1. Why was the YPF created?
After having numerous conversations with businesspeople, entrepreneurs, students, and young professionals in Prague, we felt that there were a number of gaps we could address:
- Many businesses feel that there is a gap between the education students receive and the skills they demand of their new employees.
- Many students haven’t started building the networks and relationships that are so important for a healthy business career.
- Many entrepreneurs are looking for help with their projects. They need finances, qualified and ambitious teammates, and a critical eye to help them refine their vision.
- Many young professionals who already have jobs are looking for a good way to network with other people who share their goals, and to update their skills without enrolling in an Academic Institution. We also spoke with recruitment firms and found that one of the challenges they face in the Czech Republic is not the lack of good, strong CEOs – it’s the difficulty in finding good, strong, entry-level employees… the next generation of CEOs.
The Young Professionals Forum is devoted to providing young professionals with the skills, contacts, and opportunities to help them succeed and become active members of the business community in Prague.
2. Who can participate in Young Professional Forum events?
Anyone who is either:
a) A young professional – whether an undergraduate or graduate student, entrepreneur, entry-level employee or mid-level manager, OR
b) Anyone interested in working with young professionals – as an employer, manager, recruiter, professor, investor, or mentor
3. Which industry sectors are represented at your events?
Our audience is made up of people from IT, Sales, Finance, Real Estate, Marketing, Law, Hospitality, Retail, PR, Media, and Business Entrepreneurs. Recruiters and Angel Investors also attend.
4. When is the next event?
See our Recent News.
To receive info about our events, just send a blank email to subscribe@youngprofessionalsforum.cz
5. What is the point of the Young Professionals Forum?
We hold a variety of events to help educate, enlighten, and connect individuals in the business community.
- Our Professional Business Mixers are business casual evenings in comfortably trendy environments where networking is made easy. We usually limit the audience to 75-100 people, so they’re not too large to be intimidating, yet large enough to ensure that everyone meets other people interested in the same things.
- Our Focus On sessions are designed for a smaller group (around 20 people) who are interested in a particular industry, topic, or lesson. The topic changes for each event, and they are held in a roundtable, discussion-based setting, where we invite a noted speaker from the Prague business community guide us through their experiences and share advice with the audience.
- We’re also able to connect entrepreneurs with various business incubators, advisors, and the potential for investment.
6. I’d like to get involved. How can I help?
There are lots of ways that you can help out.
- Think about hiring an intern
- Donate to cover the cost of our events, programs, and website
- Speak at a Focus On event
- Host an event at your venue
- Build a case study based on your business for students to analyze and provide feedback
7. Who are your sponsors and partners?
- Best Communications
- The Factory
- Inspiro Solutions
- Prague Monitor
- Angel Investors Association
- Prague College
- School of Economics (VSE)
- Jobs in Prague
- Palffy Palac
- Jet Set
8. How do we contact the organizers?
You can reach the co-founders: Brendan Donnellan and David Booth at info@youngprofessionalsforum.cz
Unique opportunity for students and young professionals:
