"We Must Show the Way" – Interview with Michaela Chaloupková from ČEZ, a.s.

"We Must Show the Way"

Interview with Michaela Chaloupková, Member of the Board of Directors and Director of the Administration Division at ČEZ.

The prestigious TOP Responsible Company awards, organized annually by Business for Society, serve as a benchmark and motivation for responsible companies in the Czech Republic. Companies participating in TOP Responsible Company gradually become true market trendsetters, bringing significant innovative practices and experiences.

One of these companies, and also a partner of this year’s 21st edition of TOP Responsible Company 2024, is ČEZ, a.s.

We are pleased that the guest of our podcast was Michaela Chaloupková, Member of the Board of Directors and Director of the Administration Division at ČEZ.

ČEZ is among the companies that, from the very beginning, supported and actively contributed to the development of corporate social responsibility and sustainability, thanks largely to Michaela Chaloupková.

Their first experiences with this agenda were mainly connected to philanthropic activities, responsible giving, and support for charitable initiatives. Over time, this area expanded into other aspects of company operations, aiming for a fully responsible and sustainable approach, including reporting. ČEZ decided to report its sustainable business activities as early as 2015 according to the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) standards. This was a major step and innovation at a time when sustainability and responsibility were still emerging concepts in the Czech Republic.

"The fact that this direction was right has been confirmed by legislative developments," says Michaela Chaloupková. "We were far ahead. But as the largest Czech company, we feel a responsibility in this regard. We must show the way," she adds.

The biggest challenge was not the topics of responsibility and sustainability themselves, but how to effectively embed these values among employees – how to integrate sustainability into the company’s DNA. Over time, ČEZ successfully combined its business and CSR strategies, a key milestone. In 2021, they updated their business strategy "Clean Energy of Tomorrow" and firmly tied it to sustainability goals.

The strategy targets both current employees and potential new hires. For younger generations, corporate responsibility and sustainability are crucial topics. They care about how a company treats the environment, its community, and its workforce. ČEZ also focuses on sustainability across its supply chain.

ČEZ plays a significant role in supporting science and research, investing considerable resources. These investments are seen as potential business drivers and ways to foster innovation. Examples include small modular reactors, hydrogen propulsion development, and the pilot installation and testing of a stationary battery storage system based on Second Life Battery technology with an innovative EMS (Energy Management System) for smart charge-discharge management at EP Rožnov, a.s., for which ČEZ won a TOP Responsible Company Innovation Award in 2023.

You can listen to the full podcast with Michaela Chaloupková below:

The company is a long-standing leader in responsible and sustainable business in the Czech Republic and is one of the first signatories of the Diversity Charter. Through its foundation, it ranks among the most generous corporate donors. ČEZ follows a sustainable development strategy based on five main priorities: ensuring sustainable operations, being a good partner, delivering useful solutions to customers, enabling the energy transition, and driving innovation. All these goals are unified under the "Vision 2030 – Clean Energy of Tomorrow." The strategic priorities include transforming its production portfolio to low-emission sources and achieving carbon neutrality while providing the most advantageous energy solutions.

Sustainability at ČEZ Group