School Advisory Boards

The UNYP Business Advisory Board convenes semi-annually to review progress and future developments within the university’s School of Business and IT. Though the board regularly examines all aspects of the department’s policies, procedures, and functions, particular focus is given to full-spectrum quality control of the department’s graduate and undergraduate curricula and their administration.

The board comprises eleven distinguished members of the academic and business communities, each selected or invited to serve based on superior education and skills within their respective areas of expertise.  In addition to board representation by key academic officials of the university, the UNYP Business Advisory Board is honored to avail itself of the experiences and advice offered by exceptional business people, both from the Czech community and abroad:

Jan Havel

Jan was born and lives in Prague, Czech Republic. He graduated in Finance at the Prague University of Economics and earned a Ph.D. in general economic theory. Later, after some gap, he graduated from the General Management Program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
At age 21, he started ACTUM Digital, where he’s spent all his time since. His primary responsibility is the corporate strategy and strategic development of the company. Jan’s teaching experience includes the University of Economics, the University of New York in Prague, Charles University, Cevro Institute, and the Czech University of Life Sciences, where he teaches international Strategic Management and Strategic Marketing programs. Jan is a keen marathon runner, ex-frisbee ultimate national team player, a sworn enemy of central banking and a former Board Advisor to the country’s Central Bank, a scholar in the tradition of the Austrian School of Economic Thought, a Board Member of the Czech Liberal Institute, a fan of science-fiction and technology.

Petr Havelka

Petr is the General Manager and Vice President of PLEX Operations EMEA at Rockwell Automation. He is responsible for the company’s regional customer base and driving cross-company initiatives to bring the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform to more global manufacturers. Before joining Plex, Petr held multiple international and regional leadership roles in multinational enterprises such as DHL, Global Payments, and Deloitte. Most recently, he acted as Managing Director of SAP Ariba’s delivery center in Prague and Vice President of the EMEA Cloud Services organization.

He has over 25 years of experience in the IT industry, focusing on customer success and the delivery and adoption of enterprise software solutions. He possesses deep expertise in cloud and SaaS software and excels at building and executing complex digital transformation programs for global customers across industries.

Petr graduated from the Czech University of Life Sciences and earned an MBA from UNYP.

He is a proud dad of three children. He loves skiing and racing motorcycles.

Josef Karásek

Josef has over 25 years of experience in the FMCG industry in Central Europe. As Managing Director, he was responsible for The Coca-Cola Company’s business in Czech, Slovakia, Baltics, and Slovenia for 13 years. Josef proved to deliver on a major local business turnaround that accelerated business performance and on building high-performing teams in rapidly changing environments across Central and Northern Europe for an employer of FORTUNE TOP 100. Over the last 10 years, The Coca-Cola company’s share in carbonated soft drinks doubled in the Czech Republic, while the consumption per capita of the Coca-Cola brand doubled in the Baltics from 2009 to 2014 in the single-digit market decline period. His experience and expertise include strategic planning, marketing, commercial leadership, revenue growth management, and organizational and talent development. 

Diana Rádl Rogerová

Diana Rádl Rogerová has been with Deloitte since 1996. For the past 12 years, she has been a Partner in the Audit function and, simultaneously, the Real Estate Industry Leader for Central Europe and the Financial Services Industry Leader for the Czech Republic. Over more than 22 years with Deloitte, Diana has worked for major banks, real estate companies, funds, and developers and obtained significant insights into auditing, accounting and financial reporting, corporate finance advisory, and many other areas. Since 1 December 2016, Diana Rádl Rogerová has been the Office Managing Partner at Deloitte Czech Republic and a member of the Executive Committee of Deloitte Central Europe. Diana obtained her degree at the University of Economics in Prague and speaks fluent Spanish and English.

Hadi Salavitabar

Dr. Salavitabar’s academic background is in economics and finance. After earning his Ph.D., he has, to date, completed nearly three and a half decades of service in academia as a professor, department chair, business school dean, and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Salavitabar also serves on the Board of Trustees of a major bank in the U.S.       

Ivana Šedivá

Ivana is an experienced C-level leader. She served on the boards of the Top Most Admired Companies like Johnsons & Johnson or McDonald’s for almost 30 years. In 2020, Ivana left the corporate world and started her journey. Over the last few years, Ivana has mentored more than 1,000 personal hours and helped more than 500 startups from around the globe. She is a certified Flow Consultant. She is also an accredited trainer of Google Founders Lab, OKR and Storytelling Lab, and a mentor of other mentors. Her purpose is to help motivated people change their game with a sense of meaning, with high impact, and without burnout. Ivana holds a postgraduate degree in Artificial Intelligence and an MBA.

