What Connects Swiss Watchmaking and Retail? Finding the “Red Thread” in Business, Leadership, and the Courage to Innovate

In today’s business environment, where markets evolve faster than ever, keeping pace is no longer enough. Leaders are expected to set direction, challenge established patterns, and make decisions in the face of uncertainty.

For Michal Janda, this realisation became tangible during his Executive MBA journey at the Faculty of Business Administration, Prague University of Economics and Business. After many years at OMV, where he advanced through several marketing and retail leadership roles from Marketing Manager for the Czech and Slovak markets to Convenience Retail Manager, Michal made a significant career step at the end of his Executive MBA journey, moving into the position of Shop & Gastro Director for the Czech market at Orlen Unipetrol.

For him, the change was more than a career move: “The MBA brought me not only new tools and methods, but above all self-confidence and the courage to change.”

Beyond the Classroom: The Swiss Experience

An international study visit to Switzerland in November 2025 formed an important part of Michal’s EMBA journey. Together with three classmates from the Prague cohort, he travelled to the Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Winterthur, where the learning experience began well before the lectures themselves.

The road trip became an informal extension of the programme. A space where relationships deepened and discussions naturally moved beyond the classroom. As Michal recalls, “That time together outside the usual study environment strengthened our relationships. It reminded me that the EMBA experience is also about people.”

During the stay, students completed intensive modules focused on Doing Business in Emerging Markets and Innovation Management. The teaching combined academic frameworks with practical insights and a strong global perspective.

A mini-case study challenged participants to design a market-entry strategy. Inspired by the local environment, Michal’s team explored the expansion of a luxury watch brand into the Czech market — a project that unexpectedly connected personal passion with strategic thinking.

“Red Thread”: Tradition Meets Innovation

The strongest insight did not come from a classroom. It emerged during a visit to a watch manufacturer in Schaffhausen. Watching master craftsmen at work led Michal to a realisation that would later influence his managerial thinking.

He describes it as discovering a “red thread” connecting seemingly different worlds – modern retail, innovation management, and traditional watchmaking: “Everywhere, at the core, it is the same: continuous improvement, the courage to push boundaries, and the ability to build on tradition without becoming a prisoner of it.”

The lesson was clear: long-term competitive advantage is rarely created through disruption alone. It comes from balancing innovation with heritage, quality, and consistency.

Innovation Management Applied in Practice

The concepts explored in Switzerland quickly moved from theory into reality. Shortly after completing the study visit, Michal joined ORLEN Unipetrol, where he now leads the development of the convenience segment in the Czech Republic — an area where innovation directly influences customer experience and commercial results.

The principle that stayed with him most strongly was a practical understanding of innovation management: the ability to systematically re-evaluate established processes, revisit ideas that may have failed in the past, and experiment with new approaches while maintaining a clear business focus. As he describes it, “Innovation is not about chaos. It’s about looking at existing mechanisms through a new lens while staying grounded in business reality.”

During his time in Switzerland, he also observed how advanced the local convenience retail landscape has become, particularly in areas such as fresh food, healthier alternatives, and ready-to-eat solutions. Trends that, in his view, signal the likely direction of future market development in Central Europe.

A Shift in Leadership Thinking

Looking back, Michal sees the EMBA less as an academic milestone and more as a catalyst for personal leadership development. After many years in one company, exposure to professionals from different industries challenged his assumptions and expanded his perspective: “When you regularly meet people who think differently and bring new perspectives, you start to believe in yourself more.”

This confidence played a key role in his decision to step into a new environment with broader responsibilities. But the change was not only external. It also reshaped how he leads. Previously focused on execution and speed, he now approaches leadership differently: thinking more in context and systems, asking more questions before giving answers, and involving others in problem-solving. And he adds: “It is not because I hesitate, but because decisions in complex environments improve through diverse perspectives.”

The Community Effect: A Personal Advisory Group

One of the most lasting outcomes of the EMBA experience has been the peer community. For Michal, classmates and alumni became more than professional contacts. They formed what he describes as a personal advisory group: “The opportunity to discuss dilemmas with people facing similar challenges was key for me.”

The value lies in diversity: different industries, different viewpoints, shared executive experience. It creates a space where ideas can be tested honestly and decisions refined.

Tradition, Innovation, and Courage

Michal Janda’s experience illustrates what executive education can represent at its best: not only acquiring knowledge, but redefining mindset.

The combination of international exposure, practical insight, and strong peer community created the conditions for real transformation — one that connects tradition with innovation and personal growth with professional impact.

As his journey shows, the “red thread” that links watchmaking and modern retail is also the one that connects learning and leadership: the courage to keep evolving while staying grounded in what truly matters.

Key Insights for Executive Leaders

Reflecting on Michal’s journey, several themes stand out:

• Innovation requires structure, not chaos.
• Leadership evolves from execution toward perspective.
• International exposure changes how you frame problems.
• Peer networks become long-term assets.

Ultimately, the story is not about changing jobs, but about changing how one thinks.