The Theme of This Year’s Impact Summit Is Resilience, with the Central Motto “The Power Within Us”
Resilience represents the ability to cope with challenges and obstacles we face every day. At a time when democratic countries are being threatened by hybrid warfare, legislative and verbal attacks from domestic politicians, as well as the threat of an actual military conflict, resilience has become a key skill for institutions and individuals alike.
At the third annual Impact Summit, we will explore ways to strengthen resilience—how to enhance it through cooperation, and how to keep our empathy while facing external pressures.
Stories of People Who Did Not Give Up
This year’s central motif is The Power Within Us. We find the inner strength to fight for what is right through hope and the vision of a just society. Opposition leader to Europe’s last authoritarian regime, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, will join us via video call to share what it is like to carry a whole country’s fight for democracy on one’s shoulders and lead a nation into the 21st century. Together with her colleagues Kryścina Šyjanok and Karim Pedersen, who will attend the summit in person, they will share the story of building a democratic Belarus.
Former President Zuzana Čaputová and ex-hockey player Dominik Hašek will speak about the challenges of leadership and staying true to one’s values.
Philanthropist Dalibor Dědek will discuss the courage required to accent neglected social issues. Negotiator Adam Dolník, who has lectured FBI agents, will address personal resilience.
About Resilience Through Data and Facts
The level of resilience—or vulnerability—of a country can be measured using specific indicators that offer a firmer foundation for solutions. According to the most recent GLOBSEC Vulnerability Index (2021), one of the most significant risks for Slovakia is the Russian information warfare and the population’s low resilience to disinformation.
On the positive side, the data shows relatively strong resilience within Slovakia’s civil society, formed in part by historical experiences such as the Mečiar regime or the murder of Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová.
The latest trends in resilience development in Slovakia and the region will be presented by Dominika Hajdu, the lead author of the GLOBSEC Vulnerability Index.
According to research from the DEKK Institute, Slovakia is the third most polarized country in Europe. We will discuss the role of the media in countering disinformation and how to avoid deepening polarization through editorial choices with media leaders Lukáš Fila (Denník N), Alexej Fulmek (SME, Petit Press), and Ivan Antala (Bauer Media Slovakia).
We will also address young people’s views on democracy. The discussion will feature trendspotter Pavlína Louženská, activist Bára Stárek, and activist Marek Mach.
As in previous years, organizations from the Impact Lab program will share their stories.
This year’s Impact Summit will take place on December 3, 2025, at the Aréna Theatre in Bratislava.
