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Aco Momčilović Admira Mahmutović Adnana Jabučar Skrobanović Alden Bajgorić Amila Čović Ana Hajnal Ante Livić Ante Sabljić Asja Marinova Berislav Sokač Bojan Hadžisejdić Boris Guina Damir Kovačević Davor Brenko Davor Krivski Diana Dimitrova Djordje Mirković Dobrin Mirevski Dragan Pejčić Elena Altmirska Elena Ivanova Emina Azizi Emira Mešanović Gaber Kontelj Grozdana Petrović Hrvoje Kapetanović Hrvoje Novosel Ida Hohnjec Igor Pirc Igor Koščak Irena Grofelnik Iva Čadikovska Ivana Ćećez Ivana Galić Ivana Premerl Ivana Milić Ivica Srakočić Jadranka Boban Pejić Jelena Ignjatović Joze Tomaš Karmen Krivičić Spajić Krešimir Delač Kristina Ercegović Larisa Živković Lejla Brčaninović Lora Ćurković Maja Petkovska Mario Martinek Marko Sekulić Matej Golob Mateja Krpić Matija Nakić Milica Labus Mirjana Rosić Narves Behlilović Nataša Stojanović Nejc Klopčić Petko Karamotchev Predrag Bojović Predrag Rađenović Rašeljka Maras Juričić Renata Brkić Saša Spasić Siniša Tutuš Snježana Melnik Vallant Stela Stefanova Tamara Šišič Kremer Tatjana Ransom Tomislav Đuričin Tomislav Šarec Toni Lukanovski Toni Masevski Tsvetonimira Tsotsova Tsanio Tsanev Valerija Marić Vanja Roller Zoran Kolarević Zvonimir Seki Željko Ilić Željko Šestan
COTRUGLI Business School has become a leading business school in SE Europe, whose programs of business education are completed by more than 10,000 people from the region.
Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has. MARGARET MEAD
At the very beginning a small group of intellectuals and business people joined forces around the idea of starting a new business school. The goal was to create such a school that will develop leaders who will care for the planet, profit and the community as a whole. Since then, COTRUGLI Business School has become a leading business school in SE Europe, whose programs of business education are completed by more than 10,000 people from the region. Our internationally accredited MBA programs and prominent lecturers from around the world connect the entire SEE region. The campuses we have in Zagreb and Belgrade, and representative offices in Sofia, Ljubljana and Luxembourg are meeting points for business people from SE Europe. However, for us, the most important criteria for success is the satisfaction of our participants. This publication honors them, their continuing journey with us and their inspiring success stories. Once you meet them in person, they will be more than happy to share them with you. Enjoy the reading! Jyoti Gupta, PhD Dean
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Aco Momčilović Human Resources Manager BILLA Croatia Executive MBA / 2008
I have enrolled COTRUGLI Business School due to a strong need for further improvement and because I wanted to be able to carry out my work more successfully and thus to enhance my career. Based on the information I had collected about COTRUGLI, I set pretty high criteria related to the quality of programs. When I look back, I am pleased to admit that my expectations have been more than fulfilled because the program is well thought out and the lecturers are even more impressive than I had hoped. Through the modules you get connected with global trends and events that are linked to our local opportunities and needs. Beside the interesting EMBA courses that have opened new horizons, it was my pleasure to meet high quality and interesting people who work in demanding positions all over the region. They have generously shared their experiences with the whole generation and therefore motivated me to give my contribution as well. Through informal gatherings, many of them have brought a great amount of useful information that went beyond any MBA program. When I started Executive MBA program, I worked at L’Oreal Adria as a Human Resources Specialist. With the EMBA completion and almost 4 years of experience at this position, I got a chance to advance in my career. Today I am an HR Manager at Billa, in charge of many areas such as recruitment, employee development and
Beside the interesting EMBA courses that have opened new horizons, it was my pleasure to meet high quality and interesting people who work in demanding positions all over the region. 6
career planning, government official relations, reporting and communicating with headquarters. The knowledge and experience I gained at COTRUGLI Business School gave me self-confidence to work at such a responsible position. I also became a vice president of MBA Croatia organisation that gathers all MBA participants in Croatia and beyond. In conclusion, I can say that the School enriched my life, giving me the best opportunity to achieve one of the most important things in my life – personal and professional growth and long-term quality relationships with people like myself.
Admira Mahmutović
Head of Hardware Management HRVATSKI TELEKOM Croatia Executive MBA / 2009
The key decision to take an MBA program was made earlier in my life when I decided to continue with formal and informal education. I have been constantly taking different courses on subjects I felt I needed development in and when I felt I had enough working experience it was time to take an MBA. The decision to take the Executive MBA program at COTRUGLI was made after an open module where I had an opportunity to experience the program. Colleagues who were participating were very interesting, the material was motivating and the lecturer was open minded and encouraged interaction. After that first weekend I came to my office and had a feeling that I have learned a lot in those two days. The decision was final to take the COTRUGLI Executive MBA program. During the program there were hard periods as the combination of busy weeks in the office and busy weekends at COTRUGLI was very challenging, but after each module there was a feeling of new accomplishment that kept me going. I worked very closely with great colleagues and we were constantly helping each other. Now I can say that the combination of interesting modules and fascinating people around me were the keys of success. I have enrolled in EMBA program just at the point when I have accepted a new position within my company. The timing was perfect as the EMBA provided knowledge and information from people with more experience, which helped me a lot in my professional and personal development. My professional transition was less stressful with their help. The value that I have received is the information, people with their experience and the experience I gained through work and during very practical exercises during the modules. The most valuable knowledge is the one that you can apply immediately at work or at home.
During the program there were hard periods as the combination of busy weeks in the office and busy weekends at COTRUGLI was very challenging, but after each module there was a feeling of new accomplishment that kept me going. 7
Adnana Jabučar Skrobanović Sales Executive GRAND HOTEL BRISTOL SARAJEVO Bosnia & Herzegovina MBA / 2009
It was summer two years ago when I decided to continue with my education. I was not sure what I wanted but I knew that it should be something different from the offers from the local schools. I was reading a newspaper and I saw the advertisement “I am MBA”. I heard about MBA from different people but I never thought that I could be an MBA participant, not because I did not believe in myself, but because I thought that MBA would never be available for participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina. I sent my application and the rest of the story was my success. I was selected among more than 30 other applicants to get one of the scholarships. Right after finishing MBA, I got a job at Prime Communications PR agency as an Account Manager. The agency recognized the value of MBA and decided to hire me. Through my study I gained exceptional practical knowledge that I now use in my professional life. At the PR agency I worked with different clients, from NGOs to companies from different industries and an MBA helped me understand the clients’ needs, whether they came from sales, finance, or marketing… we learned everything! When I finished my MBA study I was happy and sad at the same time. I was happy for my success, but sad because the adventure was ending. People that I met there were exceptional young people who shared their experience and knowledge with my colleagues and me. I have to say that besides great lectures. I will never forget my friends from different countries - my dear Maša from Serbia, Mitko from Bulgaria,
MBA helped me understand the clients’ needs, whether they came from sales, finance, or marketing. 8
Maja from Macedonia and many other dear persons. Today, almost a year after graduation, I have to say that MBA changed my life. I moved to a new company and I am personally and professionally satisfied and I am constantly working on upgrading my knowledge.
Alden Bajgorić
Head of Bancassurance Department UNIQA OSIGURANJE SARAJEVO Bosnia and Herzegovina Executive MBA / 2009
After completing my undergraduate studies and starting my career in financial sector I was challenging myself with the question of further education. But‌ the time was never rightsince my career was progressing at a fast pace and profitability of further education in business ladder was doubtful. Nevertheless, after getting more and more experience in management and leading people, I found myself thinking about my personal development and not anymore about better results and higher salary rank. I wanted to take my management skills to the next level and was eager to get more knowledge on organisational techniques, to differentiate between operational and strategic functions and to apply new knowledge to my job. Further education was again my focus, but the question was which type of education to choose ili I had a dilemma over which education to choose At the same time, COTRUGLI Business School did the first presentations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. After checking the web page I knew that COTRUGLI would be the right choice since their programme was defined around up-to-date understanding of fundamentals of business theory, supported by business cases and lectured by renowned lectures. Furthermore, the Executive MBA programme schedule perfectly suited my calendar and provided me with great potential for networking outside my home country. During the study courses and work with my colleagues on business cases and my final exam I recognised that I reached my personal goal since I developed my leadership style, critical thinking and business solving as well as my diplomatic skills. Furthermore, due to my increased knowledge my salary increase came along, followed by other professional engagements and new entrepreneurial business opportunities. What to say in the end? I am extremely proud to be a graduate and a member of the COTRUGLI family.
Executive MBA programme schedule perfectly suited my calendar and provided me with great potential for networking outside my home country. 9
Amila Čović Trade Marketing Specialist NESTLÉ ADRIATIC Bosnia and Herzegovina MBA / 2009
Although my abroad undergraduate experience was one of the most valuable ones in my life, still there were omissions that I had to make up for in the coming years. After returning to my home country, all my business and participant connections were left behind me, in the country I studied. They were of no or of weak use in my home country, and I had to start from the scratch. This is why I decided I would do my postgraduate study in the region where I wanted to build my career, and that I would give my best to find the programme that would meet my high standards. MBA programme at COTRUGLI Business School offered all I needed at that time: regional connections from different industries, great teammates from my country, possibility to work simultaneously on my career and on my education since I did not have to take a year off to study, great references and renowned lecturers, AMBA accreditation and scholarship possibility. All my expectations proved right: I not only very valuable business connections, but I also now have some lifetime friends; lecturers did not teach me only business, but I also learned a lot about myself; I not only became better at what I do, but I am now also more confident and more self-aware in my everyday life, and this
MBA programme at COTRUGLI Business School represents an opportunity to meet a lot of great and young people and to develop ideas that give you a kick and courage to discover new business perspectives. 10
is what I find a crucial component for every progress. For me, the MBA programme at COTRUGLI Business School represents an opportunity to meet a lot of great and young people and to develop ideas that give you a kick and courage to discover new business perspectives. I would warmly recommend this MBA programme for everyone who wants to learn more, develop and explore, and who is ready to see life and business differently and more thoroughly–because MBA is all about opening new perspectives!
Ana Hajnal Finance manager ROCHE Croatia Executive MBA / 2010
My COTRUGLI journey started with the application form for a scholarship. Someone might say that it is just a filled application form but given the amount of emotional involvement I doubt that either one of the participants may claim their indifference when they were approaching the building on the day of the selection process. We all brought our hopes and fears to the classroom. My first positive impressions about the School started already during the selection process. COTRUGLI Business School strives to be different, innovative and to make a difference. I always had a strong drive for learning. Parents being blue collar workers never discouraged my desire to learn and grow. I used every opportunity to read, study, take lectures or learn from people with extensive experience. When I started my Executive MBA program it became clear that you can make efforts on your own, but what you actually need is a well-thought, systematic and organized educational program. You need a program that will broaden your knowledge across every discipline of business and management, sharpen your analytical skills and boost your confidence. And I experienced all that at COTRUGLI Business School! The collective professional experience of the participants and the team approach allows sharing diverse perspectives on various topics and truly enriches the educational environment. Lecturers and their lecturing styles are another great experience. Their innovative way of combining classic business education with modern teaching methods, leadership techniques and global experience raise the appetite for learning. Often I have the feeling that the lecturers have Plutarch’s words in their mind ‘The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.’ My COTRUGLI journey has not come to its end yet but I know I will miss it when it is done.
You need a program that will broaden your knowledge across every discipline of business and management, sharpen your analytical skills and boost your confidence. And I experienced all that at COTRUGLI Business School! 11
Ante Livić
Director of the Centre for SME ZAGREBAČKA BANKA Croatia Executive MBA / 2005
The moment when COTRUGLI Executive MBA program was presented to me I knew immediately that I had to be a part of it. A few months later I was already enrolled in the program. On the very first module I found that the teaching methods were very dynamic in terms of exercises that the participants performed in groups. I was astonished by imagination and different approach that participants had when trying to solve a task. Working in groups with interesting colleagues through the process of brainstorming can really help you broaden your view and take a different perspective on the issues before deciding for an option. By the end of the module I was sure had I made the right choice by joining the COTRUGLI Business School and by becoming a member of the COTRUGLI family. Great networking is essential in today’s business world, and this School connects managers and leaders from all sectors all over the SEE Region.
By broadening my horizons and gaining new knowledge through the Executive MBA program, I am now in a position to help others develop professionally and entrepreneurially. 12
My career started in one of the leading banks in the Croatian market, Zagrebačka banka, where I have been working since. The knowledge I gained through the Executive MBA education helped me step up to the next level in my career. For a few years now I have been working as a Director of the Centre for SME in Zagrebačka banka, providing banking services to clients and helping them grow their businesses. By broadening my horizons and gaining new knowledge through the Executive MBA program, I am now in a position to help others develop professionally and entrepreneurially.
Ante Sabljić
Risk Department Director PSA FINANCIAL (PSA-PEUGEOT CITROEN GROUP) Croatia Executive MBA / 2007
As I am a person who believes that in today’s fast-changing business environment one needs to be active in lots of various fields, after a research of available MBA schools in the region, I decided to enrol COTRUGLI Business School. After graduating, my COTRUGLI experience remained very positive and powerful. COTRUGLI is a little bit ahead of its time in our economy. But if we want to believe that our country is progressing in the right direction, it is certainly good to „take a peek” into the future. The power of COTRUGLI Business School is in the network of people who are very different in experience and knowledge, but very similar in the energy they invest in their work, in their motivation to achieve business and personal goals, in effort they put to solve certain tasks. What I find the most important is that this network is concrete and everlasting, so that after one graduates, he will always have this power available even when dealing with a completely original solutions. Expertise that is offered at EMBA program is very diverse. The amount of knowledge that every participant gets depends only on the participant, his/her desire and motivation. Taking an Executive MBA certainly does not affect only your business life; it is something that also affects your private life as well. Every participant had a situation that needed to be adjusted to the program schedule; I became a father on the day of the lecture. My private life was sometimes harder and sometimes easier to adjust to the program but luckily, weekend lectures were a winning combination for me.
The power of COTRUGLI Business School is in the network of people who are very different in experience and knowledge, but very similar in the energy they invest in their work, in their motivation to achieve business and personal goals, in effort they put to solve certain tasks. 13
Assia Marinova Business Development Manager BRIGHT CONSULTING Bulgaria Executive MBA / 2007
COTRUGLI Business School found me in a transitional moment in my life when I needed a new catalyst for growth - both personal and professional. And ever since this journey started in 2007, COTRUGLI has kept me actively involved and inspired to grow and develop. COTRUGLI proved to be a different kind of school in numerous aspects but mainly in the personal touch and close connection in its community. From the very start I felt I naturally belonged here, surrounded by close friends to share my inspirational ‘a-ha’ moments throughout the program. If I have to be honest, the biggest learning happened in the car while we, the Bulgarian group, travelled for about 10 hours every month from Sofia to Croatia. We had a chance to exchange a lot of information, make sense of what we learned at the lectures, and reflect on what it meant for our companies and to us. Every time we were coming back home after a module, we were loaded with energy and commitment to execute the new ‘revelations’. This energy and motivation triggered by every module was one of the most practical benefits of the program, which I will greatly miss moving forward. For me COTRUGLI was also a ‘vacation’ time, as I often said to my colleagues. It was a time away from the ‘busyness’ I often created for myself at home. Along with having quality party time, I also had
From the very start I felt I naturally belonged here, surrounded by close friends to share my inspirational ‘a-ha’ moments throughout the program. 14
time to reflect on the important things. It was a chance to see from a distance what was happening at my company, what was my role in its development, what we were missing and what we were doing better than the others. This gave me the different perspective I was missing engaged in my daily routine at home. Above all, COTRUGLI empowered me with a sense of direction and inspiration to continue the learning journey and create meaning for my life.
Berislav Sokač Sales Team Leader ORACLE Croatia Executive MBA / 2008
Executive MBA program is a challenge that participants face between pursuing that “next big idea” and existing obligations to family, debt, etc. Every beginning is tough. However, for me the transition from an engineer to a business professional has been rather smooth. I learned that the market decides what it needs and not people who create something just because they can. We had quite a number of lecturers from corporate world conducting teaching sessions. It was an altogether great experience having world experts provide us with valuable insights relevant to subjects that we were studying. Do not expect to pass the modules without efficient efforts. The study was time-consuming and required high commitment. On the other hand, hard work also brought fun and enjoyment in the learning process. While I was discussing the management issues with classmates of completely different background, while I was working on group tasks with significant cultural differences, when I had to stay up to prepare for presentations of case analysis, I enriched my understanding of business; I learned from my colleagues’ thinking and experience; and I practiced how to perform in such a multi-cultural environment. All of this kept me excited about what I learnt and experienced throughout my EMBA study at COTRUGLI Business School. Today, I am employed as a Sales Team Leader at Oracle. Oracle is the gold standard for database technology and applications in enterprises throughout the world— we provide our customers with complete, open solutions integrated from the disk to applications software that meet their business needs and solve their business problems. I feel that EMBA program at COTRUGLI made this possible for me.
I enriched my understanding of business; I learned from my colleagues’ thinking and experience; and I practiced how to perform in such a multi-cultural environment. 15
Bojan Hadžisejdić
Business Development Manager — Public Sector MICROSOFT HRVATSKA Croatia Executive MBA / 2011
My whole life, including my complete formal education and entire professional experience, has been revolved around electrical engineering and Information and Communication Technologies. As I strongly believe in teh old Latin saying: “Omnia mea mecum porto”, meaning “All that is mine I carry with me”, continuing education and professional development play an important role in my life. For more than three years, I had been looking for a business school in Croatia, which would fit the need I felt for further career aspiration in terms of economic and business knowledge and general soft skills. COTRUGLI Business School is the only school that has everything I need. It is based in Croatia and thus my private life and current job suffer nothing. Furthermore, what I find very important in today’s global world is that COTRUGLI’s internationally accredited programs are delivered by the renowned experts. Finally, the new knowledge obtained through Executive MBA can be immediately applied, not only in the Croatian market, but also worldwide. Last but not least, during the modules we shape ourselves while working on real-life projects in interaction with international group of already established individuals, who all bring their personal values and own views for a joint success success of the whole team.
During the modules we shape ourselves on real-life projects in interaction with international group of already established individuals, who all bring their personal values and own views to joined success of the whole team. 16
Although I am only half way through EMBA, I have already reached majority of the goals that I set myself at the very beginning. Networking represents one of the key ingredientsof the overall value of MBA. I confirm that this is true. I met 70 people from other industries whose experiences helped me improve my performance even at my current job by looking at it from different perspectives. Financial Management and finances in general have always been my weakest link; I am glad to say that this is no longer true. Above all, this has been and still is quite an interesting journey and a valuable time spent, both with participants and COTRUGLI team.
Boris Guina Board Member ZAGREB PLAKAT Croatia Executive MBA / 2008
I joined COTRUGLI Business School in 2007 when I was the Executive Export Director - Market Director at Ledo, responsible for implementing the business mission and strategy in the markets of SE Europe. From 2010, I have been a board member in Zagreb Plakat, putting into practice the experience and knowledge gained through all the segments of my education and past work. My education and the work I have performed helped me develop sales, marketing and managerial skills. I used those skills to successfully lead teams to achieve certain objectives. Each market had its specificity and it was important not only to adapt to new regulations but also to differentiate work methods as well as local mentality. However, what makes a difference between a good and a bad manager is certainly the quality of education that one gets during his career. In my case, after four years as a manager, I felt the need for high-quality Executive MBA program because the business world was constantly changing and events in the market were fast and unpredictable. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly update and expand your knowledge, improve your performance and enrich your work experience. COTRUGLI’s Executive MBA program was exactly what I needed – COTRUGLI is a school that meets all the participant’s goals and needs, it guarantees the quality of lecturers as well as the excellence of the participants. It offers great atmosphere to exchange experiences among people from different sectors and business environments in the same region. The networking that I gained at COTRUGLI has enabled me not only to expand my horizons, but also to find new business partners, associates and friends.
COTRUGLI is a school that meets all the participant’s goals and needs, it guarantees the quality of lecturers as well as the excellence of the participants. 17
Damir Kovačević CEO MEDISERV Croatia Executive MBA / 2008
“Only two things will provide you with long-term business success - continuous learning and / or ownership. One should always remember that there is always someone younger, faster and cheaper behind, just waiting for a chance to take over.” This idea was presented by one of the best COTRUGLI lecturers at the very beginning of my studies and, in fact, it summed up in a simple way the whole Executive MBA philosophy. An MBA provides you exactly that: improvements in skills and practical knowledge, so respected by employers for they bring an added value, which is expected from the employees. The application of this philosophy in practice made me leave my former employer and set up my own company according to a rather unusual model for the first entrepreneurial venture. I needed a lot of money to develop my business, but since it was founded during recession, money loans were virtually unavailable. My colleagues then suggested offering a majority stake of the newly founded company to the potential investors and it was the only way to shift a part of the risk on them. The result of that strategy is a company Mediserv, the first absence management service in the region and the only one in the world that provides an integrated solution to the problem of the sick leave. The program reduces the cost of sick leave and represents the high tech tool that is very hard to copy. As I often like to point out, Mediserv is actually a project created by the entire COTRUGLI generation, because almost all of the participants and lecturers were involved in its development as free consultants. It is only at COTRUGLI that you can use couple of hundred brains to develop your own business for free.
It is only at COTRUGLI that you can use couple of hundred brains to develop your own business for free. 18
Should I mention that the same participants became the first clients of the newly founded enterprise, which allowed relatively easy passage through the first critical phase of the development? It is all part of the COTRUGLI world and it is a result of the changes in participant’s value system after graduation.
Davor Brenko Director and Owner CENTRUS TIM Croatia Executive MBA / 2009
I own and manage a company that deals with telecom infrastructure implementation and support services as well as with a supply of the solutions to telecom providers based on products and services of the world’s leading vendors. Before starting my own business in 2006, I had spent many years working for telecom vendors, gaining experience on different projects worldwide. As a manager in a big system, I was actually forced to participate in many training sessions, some of them similar to the MBA modules at COTRUGLI. Once I started my own business, I stopped taking part in training seminars. After a while, I realized that refreshment of my business knowledge is mandatory for the success in the future. While I was searching for the program that would cover all aspects of the business in a one to two years time frame, but which will allow me to be absent from the company not more than two to three days per month, the EMBA program at COTRUGLI Business School came out as the best choice. At the end of the program, I can say that my knowledge and skills are permanently improved and immediately applicable in my daily activities. Thanks to COTRUGLI Executive MBA program, my company plans to grow by entering new markets and keeping the solutions portfolio always attractive for our customers through the utilization of the highly motivated employees became more achievable. Besides improvements in business knowledge and skills, COTRUGLI offered excellent networking opportunities and a chance to exchange opinions in a highly motivated and friendly environment. Without any doubts, the investment in business education in the middle of the economic crises was an excellent decision and it helped my company stay ahead of the competition, ensuring bright business future.
Investment in business education in the middle of the economic crises was an excellent decision and it helped my company stay ahead of competition, ensuring bright business future. 19
Davor Krivski Co-Creator of Excellence QUANTUM VIRTUS Croatia Executive MBA / 2007
The space and the time... ... for the cliché “don’t take it personally, it’s just business” was ten years ago. I have been analyzing it ever since I first experienced it from others in the business. I was analyzing it throughout the two years of the COTRUGLI Business School EMBA program as well. You are reading my answer to the question how this program changed my life. Should I write about how I earned at the time the largest annual revenue for my former employer, how new business solutions for the future business challenges emerged, how I gained self confidence to raise a 30-year loan for a bigger apartment for my family and myself – all this in the first year of the EMBA program? The answer seems logical, rational and in everyone’s best interest. But it is much too far from the real personal experience. Today, as an EMBA graduate, I believe that everything is related to work – to those “small” and “great” things we do every day. Everything we do affects us and the people around us. It is us who lower or raise the threshold of excellence for our present future through our work and actions. What role do I play in it? I encourage and open up room and time for excellence for everyone around me, like the Executive MBA program encouraged and opened it up for me. After this program, I take personally everything I do at work, in the family and in the community. What was the result at the end? TOGETHER with a colleague from my class, I was declared the best participant in the EMBA Generation 2007 based on the best grade
I encourage and open up room and time for excellence for everyone around me, like the EMBA program encouraged and opened it up for me. 20
point average. To be the best is an honour and awakens pride. To be the best TOGETHER is an excitement and awakens hope. The hope that the space and time will open up when excellent becomes normal, and the normal becomes excellent - not just for one, not just for two, not just for a few - but for all of US. As much as there is, there is always more space and more time for more excellence for each of us!
Diana Dimitrova
Finance manager for Bulgaria AES CORPORATION United Kingdom Executive MBA / 2008
What drives me in life is my enthusiasm and a desire to do better, without limits, constant effort and a belief that there is always a better way, the ability to distinguish between what is essential to preserve and what is expendable, respect for my partners and a work for the mutual success. And here I am, living in London with my family, working for a global power company with generation and distribution businesses. Through the diverse portfolio of thermal and renewable fuel sources, we provide affordable and sustainable energy in 28 countries. With the workforce of about 30,000 people, we are committed to operational excellence and meeting the world’s changing power needs. The first time I heard about COTRUGLI Business School was from a colleague of mine. At that time, he was studying at COTRUGLI and was very impressed by the program so he strongly recommended it to me. I had the possibility to choose among several business schools. COTRUGLI attracted me with international contacts, flexible program and the common final aim: to work together for the improvement of the CEE region, business environment and business opportunities. During the regular two years of the EMBA program, I broadly expanded my professional knowledge and experience, learning from the expertise of the lecturers and all my colleagues. These years taught me that to be successful means to keep your mind open and keep learning. Thanks to the EMBA program, I taught to be the best I can be, because the life does not allow rehearsals. Our journey with COTRUGLI Business School did not finish after the Graduation. The experience continues through all the fruitful contacts made during the years, with all the fantastic people met, with our common ideas that turned into realities and with all the possibilities and opportunities in front of us that will enable us to make a better world for us and for our children.
These years taught me that to be successful means to keep your mind open and keep learning. Thanks to the EMBA program, I taught to be the best I can be, because the life life does not allow rehearsals. 21
Đorđe Mirković National Sales Manager Serbia and Montenegro UNILEVER BEOGRAD Serbia Executive MBA / 2008
After completing a one year regional project in Bucharest, I was back in Serbia as a National Sales Manager for the two divisions, namely Food and Home and Personal care. I had several years of experience in this job and the team I had managed, selected and developed a few years before was the same. I thought now was the right time to enroll in a Executive MBA program. Several criteria for finding the right EMBA were important to me. Besides the criterion on the program quality, I needed an MBA with lectures held in Belgrade that would involve as little travelling as possible, because my job already required a lot of travelling. I did not want to stop my career for going on a postgraduate program. I needed a program that was custom made for working people and did not require frequent absence from work. Well established regional MBAs were in my interest as my job was linked with the Balkan and Adriatic region and I wanted to have similar networking. Ten years of working experience was behind me and I was looking to find similar people who shared my interests, therefore I was mainly interested in the executive programs. Regional networking, interactive lectures organized locally and program with relevant and up-to-date information were the advantages of the COTRUGLI’s EMBA. In order to try to keep some balance between business and private life, I needed a very good organization during the studies.
Well established regional MBAs were in my interest as my job was linked with the Balkan and Adriatic region and I wanted to have similar networking. 22
The rule that was set up from the beginning was to take an exam after each module attended. I was trying to get the most out of the time I spent in the lecture by actively involving, using and comparing experiences of other colleagues with my own and studying. I followed the lectures and prepared for the exams. This system worked well for me as it allowed me to spend less time on studying outside the class and more time on networking and keeping balance in the life.
Dobrin Mirevski Business Development Director EOS MATRIX Bulgaria Executive MBA / 2007
As I said during our graduation ceremony, I do not regret a single centimeter of the fifteen thousand kilometers I had to travel to participate in the Executive MBA program of COTRUGLI Business School. It was worth each one of them. It all started a bit by chance – seeing the ad in the Bulgarian weekly newspaper Capital. Took off with a bit of a glitch – when I did not get the notification text message that I won one of the scholarships. But went on in a seamless and fruitful way – to prove me right I made the best choice I could have made. The Executive MBA program at COTRUGLI is not just about the theoretical knowledge in the books you have to read through it. For me personally it was mostly about sharing real-life experiences and expertise, getting from fellow participants and lecturers multiple points of view to situations I was facing in my job at that time, about sourcing know-how and advice directly from the experienced faculty members. In a friendly, open and very supportive environment. When you add to these building a network of contacts throughout the region, becoming familiar with the culture of other countries, creating lifetime friendships, setting up new business partnerships and having great time at the social events, you will get the full picture of what this programs gives you. Far more than just an academic learning experience. Being all that, the EMBA program at COTRUGLI in a way changes your life – both personally and professionally. Often very deep, to the root of who and what you are. I believe, for good.
