Zlin, South Moravia, Nov 9 (CTK) – A book of reflexions and speeches of Tomas Bata (1876-1932), the Zlin-based Czech entrepreneur who founded the famous Bata shoe-making empire, appeared in English for the first time these days, issued by the Tomas Bata Foundation on his 140th birth anniversary.
The book’s Czech version was first published in 1932.
Bata ranks among the world’s most significant businesspeople, but the political and social situation in Czechoslovakia after 1945 prevented further promotion of his unique philosophy of an entrepreneur, the foundation’s director, Karel Velev, told CTK yesterday.
“At last, we are starting to discover the importance of Tomas Bata and his visions. We study with humbleness his ideas, which we find timeless,” Velev said.
The book has been co-financed by Czech MEP Martina Dlabajova (ANO), a native of Zlin. She will introduce it at a ceremonial public presentation in Brussels on November 16.
“Tomas Bata’s ideas are topical even after a century and they deserve being offered to foreign readers as well,” Dlabajova said.
Velev said the “motor” that pushed Bata forward was his determination to surmount obstacles and not to succumb to failures.
“Also important is the far reach of the visions of Tomas Bata, who was an ardent advocate of new technologies and innovations, but still he asserted that not machines or technologies, but humans are the basis of a successful firm,” Velev said.
