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Kr. Valdemara str. 33
Office 11 (entrance from courtyard)
Phone: +371 67218043
Fax: +371 67218045
info@bccl.lv |
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| May 20 |
| Anita Kalçja at the BCCL Monthly Dinner at Otto Schwarz Restaurant |
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I should confess that it was not easy to choose a proper form of address for our distinguished audience today because we have come together to celebrate something incredibly moving, and yet, at the same time, utterly mundane. On the one hand, we can proudly share success stories of remarkable business ladies; we can learn and inspire each other as business people and human beings; we can strive to become change agents in a world where social injustice and inequality is still accepted as a norm. On the other hand, it is a simple truth that we, every single one of us, are different - men and women; Latvians and Brits; entrepreneurs and public servants.
My address to you ‘Dear Ladies, and Dear Gentlemen’ captures the spirit of a bygone era of chivalry and romance, and perhaps, even of magic. In this fast-moving world of social, economic and environmental change it is just natural to yearn for someting that is pure and simple. Whether true or not, there is a sense that in this age of information pollution we are fighing to protect our own identities. And this historical perspective might be a useful guide in a moving landscape of changing social roles and conventions.
In this introduction to our evening, I would like to say a few words about authenticity in business and in our lives. Think about the pace of business in Latvia within the last 20 years. From a country that was somewhat confused after the collapse of the Soviet Union, we have grown to become a respected member of the European Union. There were different crises, changing rules and traditions. Business in Latvia was maturing in clashes of various interests claiming the right to issue ‘the licence to operate’. And the process is ongoing. But we should keep in mind the difference between short-term gains and a long-term reputation.
On the one hand, social roles and precedents justify short-term rationality and feed the hopes for quick wealth. But accepting social roles becomes a risky adventure in this fast-changing world. What was reasonable and widely accepted a few years ago becomes a liability when the situation changes. Thus, on the other hand, authenticity as an antidote to conventions protects us, and our reputation, in a world where the purity of chivalry and romance is no longer present. My advice therefore is, being authentic in your decision-making might be the way to forge your long-term reputation. It might be the only thing pure and simple that is available to us.
Finding one’s own way and remaining authentic in one’s choices is not easy. I can bravely volunteer my own story. Today, I stand before you not only as the Chairman of the Board of the BCCL, but also as an entrepreneur. My first company Sia SIRTA which is proudly sponsoring tonights event is in its 12th year. My most recent company Sia ZENTAS has just joined the BCCL membership. Why is this a story of authenticity? Well, because I named this company after my late mother Zenta. The healthcare system in Latvia, which is riddled with corruption and mismanagement, a few years ago robbed her and us, her closest ones, of a dignified passing away. With my new company SIA ZENTAS I am developing a lifestyle standard for retired living that will give us in Latvia the opportunity to have an active, safe and dignified retirement for our loved ones, and ourselves in the coming years. My company will build a specialised retirement village that will accommodate the needs of some 300 senior citizens. Additional information is available upon request.
With your permission, I will now bring to your attention our distinguished speakers. Let me introduce to you first, my friend and confidante, Ms. Ingrida Bluma and our guest Ms. Ieva Plaude. I shall not even begin to list their accomplishments because no words can describe their status. For they have become, quite simply, legends. In their own way, both of them have so admirably learned to remain authentic in business and in life. Both of them have found ways of balancing long-term and short-term interests that result in a reputation that is second to none.
Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in greeting them with a warm applause.
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