I do not regret a single centimeter of the fifteen thousand kilometers I had to travel to participate in the Executive MBA program of COTRUGLI Business School. It was worth each one of them. 23
Dragan Pejčić Vice President ALTIS CAPITAL Serbia MBA / 2009
Before I even heard of the COTRUGLI Business School – and that was a few years ago – I had done a great deal of research of business schools both in and out of the region. A major part of it included face-to-face talks with a number of recent graduates. Each and every of them – even those coming from the Financial Times top 30 MBA schools – listed networking with fellow participants as the single most essential value of the program. Having decided at that time to pursue the business career in my home country, I was in search of a local business school that would bring together teaching quality and networking opportunities. Luckily, it did not take me long to recognize both within the COTRUGLI MBA program. As one of the pioneers in the local MBA ‘market’, COTRUGLI combines excellent academics, state-of-the art curriculum and flexible class and exam schedules with brilliant participants from a variety of educational and professional backgrounds. In a nutshell, it offers western-style MBA quality but with a strong regional
Less than a year upon my graduation, I look back on the COTRUGLI Business School experience with a smile on my face, pride in my heart and a host of fresh business ideas that keep coming out of my MBA. 24
focus. Most importantly, a year and a half of the MBA life means not only hard work but also funny social time that produces a wealth of business, as well as private contacts. It feels truly great to have top business people around you – at one moment, you are in the class discussing a complex business case, and at the next, you find yourself sitting with them in a pub and having fun as if you have known them all your life. Less than a year upon my graduation, I look back on the COTRUGLI Business School experience with a smile on my face, pride in my heart and a host of fresh business ideas that keep coming out of my MBA.
Elena Altimirska Managing Partner BUSINESS EFFECT Bulgaria Executive MBA / 2009
Starting and running own business for a psychologist like me could be a very challenging task. When my partner and I decided to start up a consulting company, I did not know any of the basic entrepreneurial principles. Therefore, I needed a systematic way to gain new business knowledge. I looked for very practically oriented Executive MBA program with good reputation and qualified lecturers. And that is how I found out about COTRUGLI Business School. Let me use SWOT analysis technique to explain my experience at COTRUGLI’s Executive MBA program: Strengths: • All modules are very practically oriented and combine systematic review of the theoretical principles with exercises and case studies; • Lecturers are outstanding professionals in their fields and provide not only academic knowledge but also live examples from their experience. Even in the fields which are my areas of expertise I could get insights and inspirations for my work; • Intense teamwork provides the opportunity to learn from the colleagues and share experiences about best practices. Weaknesses: • EMBA program is limited in time. However, what remains after the program are not only the acquired knowledge and skills, but also wonderful memories and good friends. Opportunities: • EMBA provides great opportunities for networking in the whole SEE region and COTRUGLI pays special attention to various social events – sport competitions, parties, informal meetings, etc. which is quite important for entrepreneurs like me; • COTRUGLI provides unique opportunity to feel the spirit of beautiful places in the region, where we had memorable experiences. Threats: • Combining studying with intense work and family life is sometimes hard to handle. But as they say: Where there is a wish, there is a way. I wish to all the future participants to find this balance and to grab all the opportunities during the two wonderful years of studying and living in accordance with the COTRUGLI values.
Combining studying with intense work and family life is sometimes hard to handle. But as they say: Where there is a wish, there is a way. 25
Elena Ivanova CEO EXPLORINGMACEDONIA.COM Macedonia MBA / 2010
As a young E-business graduate I had justenough knowledge, to position myself in the rising online industry in Macedonia and I longed to swim in the business world right after graduating. Meeting the successful managers in the corporate environment in the Balkans made me think of the potential I had, to make local change in the global plan for managing the regional industry. I have never had a doubt about the progress of my personal development, and COTRUGLI has helped me a lot along the way. According to all the research I did, it is the only business school on the Balkans that offers the authentic mix of regional leaders’ experiences and world renowned lecturers that can be smoothly scheduled an agenda of any young manager. I have walked a line from an Internet Marketing Assistant to a CEO, all the way long with an MBA program on my back. Frankly, to use my “exploring” vocabulary – with a travel guide in my pocket! I went to COTRUGLI for the reputable knowledge package. Surprisingly, COTRUGLI went after me to make me do something with it! Today I feel not just the inspirational drive, but also my
Being in an educational environment surrounded by COTRUGLI participants is like sitting in a selected audience of the most inspirational talk you have ever heard live. 26
own accountability for creating the competitive advantage of the dynamic business environment I operate in. Being in an educational environment surrounded by COTRUGLI participants is like sitting in a selected audience of the most inspirational talk you have ever heard live. We know that leadership has a lot to do with believing in yourself even when no one else does, and in the same time COTRUGLI brought me in, a queue of supporters and criticizers, each one of which adds value to my business output and each one of them, just like me, shapes the global network of world changing leaders.