Blake Wittman

Blake Wittman is currently the European Business Director at GoodCall. He has seen the inside of massive Fortune 100 global giants and 5-person startups and enjoyed both. He has a more than 20-year career highlighted by a passion for people and purpose. After a short stint at Citibank, Blake entered the recruitment arena and began a career focused on quality relationships, strong ethics, and a deep belief in making a positive impact. The well-known executive search firm SpenglerFox was started and grew across Central Europe by Blake, who personally serviced leading blue-chip financial institutions. His time in Philip Morris International as lead HR Business Partner for Sales & Marketing was extremely valuable; however, it was when he helped build the award-winning, venture capital-backed internet startup Lime&Tonic that influenced, challenged, and sharpened his view on business and the potential to impact the market. Blake is now the Director of Europe and a shareholder of Good Group, which comprises GoodCall, Recruitment Academy, and Datacruit. All three companies aim to wake up the recruitment industry and evolve the human relations market.

The UNYP Communication and Media Advisory Board is crucial in providing valuable insights, feedback, and strategic direction to communication and media studies-related programs at the University of New York in Prague. The board comprises a diverse group of professionals and experts with extensive experience in the communication and media-related industries most relevant to the programs offered.

The Communication and Media Advisory Board engages with the study programs on various levels. They help ensure the curriculum remains up-to-date and aligned with industry trends and advancements. They offer recommendations on course content, ensuring that students are equipped with the latest knowledge and skills needed to succeed in an ever-evolving media landscape. Additionally, they often assist in establishing partnerships and internships, helping students gain real-world experience and access to valuable networking opportunities. Moreover, the Advisory Board may offer guidance on faculty recruitment and research priorities, contributing to the overall academic excellence of the program. In essence, this board serves as a vital bridge between academia and the professional world, ensuring that UNYP communication and media studies programs remain relevant, competitive, and well-prepared to meet the needs of both students and industries.

Lenka Tungova

Lenka Tungova is a PR professional with over 20 years of experience in in-house and agency roles, focusing on the entertainment industry, services, and hospitality sectors. She has spent the last 10 years with The Walt Disney Company, covering not only the Czech Republic and Slovakia but also Hungary, Romania, and Ukraine. She has been looking after Disney+ publicity in Czechia and Slovakia since its launch in the region in 2022. Ms. Tungova received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Mass Media from Empire State College and UNYP and a Master’s degree in Mass Communication Studies from Charles University.

Mladen Grebo

Mr. Grebo started his career in marketing and advertising 20 years ago. After working for several top global agencies on some of the world’s biggest brands, such as McDonald’s, Procter & Gamble, Volkswagen, MARS, Pepsi, Škoda, and UNICEF, he co-founded his agency, Goodkin, where he applies his expertise on both local and global clients. His journey in marketing started in Digital but gradually led towards more strategic roles, where he profiled himself as a Strategic Planner specializing in Brand and Communication strategies. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Mass Media from Empire State College and UNYP and a Master’s in Media and Communication Studies from the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University. Above everything else, Mr. Grebo is a proud father of baby girl Iskra and a passionate supporter of Velež Mostar and Viktoria Žižkov football clubs.

Daniela Nemcova

Daniela Nemcova is a Corporate Communications strategist and manager with 20 years of experience. She is a former director and current non-profit organization consultant linking responsible and sustainable businesses. She is also a student of philosophy and naturopathy. Mrs. Nemcova has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Mass Media from Empire State College, State University of New York, and a Master of Art in Professional Communications from La Salle University, Philadelphia.

Viktorie Janackova

Viktorie Janackova is a Senior Internal Communications Specialist at SAP within the Global Finance & Administration board area. Her responsibilities include developing, managing, and delivering internal communication channels and formats, including copywriting and visual materials creation, leadership communication support and coaching, virtual and face-to-face meetings facilitation and moderation, project and change communications, and talent development. Before her current role, she gained experience in various Corporate Communications and Marketing fields such as PR, Event Management, Employer Branding, Crisis Communications, and even Advertising and Media Strategy & Planning while working in an agency environment. In addition to being a Communications practitioner, Viktorie has a solid theoretical background in the discipline as after the completion of her Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Mass Media from Empire State College and UNYP, she continued her Master’s degree studies at the University of Manchester, majoring in Corporate Communications & Reputation Management.

Darina Sieglova

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Mass Media from Empire State College and UNYP, Mgr. Seiglova started her career in the newspaper industry but soon moved to the food magazine Appetit, where she has stayed until now. Meanwhile, she continued her studies, earning a master’s degree in marketing and management, and also started or was part of many other projects. She started and then sold an advertising agency, she is a regular guest on the Czech Television show Sama Doma, and also on various radio shows. Darina has also recorded podcasts, acted in the TV series Pohlreichuv Souboj Restaurací, helped various clients prepare and shoot ads and advertorials, taught people the basics of entrepreneurship, and trained young people in the skills they need to succeed in life.

Martin Pavlicek

Martin Pavlicek is a PR and communication professional with 15 years of client and consultancy experience. He had the chance to participate in sizeable 360-degree communication projects that ranged from product launches to brand-supporting campaigns, from crisis communication to public affairs efforts, and from building social responsibility programs to advising companies on merger and acquisition plans. Martin leads large communication teams, works with agency support, and talks to media behind the scenes, on camera, and in TV studio settings. Martin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Mass Media from Empire State College, a Master’s degree from La Salle University, USA, and an MBA from Institut Universitaire Kurt Bosch, Switzerland.