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Article

How to “Take a Shot”

People & Culture

Miroslav Frontz, Director of Operations, Europe
May 13, 2026
2-min read

“Take a shot” mentality means seizing new opportunities and challenges rather than waiting for them. It pays off.

I started at Magna in 2006 as a project manager, working in the Czech Republic, Russia, and Germany. In 2013, I leapfrogged from being an engineering manager at the Magna’s Liberec plant in the Czech Republic to general manager in just six months after a series of rapid promotions. In 2021, I took another career shot and became Magna’s director of operations for Europe, responsible for eight plants and 4,000 people in four countries. In 2026, I took over all of Europe, adding four more divisions to my scope.

"Have the guts to try because you are not alone."

Miroslav Frontz in a red and white cap stands in a desert landscape at sunset. Cacti and shrubs are visible, with a warm, colorful sky in the background.

When someone asks, “How do you take a shot?” my reply is simple: “If there is a problem, I say, ok, let me solve it. If something is complicated, I say, ‘I will take care of it.’ ” Fearlessness plays a part, too. I’m a fiber optics cable engineer who switched to the automotive industry early in my career because I sensed greater potential.

The “take a shot” mindset, which Magna Exteriors President Frank Potenza promotes in Project Ignite, applies to everyone within Magna. It means participating in new initiatives that stretch your capabilities while growing our business in a volatile industry. A little flicker can grow into a flame. But it starts with you and not being afraid to take a shot.

This often means acknowledging the power of working together as One Magna. A great example in our European operations is the cost benefit of centralized purchasing. In 2025, we saved significant money for five new $1.4-million injection molding machines at three divisions by negotiating with suppliers from a central position versus a local one.

This is using the strategic weight of Magna to gain competitive advantage.

It starts with continuous improvement and willingness to take more shots. If it doesn’t work, regroup and learn from it, as Frank says. Have the guts to try because you are not alone. You are surrounded by good people who are surrounded by other good people. You have support.

At the end of the day, it is the success of all of us that truly matters. Don’t let the opportunity go by without taking a shot.