Jiří Koleňák: Welcome to another episode of the Úspěšní (Successful) podcast. Today, we welcome Míra Zadák—an entrepreneur, investor, and visionary who has been active in commodities and investing for over 30 years. Today, he heads the ATT Investments holding company, which has built a respected brand operating in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The company has become synonymous with a reliable approach to precious metals and gems, while also expanding into real estate development and manufacturing. Miroslav is a leader who builds teams centered on ethics, fairness, and personal growth. His approach extends beyond investing—he educates, inspires, and helps people realize their visions based on the principles of Tomáš Baťa. Hi Miroslav, welcome to the podcast.
Miroslav Zadák: Hi, thank you, that was lovely to listen to.
Jiří Koleňák: Miroslav, I always start by asking what brought my guests the greatest joy in recent days. What was it for you?
Miroslav Zadák: Should it be business or personal life?
Jiří Koleňák: Both! Do you separate them?
Miroslav Zadák: I do, though they often intertwine over time. On the business side, I am proud that we finally completed our audits for 2022–2023 and received regulatory approval. On April 1st, we launched two sub-funds: ATT Bydlení (Housing) and ATT Invest. We are introducing new investment vehicles related to our property developments and precious commodities deposited securely in bank vaults. These were major milestones that took time, but we brought them to fruition.
Jiří Koleňák: And on the personal side?
Miroslav Zadák: I'm walking my eldest daughter down the aisle!
Jiří Koleňák: That’s a huge milestone! Miroslav, how did you get into finance, specifically commodity investments? Where did it all begin?
Miroslav Zadák: It paradoxically started in childhood. During the communist era, my grandfather used to tell me stories about First Republic entrepreneurship while we were fishing, which ignited a spark in me. Later, I transitioned out of elite sports into business at age 19, leaving the VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava. I started through trial and error, which eventually led to a well-deserved bankruptcy while trying to build a chain of sporting goods stores. That setback indirectly led me back to commodities—a subject I had studied via mineralogy. After systematically learning market mechanics, investment laws, and trial-and-error dynamics, I realized which assets hold enduring value and immediate liquidity. That shifted my perspective on commodities: rather than just owning them personally, I decided to bring physical commodities into every family household across the former Czechoslovakia. And I succeeded.
Jiří Koleňák: Where did your interest in financial education originate?
Miroslav Zadák: As a student, I didn't enjoy reading much. But after experiencing my first business failure back in 1994, my technical mindset recognized clear knowledge gaps. I began educating myself rigorously across psychology, economics, and business management. As ATT Investments grew, managing a scaling business forced me to continuously expand my expertise. Today, I firmly believe that no truly successful founder can protect or scale their creation without continuously studying diverse disciplines.
Jiří Koleňák: What inspired you to educate others?
Miroslav Zadák: That stems from my sports background. After competing as an elite athlete, I earned coaching credentials and became the head coach of the Czech national street hockey team—winning seven world championship titles. As I built my businesses, I first encountered formal coaching and training in the insurance industry before founding ATT. Today, ATT operates 16 physical retail locations alongside a registered network of nearly 8,000 business partners who attend our training modules. As their inquiries grew increasingly sophisticated, we launched a dedicated commodity education program five years ago, which we continually upgrade alongside university partners.
Jiří Koleňák: How do you build authority, trust, and professional credibility in the investment sector?
Miroslav Zadák: It seems straightforward, but you walk on thin ice. Having spent 16 years in commodities, I built ATT on ambition, tradition, and absolute transparency. In this industry, a single integrity failure ends your business. When unfounded accusations arose in the past, responding with uncompromising moral integrity was essential. ATT is my life's work, and I fight for its credibility globally. We maintain direct supply relationships in Sri Lanka, Dubai, Panjshir, and major global refineries. Years ago, during my first visit to the Diamond Exchange in Tel Aviv, board executives sat me down and said: "We've observed you for four years. You are the first Czech whose word has always held 100% true." They granted us direct tier-one pricing. Sports taught me fairness—if you foul, you go to the penalty box. I run my business with that exact straightforwardness, knowing well that some skeptics will always exist.
Jiří Koleňák: The investment landscape contains misinformation and promises of quick wealth. How do you counter that?
Miroslav Zadák: We source data directly from primary mining entities and established international exchanges. Having studied consumer psychology, I teach clients how to identify market manipulation techniques. We advise clients to audit corporate histories and verify primary sources. Time inevitably reveals true intentions. After 16 years navigating commodity cycles, our track record speaks for itself.
Jiří Koleňák: What is the biggest myth surrounding commodity investing?
Miroslav Zadák: The widespread myth that money ruins character. Money simply amplifies pre-existing character traits. Over 16 years, ATT Investments has physically delivered over 20 billion CZK worth of precious metals and gems to more than 100,000 clients—ranging from everyday families to self-made billionaires. True wealth builders who built businesses from scratch sit quietly and modestly. Conversely, those boasting loudly often lack substance.
Jiří Koleňák: What advantages do physical commodities offer over traditional paper financial instruments?