Emina Azizi Publisher FUTURE MEDIA Serbia Executive MBA / 2009
This is an unusual story but, luckily for me, a true one. I was not supposed to be attending the COTRUGLI Business School. But the stars were in the right place at the right time, and something that was just an idea one Wednesday in October, became a reality the following Friday. It took me only two days from just thinking about taking the MBA course at CONTRUGLI to actually doing it. That sudden decision made a great impact on the next two years of my life. But something tells me that this impact will become greater as time passes by. It is said that some of the most important things happen when you least expect them. I did not believe in a “wisdom” of this kind, but perhaps the time has come for me to challenge this belief. Constant personal development and an educational upgrade is a definite must. No matter which field you specialize in, overall knowledge is a prerogative for better understanding and, accordingly, doing better in business. This is the only way one can delegate or collaborate successfully. In the publishing business, in which I currently work, where many different operations are conducted and many different professions are involved in order to produce the final result, this is especially important. Better mutual understanding in business leads to more respect and confidence and, in the end, to better results. This is, I assume, the ultimate goal of everyone in business. COTRUGLI provides technical knowledge, but, more important, it provides self-knowledge. Some truths one discovers during this process may not be pleasant, but they are helpful and, above all, necessary. I could write about the many things I have accomplished so far with the help of COTRUGLI, but I firmly believe that the best is yet to come. COTRUGLI will form a significant part in the future events of my life. That is certain.
COTRUGLI provides technical knowledge, but, more important, it provides selfknowledge. Some truths one discovers during this process may not be pleasant, but they are helpful and, above all, necessary. 27
Emira Mešanović Mandić Directress CENTRE CSRPLUS Bosnia & Herzegovina Executive MBA / 2009
COTRUGLI Business School provides an excellent framework for managers from nonprofit sector who want to upgrade their performance by gaining skills from for-profit companies. I was about to enroll my PhD on the topic of Corporate Social Responsibility when I first met the enthusiastic CBS staff in Sarajevo. I was introduced to their program, opportunities and other benefits including scholarships given directly by the School. Although the School was on the rise, I was truly impressed by the success they had achieved up to that period. Moreover, because of my career orientation, I honestly valued their idea to offer scholarship to participants as a part of their corporate social responsibility strategy. My own consulting firm was slowly penetrating the market of the multinational and local companies, yet my working experience was mainly related to nonprofit organizations. I was worried if I would be able to deliver the right service to clients from private firms. I was eager to obtain practical experience and to learn from real life case studies. For all these reasons I decided to temporarily give up PhD and to compete for COTRUGLI scholarships. Luckily, I was selected among other can-
COTRUGLI Business School provides an excellent framework for managers from nonprofit sector who want to upgrade their performance by gaining skills from for-profit companies. 28
didates in BiH and with additional support from Whalen Family Foundation, I became a participant of COTRUGLI Business School. In a nutshell, COTRUGLI Business School met my expectations. Despite the fact that I traveled miles to participate in the classes, it was worth it. I grew professionally and personally because the lecturers not only helped me redefine my career, but also change my behavior towards my team, partners and myself. I want to mention that it was there that I met my husband who at the time also was a CBS participant and today we have a beautiful son. COTRUGLI Business School was the right choice for me!
Gaber Kontelj General Counsel SIEMENS Slovenia Executive MBA / 2007
It was back in 2007, right after enrolment in the COTRUGLI Executive MBA program, when I felt enthusiasm forthe COTRUGLI team and the EMBA program. The good part of the story is that all my expectations become reality. What is more, most of them were exceeded. It is not just about pile of books we dug through, great experiences we exchanged with colleagues, broad knowledge we gained about business, state of the art findings presented by the lecturers, it is about a life style. Once you entered the COTRUGLI Business School door, you stay COTRUGLI graduate forever. It is a never-ending story. Each year new generations of COTRUGLI participants come and ask us the “senior colleagues�, for advice. It is like being a part of a big family where knowledge and experience are unselfishly shared. The decision to enrol in the COTRUGLI Executive MBA program turned out to be the best investment I have made so far. The program built in a modular system enabled me to pursue quality family life as well as to efficiently fulfil all tasks and duties at work. Nothing is better for a lawyer working in the corporate surrounding than the supplementation of his legal qualification with an MBA title. Siemens is a multinational company present in 190 countries and employs more than 400.000 people worldwide. At Siemens, more than 600 lawyers try to show their best every day. Vast majority of lawyers have international working or studying experience, many of them are Ph.D. or LL.M. graduates. In such a competitive environment it is not easy to play a prominent role. Fortunately, my MBA course gave me a broad understanding of business and the MBA title gave me a crucial advantage in selection process (I joined Siemens in 2010) as well as in positioning myself in such a prestigious environment. Without COTRUGLI I would not have succeeded it.
Nothing is better for a lawyer working in the corporate surrounding than the supplementation of his legal qualification with an MBA title. 29
Grozdana Petrović
Head of Decision Science INTESA SANPAOLO CARD Croatia Executive MBA / 2004
I chose Executive MBA at COTRUGLI Business School primarily because it was a high level Executive MBA. Next to that, I wanted to meet participants from other companies and countries as well as to learn from lecturers coming from all over the world, as I aspired to develop myself in an international business environment. I completed Executive MBA program in 2007 as the best participant in the class. At COTRUGLI Business School we had an opportunity to learn from the best international, lecturers who came from the world’s best universities, all that through a creative approach that minimized absence from my workplace, which was also important for me. I see an EMBA as a critical point for getting into the corporate world at a senior level. The tools and knowledge gained at COTRUGLI became a very frequent feature in my presentations and negotiations. The program fostered my creativity and it inspired me to constantly improve myself and pursue lifelong learning. Another important benefit is networking – I met many smart, team oriented, hard working, highly experienced, highly motivated and self-driven participants with whom I even today exchange ideas and discuss work issues, and with some of them I have wonderful friendships. My professional career started in ‘96 in a software company and continued in PBZ American Express and PBZ Card at different positions with different responsibilities. In 2008 I joined middle management and overtook, a very challenging position in Intesa
I am very happy that I joined COTRUGLI Business School - this unique, innovative, real world experience made me grow as a manager and as a person. 30
Sanpaolo Card, which is a payment Card Company dedicated to developing and managing card business on an international level. As a member of Intesa Sanpaolo Group, one of the largest European banking groups, I worked with clients from financial and banking sectors across East Central Europe and Mediterranean region. To conclude, I am very happy that I joined COTRUGLI - this unique, innovative, real-world experience made me grow as a manager and as a person.
