MFGM first 20 years
-------------------
I was born in communist Czechoslovakia in 1967. When I was one year old my parents had to cancel a trip to Lebanon and Egypt, because the Soviet Union invaded our country. Occupation started in the capital city of Prague on August 20, 1968, at around 11.00pm. Eastern Bloc armies from four Warsaw Pact countries – the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Poland and Hungary – totaling 200,000 troops and 2,000 tanks entered the country in a well-planned and coordinated attack. Simultaneously, with the ground forces taking control of the borders, the Soviet airborne division captured Ruzyne International Airport which is now known as Prague Václav Havel Airport.
For a short time people could leave the country but then the borders were closed and nobody could travel and later only with very strict restrictions. The communist regime lasted until the end of 1989 when the communist system started to collapse in a few countries. By the end of December, following the Velvet Revolution, our country was free again. Sadly, approximately 500 Czechs and Slovaks were wounded and 108 killed in the invasion. Post-communism saw many changes including a new name for Czechoslovakia - Czech Republic.
I was lucky that my grandparents lived and did business before 1948 and during that time there was a capitalism system and our country had one of the best economies in Europe. In 1938 it ranked as 10th place in the world for industrial production. I frequently heard about business and how it all worked as my grandparents lived with us. It had a great influence on me. I heard stories about a very successful person called Thomas Bata who made shoes in about 70 countries. He had left our country for Canada in 1939 in anticipation of the Second World War. Later, I met with somebody who worked with him. It inspired me and like Bata.com, I wanted to do business around the world.
My parents gave me a great education. I studied at a hotel business school and learned a few languages. Between the ages 14-18 I had the possibility to travel outside of Czechoslovakia during the summer to work at hotels in different countries. That gave me great experience, allowing me to broaden my horizons. I worked in hotels, restaurants, an airport, casinos and later having my own companies. I then lived in a few countries and had an exciting life. You can read more about me here>>>
For a short time people could leave the country but then the borders were closed and nobody could travel and later only with very strict restrictions. The communist regime lasted until the end of 1989 when the communist system started to collapse in a few countries. By the end of December, following the Velvet Revolution, our country was free again. Sadly, approximately 500 Czechs and Slovaks were wounded and 108 killed in the invasion. Post-communism saw many changes including a new name for Czechoslovakia - Czech Republic.
I was lucky that my grandparents lived and did business before 1948 and during that time there was a capitalism system and our country had one of the best economies in Europe. In 1938 it ranked as 10th place in the world for industrial production. I frequently heard about business and how it all worked as my grandparents lived with us. It had a great influence on me. I heard stories about a very successful person called Thomas Bata who made shoes in about 70 countries. He had left our country for Canada in 1939 in anticipation of the Second World War. Later, I met with somebody who worked with him. It inspired me and like Bata.com, I wanted to do business around the world.
My parents gave me a great education. I studied at a hotel business school and learned a few languages. Between the ages 14-18 I had the possibility to travel outside of Czechoslovakia during the summer to work at hotels in different countries. That gave me great experience, allowing me to broaden my horizons. I worked in hotels, restaurants, an airport, casinos and later having my own companies. I then lived in a few countries and had an exciting life. You can read more about me here>>>