Miroslav Zadák: We physically hand over the assets to the client. Rather than transferring capital to third-party fund managers or middleman entities, we educate the family on asset care, intrinsic valuation, and liquidity mechanics. The client retains direct, private ownership without third-party management fees. Key benefits include financial privacy, protection against property taxes, zero ongoing management overhead, and historical capital appreciation. Over the last 20 years, physical precious metals and rare gems have demonstrated consistent value growth, proving our long-term market forecasts accurate.
Jiří Koleňák: What core competencies should an investor possess to invest successfully in commodities?
Miroslav Zadák: Clear intent and disciplined planning. Borrowing from classical structured planning, investors must define why they are investing, what returns they expect, and over what time horizon. Success in sports, personal life, or business relies on making a sound plan and executing it consistently. Over 20 years, I've learned that "impossible" is just a word.
Jiří Koleňák: What ethical frameworks govern your operations and educational programs?
Miroslav Zadák: We work closely with the Tomáš Baťa Foundation, co-publishing literature based on his legacy. Baťa's core philosophy—placing the customer's interests first—guides our business ethos. Managing high physical inventory volumes presents logistical demands; we regularly process over 2,000 grams of precious metals monthly, meaning global refinery timelines can sometimes require patient delivery windows. Honesty and client respect remain paramount.
Jiří Koleňák: How do megatrends like AI and technological innovation impact physical commodities?
Miroslav Zadák: Artificial intelligence doesn't change the underlying value of tangible, physical assets. Our IT teams utilize AI models for fast market research, data synthesis, and historical price modeling. AI processes macro-inputs rapidly, giving us analytical speed, but the core value remains anchored in physical, tangible scarcity.
Jiří Koleňák: Do you focus exclusively on traditional stores of physical value?
Miroslav Zadák: Yes. We focus strictly on proven tangible assets—precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum, alongside rare investment gems like tanzanite, emeralds, and sapphires. Rare gems represent exceptional long-term growth opportunities. For instance, the world's only tanzanite mine in Tanzania is projected to deplete within five to seven years. Once primary mining ceases, existing certified stones will see significant value multiplication, making them attractive for long-term wealth preservation.
Jiří Koleňák: How is the role of commodity advisors evolving through your educational initiatives?
Miroslav Zadák: Traditional educational systems rarely teach practical wealth preservation or asset allocation. I often lecture at primary and secondary schools about generational wealth and financial literacy. To elevate professional standards, ATT originally developed a three-year Commodity Specialist curriculum accredited by the Ministry of Education. Partnering with Newton University, we upgraded this curriculum into a comprehensive postgraduate program. Combining practical market insights with academic rigor ensures advisors deliver exceptional, transparent guidance.
Jiří Koleňák: What gaps are you addressing in modern financial education?
Miroslav Zadák: Continuous adaptation is essential. Our upgraded program with Newton University incorporates tax treatment, accounting mechanics (such as writing off physical business assets), legal frameworks, and physical asset management. We are also evaluating structuring an advanced MBA track focused on physical asset investments.
Jiří Koleňák: How do you select lecturers and subject matter experts for this program?
Miroslav Zadák: Quality professionals enter our network organically through shared vision. When I met with Newton University's leadership, their educational philosophy aligned perfectly with ours. We integrated our senior commodity specialists with top university academics and regulatory experts to create an elite postgraduate qualification.
Jiří Koleňák: How do you balance executive leadership, educational lecturing, and your personal life?
Miroslav Zadák: Practical experience shapes my schedule. Client inquiries drive me to continuously research fresh market data. My personal life, business operations, and athletic sponsorships form an interconnected lifestyle. Reflecting on Tomáš Baťa’s ideal 8-8-8 rule (8 hours work, 8 hours recreation, 8 hours rest), my responsibilities as sole holding owner mean these areas overlap. However, sports remains my non-negotiable personal sanctuary. Active physical training and coaching serve as mental reset, clearing my mind so I can lead with clarity.
Jiří Koleňák: Do you maintain specific personal habits or mindsets to stay grounded?
Miroslav Zadák: Beyond team sports, I have practiced martial arts for decades under my late instructor, Václav Liška. When we first met during my early business bankruptcy, he handed me a card inscribed with the Latin phrase Nihil habenti nihil est ("To him who holds nothing, nothing can be taken"). That taught me deep detachment from material possessions. I view wealth as a responsibility to serve others rather than a personal trophy. Operating as a steward eliminates future anxiety. In fact, psychological evaluations conducted on our executive team noted that my stress-response threshold is virtually unshakeable—in times of crisis, my operational execution sharpens significantly. Knowing that we only receive challenges we are equipped to overcome removes fear, allowing us to build long-term value. As Baťa noted, you cannot give what you do not possess.
Jiří Koleňák: Is there a Baťa principle you are actively working to improve in your own life?
Miroslav Zadák: Carving out dedicated, uninterrupted personal time for myself. I still tend to put my own rest last.
Jiří Koleňák: A powerful personal reflection to conclude on! Miroslav, thank you very much for joining us and sharing your story and insights.
Miroslav Zadák: Thank you very much for having me.
Jiří Koleňák: To our audience, thank you for watching, and see you next time with more inspiring guests!
