TOP 15 talents of the 1st year of the Academy

The first year of the TalentHUB +innovation academy launched in January 2025. Following consultations with career advisors, teachers, and regional scouts, and based on a thorough analysis of personality profiles, the following individuals were selected among the TOP 15 talents of the Královéhradecký Region:

• Antonín Kotvalt – mentored by Daniel Mareda, Union des Banques Suisses
• Ondřej Adamec – mentored by Dušan Bednařík, UHK/ Yoda Mentorship Programme
• Eliška Neumannová – mentored by Patrik Čermák, MŠMT
• Daniel Mečíř – mentored by Bohuslav Bušov, VUT
• Michal Kuba – mentored by Patrik Čermák, MŠMT
• Petr Jirásek – mentored by Eliška Cejnarová, FaF, UK
• Adéla Bělobrádková – mentored by Alice Klouzková, TUL
• Klára Dostálová – mentored by Yoda Mentorship Programme
• Ondřej Lipovský – mentored by Rado Vejchoda, CIRI
• Evas Hrnčířová – mentored by Karel Vaniš, Bayer
• Ondřej Březina – mentored by Yoda Mentorship Programme
• Monika Vognarová – mentored by Yoda Mentorship Programme
• Petr Podolský – mentored by Josef Lochman, CIRI
• Markéta Klecarová – mentored by Veronika Tupá, ČT
• Lukáš Karas – individual regime

The aforementioned mentors were assigned to the talents not only based on their career potential but also after considering the individual goals the talents are striving for within the Academy.

Academy Expert Pool

• Jan Školník – a Broumov-based mover and entrepreneur who is behind the connection of TalentHUB with the professional activities of the Center for Character Development, including the retreat at the Broumov Monastery.
• Jan Hábl – Professor of Pedagogy, expert on Comenius, and author of books on personal development specializing in moral education.
• Lukáš Suchý – Director of the educational company WSU vzdělávání s.r.o., who focuses on cross-talent collaboration in TalentHUB through intensive workshops.
• Marian Jelínek – mental coach, pedagogue, and expert in performance psychology, whose domain in TalentHUB is the winning mentality—the art of internal motivation for talents following the example of top people in their fields.
• Bohuslav Bušov – Associate Professor from the Institute of Power Electrical Engineering and Electronics at Brno University of Technology, who promotes, teaches, and implements the TRIZ methodology—Theory of Inventive Problem Solving—in companies, which teaches how to turn problems into solvable tasks.

Organizational Team

• Rado Vejchoda – the person behind the idea, design, and implementation of TalentHUB. He is responsible for the systemic operation of the entire academy, the designed activities, and strategic partners. Together with Dominik, he manages the first contact with applicants, while collaborating with companies and research organizations alongside the team of RIS3 developers.
• Dominik Žitný – focuses on cooperation with schools and an individual approach to talents. His role involves selecting talents for TalentHUB through initial interviews and strength testing.
• Zuzana Pejčochová – is a key figure in the strategic partnership between TalentHUB and the Yoda Mentorship Programme (YMP). The YMP team serves as the coordinator for the initial phase of matchmaking talents with suitable mentors.
• Michal Bureš – embodies a unique type of secondary school teacher; at the Secondary Technical School in Nové Město nad Metují, he teaches technical subjects in an interactive way and is a highly respected local scout for TalentHUB and other activities.
• Matouš and Barbora – members of Mensa and recent university students (Charles University & CTU) serve as local TalentHUB advisors for communication with Generation Z.

6 Key Phases of the Academy

1. Concentration on individual strengths – January 2025

“Winners are born from discipline and determination every day.” – Sir Alex Ferguson

The goal of the initial phase of TalentHUB is to help gifted students from the Královéhradecký Region develop not only their potential in their chosen interest and focus but also their character and civic responsibility. The program offers dozens of inspiring mentors in cooperation with the Yoda Mentorship Programme, who will support talents in their personal and professional growth. The time commitment each talent can expect is an online meeting with their mentor once every 14 days as agreed. An evaluation of the mentor’s and talent’s goal achievement will take place in June 2025.

2. Building values in relation to the community and team – January 17–19, 2025, Broumov Monastery

“…if the sharp mind is not occupied with useful things, it will occupy itself with useless ones.” – J. A. Comenius

At the Broumov Monastery, talents will participate in a joint three-day retreat led by Prof. Jan Hábl and his team, featuring a series of lectures, discussions, and practical activities focused on developing personal and team character. The program includes both theoretical blocks and practical exercises that support critical thinking, creativity, and the ability to reflect on one’s own experiences. Participants will also have the opportunity to work on their own assignments and essays, which they will present and discuss within the group.

3. Support for cross-talent collaboration – February 22 + March 1, 2025, Luční Penzion – Česká Skalice

“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” – Michael Jordan

Talents will experience an intensive production workshop stimulating cross-talent collaboration with an emphasis on creativity, critical thinking, entrepreneurship, and craftsmanship. In the initial phase, they will be divided into two groups to work on projects in a carpentry workshop, followed by a reflection on their work and the basics of leadership. Under the guidance of experienced instructors, they will learn basic skills and principles of effective cooperation, while being observed by a management skills trainer who will provide valuable feedback on their team dynamics, applicable in both personal and professional life.

4. Winning mentality and the desire to grow (not only) in team collaboration – April 25, 2025, Nové Město nad Metují Castle

“The mentality of winners is created from daily effort and persistence.” – Vince Lombardi

At the castle in Nové Město nad Metují, as part of the NOVO EXPO +innovation 2025 regional progress exhibition, 15 selected talents will focus on the winning mentality, following the example of top athletes, under the guidance of top psychologist and coach Dr. Marian Jelínek.

5. Aspiration toward one’s own project, business, or career – May 30, 2025 + joint informal dinner, rooftop of the eco-school ZŠ Úprkova Hradec Králové

“Aspiration is the first step to achieving greatness.” – Oprah Winfrey

Talents will undergo a one-day informative and motivational introduction to the TRIZ methodology for creating and solving innovative and inventive tasks with Assoc. Prof. Bohuslav Bušov. The goal of the meeting is not to master the TRIZ methodology, but to provide information and motivate participants toward further knowledge of the methodology to support creative work.

6. Acceleration of young talents 15+ within the region and beyond – June 2025, Královéhradecký Region

“Acceleration is a tool for achieving incredible results in a fraction of the time.” – Elon Musk

An integral part of the Academy is connecting talents with specific projects of research organizations in cooperation with Amavet, arranging internships in companies, preparing pitch decks and business plans for their own ventures, participating in knowledge competitions, or assisting with the selection of a suitable university and field of study.

7. Joint conclusion of the 2025 cycle – June 2025

The journey does not end here; on the contrary, it is just beginning. There are many other variables for accelerating one’s career and personal growth, but knowing one’s strengths, utilizing them in the disciplined pursuit of a goal, and the art of giving back are the essence of success both within and outside TalentHUB.

Looking back at the 2025 year