TOP Women of the Czech Republic: The Courage to Succeed and to Change Society

The patron of the survey, Michaela Bakala, emphasized in her opening speech that although women have made significant progress in business and management, they still face stereotypes, as well as demeaning and intimidating attacks in public life, which often push them out of visible roles. She pointed to alarming data regarding the experiences of women in politics and the media, including threats of violence: “According to research by Forum 50 %, 61% of female MPs surveyed have encountered threats of violence. At the same time, 28% said they had limited their political activity due to psychological violence.” The Gender Equality Index in political decision-making, compiled by the European Institute for Gender Equality, shows that the Czech Republic ranks among the four worst countries in Europe.

During the evening, Michaela also introduced a new initiative, which she founded together with her family foundation: “In recent months, I have spoken with many of you, and we fully agree—we no longer want to just watch. Women and the Czech Republic as a whole deserve greater representation of women in public life and a more dignified and cultivated public debate. We are therefore responding to this societal demand by launching a new initiative for publicly active women. It is a non-partisan, civic initiative that will involve women, and of course men as well.”

The aim of the [y]nitiative is to create a safer and more respectful environment for women in politics, the media, and non-governmental organizations, to strengthen their resilience against pressure and attacks, and at the same time to increase their representation in leadership roles. It will offer concrete support—from mentoring, education, and coaching to legal and communication assistance in crisis situations. Equally important will be its work with the public and its efforts to cultivate public debate.

The evening was also a celebration of inspiring personalities across various fields. An expert jury decided that the title of TOP Entrepreneur goes to Alexandra Kala, owner of Profimed. The TOP Manager award was given to Kateřina Jirásková, co-CEO of the PPF Group, and in the category of TOP Woman in the Public Sphere, scientist Zuzana Kečkéšová won.

Three exceptional women were inducted into the Hall of Fame this year:

Tereza Maxová, who has long connected public life with philanthropy and this year celebrates thirty years of her foundation supporting disadvantaged children.

Silke Horáková of the Albatros Foundation, who focuses on supporting education and the development of the younger generation.

Michaela Chaloupková from ČEZ, who has long been active in top management in a strategic sector.

All nominees and winners deserve sincere congratulations—not only for their ranking but above all for the results they achieve in their fields.

The evening program and enthusiastic responses from guests also belonged to two prominent figures of the European public scene who accepted the invitation of Hospodářské noviny:

Zuzana Čaputová, former President of the Slovak Republic, is a symbol of cultivated politics, integrity, and values-based leadership. At the end of her interview on the corrosion of democracy in Europe and worldwide, and on the culture of political and public debate, she referred to the final words of Milada Horáková, which she herself often draws on for motivation in difficult moments: “Let us walk with our heads held high and stand together.”

Abir Al-Sahlani, a Swedish politician and Member of the European Parliament, is a prominent advocate of human rights and gender equality. During her interview, in which she addressed the position of women in the public sphere and the need for their systematic support, she also shared her life story—from a child and war refugee from Iraq to her entry into politics and her fight for human rights and equal opportunities within the European Union. Among other things, she emphasized that we also need more leaders—men—who will use their positions to support greater representation of women in political decision-making, as well as the currently widely discussed issue of women’s rights to abortion. She also encourages young people to enter politics and influence societal development through their voices, needs, and values.

You can also revisit the atmosphere of the gala evening through a photo gallery and video from the event.