People & Opinions

Originally from the United States, Rob Westbrook arrived in Central Europe to reconnect with his family’s Austrian heritage and eventually made Brno his long-term home. At NEWTON University he teaches much more than English or mathematics. His work focuses on nurturing critical thinking, intellectual curiosity and empathy in a new generation of students. In this interview, he reflects on why Brno became such a significant place for him, what gives NEWTON its distinctive sense of community, and why the human presence in teaching matters more than ever in an age defined by rapid technological change.

“Me first” sounds suspicious in leadership. Almost like admitting weakness, failure or a lack of integrity. We tend to admire leaders who endure more than others, push themselves to the limit, operate under long-term pressure and sacrifice themselves for the team. Yet this is exactly where one of the most harmful myths of modern leadership begins. Without the ability to put yourself first, you cannot carry responsibility for others in a sustainable, healthy or high-quality way.

In leadership, certainty rarely shows up in advance. Yet many people keep waiting for it: for more information, clearer instructions, calmer times, better conditions. The reality of leading is different. You have to act long before everything makes sense.

You don’t become a leader by promotion but by understanding. Only when you stop relying on authority and start listening do you realise that leadership isn’t about managing people, it’s about awakening them. We spoke with Assoc. Prof. Emil Velinov, guarantor of our MBA Strategic Leadership programme, about why being a manager is not enough and why the biggest transformations happen outside your comfort zone.

He left PowerPoint slides at the door. Instead, he brought artists, entrepreneurs, athletes and creators to NEWTON University – people whose stories opened a different world for students.

Our students go on to a wide range of careers. For example, Vojta Cetkovský has embarked on a career as a professional negotiator. What inspired this path, and where does he see himself in the future? Find out in our interview.

Michaela Góralczyková has been practising martial arts since childhood. No wonder – her father owns a martial arts club where she practically grew up from the age of six. She started with jiu-jitsu, but then tried kickboxing, which became her lifelong passion. Today, she ranks among the world’s top eight in the sport and is preparing for the prestigious European Games.