Jan Antonín Baťa: Let’s build a state for 40 million people
A unique talk show with John Nash, the grandson of J. A. Baťa and custodian of his archive, about the past but also the future
Date: Wednesday, 30 October 2019
Program:
18:00 – 19:00 Welcome drinks and networking
19:00 – 20:30 Talk show with John Nash, the grandson of
J. A. Baťa and the custodian of his archive
20:30 – 21:30 Free discussion, networking
Moderator: Roman Kramařík
Dress Code: Casual
Place: Minorite Monastery of St. James (Klášter minoritů Sv. Jakuba), Malá Štupartská 6, Praha 1
Did you know that:
o By 1936, Baťa was recognised as the number one brand in the world for shoes and seventh for all other products it produced
o Tomáš Baťa was going to run for president to succeed T. G. Masaryk (were it not for his tragic death)
o Jan Baťa’s organisation was preparing for the active defence of Czechoslovakia before the 1938 Munich betrayal
o Jan Baťa’s administration helped more than 1,000 Jewish employees emigrate from Czechoslovakia before the Holocaust, resettling them all over the world
o Jan Baťa moved a mountain to create the town of Batov (now Otrokovice), which today has a population of more than 19,000
o Jan Baťa financed and completed the Baťa canal connecting the Czech Republic with Slovakia more than 50 km in length with 13 or more locks
o Baťa built agricultural cities in the jungle
o Baťa relocated more than 150,000 European war refugees to Brazil after the Second World War
Among other questions, John will be asked:
o How did his grandfather join the Baťa organisation in the first place
o What were the terms under which Tomáš transferred the business to his half-brother Jan Antonín?
o Why did Tomáš sell the business to his half-brother rather than leave it to his son?
o Tomáš was the mayor of Zlín for many years. Did Jan Antonín also get involved in politics?
o Why did Jan Antonín appear on the Allies’ blacklist during the war? And how did he fight the collaboration allegations after the war?
o What’s the story behind the propaganda campaign against Jan Baťa during the war? Who was behind it?
o What made the Baťa organisation so successful? What advice would Jan Antonín Baťa have for contemporary businesspeople?
o After the tragic accident of Tomáš Baťa, what was Jan’s attitude to flying? And aircraft manufacturing?
o What would Jan Antonín probably advise as the key steps to a successful succession in their businesses?
o Questions from the audience will be most welcome, too