30 Years of BPR: I Don't Look Back – I Live!

Let's start perhaps a little sentimentally, but that's what such a significant anniversary calls for. How do you look back on the past 30 years?

It has been a great and inspiring ride. A school of life and business. Ups and downs with every project. Many life stories and inspiring encounters. I don't look back – I live!

What vision did you have when you founded the agency?

I returned from Prague and wanted to focus purely on PR. Gradually, everything changed dramatically. We started by running a castle restaurant and organizing historical events. The original idea eventually became more of a side activity.

Do you ever miss the very beginning?

No. They are beautiful, but also rather amusing memories of the 1990s.

A history this long inevitably comes with a few fuck-ups. When was it the hardest for you, and what helped you get through those moments?

Yes, definitely. In our very first year, we received an electricity bill for an outstanding payment. That was the moment when I wondered whether it might all be over. It may sound like a cliché now, but I simply told myself: “Work at 101% until the very last moment and somehow it will work itself out.” It did, and today I'm looking back 30 years later.

On the other hand, what do you consider the biggest milestone the agency has reached?

There have really been a lot… Every successful project fueled our vision and pushed us further. But breaking the CZK 100 million revenue mark was definitely a major milestone for us.

Let's not dwell on the past for too long. Do you see a certain essence of BPR? Something that makes it unique?

It's a completely original mix. On the one hand, there's the unusual ratio of women to men, but also a very low average age combined with our northern Bohemian determination and our drive to be good at what we do.

What role do you think humor and perspective play in the agency world?

A relaxed atmosphere absolutely belongs in an agency like ours and has to be an integral part of it. On the other hand, it needs to be balanced with responsibility and humility.

Have your clients and their expectations changed over the years?

Yes, just like all of us have. The times and society as a whole are changing incredibly quickly. The key for us is being able to respond flexibly to these changes and expectations.

What we're all probably most interested in is your view of the future. Where do you find the motivation to keep going and take on new projects?

That's a difficult question. Maybe it's a combination of all my previous answers. It's the work itself, our entire team and all the “noise” around it. That still fulfills me and keeps me moving forward. But it's true that my body occasionally reminds me that it needs some rest too.

What are your plans for the future?

There are still plenty! And whenever one plan comes to fruition, a new one immediately takes its place. On the other hand, I think I still have quite a lot of unfinished work in my existing projects, and that needs to be completed. P.S. I'm still a father, and I've recently become a grandfather too… 😊

Finally, we can't not ask… What would you wish BPR for its 30th birthday?

Everything you could possibly wish for! And that the legacy of these 30 years continues to have meaning well into the future.