Forbes’ '30 under 30' reveals the most influential young Czechs

Forbes’ “30 under 30” ranking lists the most inspiring Czechs under 30 years of age. The list presents a cross-section of Czech society, from sports and culture to business and science, and this year’s group reflects a successful year for the Czech Republic on the international stage.

A number of sportspeople are included in the list. Perhaps the best-known internationally is footballer Patrik Schick, known for his long-distance lobbed goal at the Euro 2020 championships which made international headlines, and for his position as the joint highest-scorer at the tournament alongside Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

Other sportspeople included in the list are tennis player Barbora Krejčíková, who last weekend won the Australian Open women’s doubles title together with Kateřina Siniaková, MMA fighter Jiří Procházka and canoeist Jiří Prskavec.

The theme of this year’s ranking was a “picture of the future.” Forbes recognized young people who represent a positive vision for the future of the Czech Republic.

“Members of our selection show us the future we would like to see. They are capable, they are driven, and we think they are very inspiring. They are the people who shape, and will play a large role in shaping, the future of the Czech Republic as well as the world beyond our borders,” said Forbes editor Zuzana Krajíčková.

With this is mind, the Forbes team also picked a number of the country’s leading young researchers, scientists and business minds. These include Vavřinec Čermák, Vice President for Research at The Block, a U.S. institution informing institutions about the digital asset and blockchain markets, Stanislav Drápela, a scientist at the Moffitt Cancer Center, and artificial intelligence expert Sara Polak.

The list’s focus on the future also means two spots for leading figures in the Czech digital sphere. Influencer Martin Mikysk, alias Mikýř, whose show “Mikýř’s Amazing Internet Pilgrimage” gives a comedic overview of recent events in the online sphere, was included, as was fellow online entertainer Jan Macák , a.k.a. MenT, who focuses on car reviews and road trips abroad.

This year’s entries were selected from a longlist of over 330 nominees, whittled down to the final 30 through consultation with experts in their given fields as well as through discussions with previous entries. Nominees are identified by Forbes itself, as well as by the magazine’s readers throughout the year.

Forbes’ 30 under 30 rankings are released worldwide, with the most prestigious being that of the business magazine’s home country, the U.S.A. This year’s larger list for America has also now been revealed, with 30 influential young people listed for 20 separate sectors, making a total list of 600 young leaders in the U.S.A.