technologické scény. S více než 25 lety zkušeností v oblasti kybernetické bezpečnosti sehrál klíčovou roli při formování vývoje tohoto oboru. Je zakladatelem startupu AISLE, který přináší nový pohled na to, jak organizace identifikují a odstraňují zranitelnosti softwaru. Před založením AISLE strávil Ondřej většinu své kariéry ve společnosti Avast, kde se z technických pozic vypracoval až na pozici generálního ředitele. Během svého působení vedl globální týmy a dohlížel na vývoj produktů chránících stovky milionů uživatelů po celém světě. Je absolventem matematiky na Českém vysokém učení technickém v Praze a častým řečníkem na mezinárodních konferencích, kde se zabývá propojením kybernetické bezpečnosti, umělé inteligence a sociální odpovědnosti.
Coffee break
Part B
A guide through the AI labyrinth for CFOs
What will it be about?With the massive rise of AI across all areas of business, including financial processes, there is a pervasive pressure to do something substantial with AI to maintain competitiveness and ideally gain an advantage. This pressure also exists in finance, raising questions about how exactly to leverage AI opportunities, how to structure the next steps, where to start, what is myth versus reality, what the key use cases are, and what the prerequisites for success are. We will guide you through the key questions of AI adoption in finance and show a possible direction.
Marek is a partner in Deloitte’s advisory services. Together with his team, he is responsible for Finance Transformation advisory services, where he provides advice primarily to CFOs and financial managers across all industries. His team’s mission is to help clients ensure that their finance function is more effective and increases its value as a key business partner. Marek has extensive expertise in finance transformation, financial process improvement and automation, management accounting, management reporting, planning/budgeting/forecasting, and the implementation of shared service centers. Marek and his team pay special attention to the digitalization of financial management through the implementation of new technologies, including artificial intelligence.
Why ERP is the most important tool for CFOs today
What will it be about?Data-driven decision-making – today’s CFO needs real-time visibility into company performance, risks, and liabilities across the entire organization. Cloud ERP integrates finance, operations, regulation, and AI into a single management framework that enables decisions based on data rather than estimates. We will show why modern ERP is a strategic investment and why now is the right time to use AI not only for automation but also for managing new regulatory requirements and e-invoicing across countries.
Tomáš is an experienced ERP consultant and project manager with many years of experience in all phases of software implementation - from feasibility study and design, through custom development to deployment and subsequent support. He is a specialist in finance, NetSuite, PeopleSoft, human resources and supply chain management. At RSM he is a Partner and leads teams focused on NetSuite and PeopleSoft.i
Tomáš has more than 15 years of experience as a consultant and project manager. In the past, he worked for IBM or PWC, and later worked as an independent consultant for Ahold, Komerční banka or Radio Free Europe. For several years, he also led the consulting company ARC Consulting Czech Republic, which he co-founded. He has worked and is still working on projects for a number of major companies, including Komerční banka, NN Group, Avast, ESET, Zoom International and others. What he enjoys most about his work is creating solutions that really make people's lives easier. He shares his knowledge and experience as a lecturer at industry conferences and at the University of Economics in Prague. Tomáš is an active athlete and in his free time he enjoys climbing, cycling and hockey. He is also in charge of the financial management of the non-profit organization Kayumari, which focuses on personal development.
The end of reverse reporting: Find out how Shoptet keeps spending under control without micromanagement
What will it be about?Most companies today only see their finances retrospectively, after the closing date, when it is too late to react. In practice, this means limited control over spending, late decision-making and unnecessary pressure on management. Find out how to move from reporting to ongoing real-time financial management. It is not about faster dashboards, but about the ability to see and manage spending as it arises. Co-founder and CEO of wflow Robert Soudný, together with Head of Finance at Shoptet Eduard Kohout, will show: what financial visibility looks like during the month, how to get spending under control without micromanagement, and what will really change in company management.
Eduard Kohout has been leading finance at Shoptet since October 2023, but has been working there since 2021. During that time, he has been involved in the company's growth from 90 to 300 people, expansion into foreign markets, and the sale of the company to foreign owners. He focuses on financial management, planning, controlling, and setting up effective processes that support healthy company growth and better decision-making across the business. Before Shoptet, he worked at the consulting company E&Y in the transaction division.
Robert Soudný is the CEO and co-founder of wflow, a technology startup focused on digitalization and automation of accounting processes. After studying accounting and finance at the University of Economics, he gained extensive experience in accounting, finance, and consulting. In 2018, he decided to leave the corporate environment and founded wflow, a company that uses artificial intelligence and cloud technologies to optimize accounting processes. His goal is to transform the accounting profession into a modern, technology-enabled service that frees up time for more valuable consulting and analysis
Digital CFO: Real-time finance as part of company processes
What will it be about?The role of the CFO is shifting from a controller to a strategic partner with data available anytime and anywhere. Learn how TATRA DEFENCE addressed minor expenses, eliminated cash, and gained stronger control and more room for faster decision-making.
He has been involved in financial management for more than 10 years. He has been working as a CFO for the fourth year, where he is responsible for financial strategy, performance management and support for key business decisions. He spent the previous almost six years in audit, which provided him with a solid foundation in finance, process management and an independent "outside" perspective. His long-term focus is on connecting finance with the real functioning of the business and on finding solutions that stand up both in numbers and in practice.
Radek has more than 20 years of experience in banking, finance and digital transformation. He worked, among others, at ČSOB and the KBC group, where he focused on innovation, technology and leading large teams.
At Direct Fidoo, he is currently responsible for creating a new banking platform for small and medium-sized companies. He combines business, marketing and digital channels with a clear goal: company growth, a strong product and expansion into other European markets. His long-term focus is on ensuring that corporate finance does not take up companies' time, but helps them grow and expand.
Feedback: one of the most effective tools for improving performance and collaboration
What will it be about?Despite all process optimizations, companies often forget the most important element – people. Yet feedback is one of the simplest, most cost-effective, and at the same time most powerful tools for improving performance and collaboration across the organization. Why do we so often avoid it in the workplace or use it only to a limited extent? And how can you, as a member of management, obtain authentic feedback from your team? Through practical examples, learn how to work with feedback so that it truly supports both people development and company results.
Psychologist, co-founder and Head of Delivery of the development programs section of JuiceUP. In his work, he likes to use knowledge from the field of psychology and coaching, which he then applies in his workshops and educational programs. He focuses on topics such as Engagement, Change management and communication. He leads projects for clients such as IKEA, Siemens or Kooperativa.
Business lunch, networking
Part C