Hrvoje Kapetanović
CEO, OKTEL – OPTIMIZED TELECOMMUNICATIONS Co-owner, GOLF ZONA Croatia Executive MBA / 2005
I joined COTRUGLI Business School at the moment when I was working as a Head of Telecommunication Clients Department at Hewlett-Packard. I had also been building my working experience working at Computech, Siemens and Accenture. Since my entire career was oriented towards building new values for my clients, continuous learning and personal development have always been a part or my work as well as a part of my character. My wish to carry out my work as efficiently as possible, motivated me to continue my education through an MBA program. While analyzing available options I focused most on content and its impact on the harmony between professional and private life. COTRUGLI proved to offer the most. Top quality international faculty, modules organized in a way to perfectly suit managers who wish to better understand their work and its global surrounding, and all of that while still allowing for normal private and professional life. During my two years at COTRUGLI one more aspect had an enormous impact on me: interaction with other participants. To be surrounded by high quality people who found themselves in a similar phase of their business life, with similar challenges and thoughts, and to advance with them from module to module… all this brought not only new knowledge but also width and depth of thoughts, new ideas and courage for further life decisions. In 2007, I founded Golf Zona Ltd, the leading Croatian company in golf equipment distribution and golf court supply, while in 2011, I started Oktel – optimized telecommunications Ltd, a consulting company specialized in optimization of ICT expenses and processes. The development of both companies was made possible through 100% of experiences and knowledge gained at COTRUGLI - I employ ten people at three offices in two countries and I am constantly looking forward to new challenges and successes. Golf is a lifestyle. Being a part of the great COTRUGLI family is definitely lifestyle.
The development of both companies was made possible through 100% of experiences and knowledge gained at COTRUGLI - I employ eight people at three offices in two countries and I am constantly looking forward to new challenges and successes. 31
Hrvoje Novosel CFO TEHNOMOBIL Croatia Executive MBA / 2010
Ever since I took on a managerial position in the company my responsibilities shifted from finance and accounting, towards other areas of business such as strategic decision making process, change management and HR, which meant that I had to gain new knowledge and skills that can be put to everyday use. This is what prompted me to start searching for postgraduate program that would give me not just sufficient theoretical knowledge in new areas of interest and an improvement to my existing skills but would also develop my leadership potential and get me involved in new studies with a hands-on approach. For me, the greatest value of the COTRUGLI Executive MBA program lies in the fact that lectures are designed in a way that encourages you to look at business problems and opportunities from a broader perspective and different angles and that it develops not only your managerial skills but also a new way of thinking about business. Another great advantage is that the program is designed to develop and strengthen your entrepreneurial potential so that you can recognize and seize business opportunities either through your own business or through the organisation that you are working in. Working in groups on various assignments and case studies allows you to achieve better results in school and at work by using not just your own business experience and knowledge but
The program is designed to develop and strengthen your entrepreneurial potential so that you can recognize and seize business opportunities either through your own business or through the organisation that you are working in. 32
also that of your colleagues since participants come from various industries and business backgrounds. This also brings you benefits from networking and allows you to meet great people that will become not just your business partners but your friends as well. Although EMBA program is demanding and requires significant time investment, it is entirely adapted to business professionals and it allows me to keep balance between school obligations on the one side and business and personal responsibilities on the other. I really enjoy my time at COTRUGLI EMBA and I look forward to each new module, positive energy around it and challenges ahead. I can honestly say that at COTRUGLI Business School I found everything that I have been looking for in a business school. I am sure you will to!
Ida Hohnjec
HR Lead Croatia, Bosnia & Herzeg. MERCK SHARP & DOHME Croatia Executive MBA / 2008
Having finished American college I started my career in Human Resources. I was overwhelmed with all the processes of employee development and wanted to create an opportunity for myself that would increase my capabilities in understanding the global business environment and how human resources enhance the results of the company, but also to have a more indepth knowledge of other functions of the business. My opinion was that a young person needs to acquire some experience before extending his/her education but after four years of experience and two employers, I decided it was time to explore MBA opportunities. I saw COTRUGLI Business School advertisement and decided to get in touch. Marko KuÄ?ić, Director of Business Development, invited me to attend one open EMBA course. I met a lot of interesting people during that weekend, from Istrian entrepreneurs to HR directors, and thought what a great way to learn and explore new opportunities. I spent the next year working hard, achieving results and my enthusiasm and dedication was rewarded; a year later I received scholarship support from both my employer and COTRUGLI. No one was happier than me. We all know life is unpredictable so in May that year I received another offer I could not refuse - I went on an international assignment to Greece. I had to postpone my attendance. It worked out great as I got even more experience, and the colleagues in my generation were the best and not only because we had most HR managers attending. Atmosphere was great, the dialogues, the debates, sharing of best practices, giving advice, exchanging contacts and references. Some even changed their jobs and careers based on contacts they got at COTRUGLI Business School. One of the greatest experiences for me during EMBA was the Business plan assignment as it gave us opportunity to think like entrepreneurs, to explore all external and internal factors a (new) business may face and enabled us to use all of the knowledge obtained in the lectures in a real life project.
One of the greatest experiences for me during EMBA was the Business plan assignment as it gave us opportunity to think like entrepreneurs. 33
Igor Pirc
Director and Partner EUDACE, CONSULTING AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT COMPANY Slovenia Executive MBA / 2008
I decided to take part in COTRUGLI Executive MBA program after participating in the scholarships selection process. Qualifications and pare-to-pare exchange of knowledge and experience gained during the EMBA program represent an important anchor in my career as an entrepreneur. Another important aspect of participating in the program is being a part of a network of top leaders. After finishing the program I opened consulting and project development company Eudace, where we are trying to implement our vision of successful and sustainable business. The company operates in two segments, namely business consulting and development of projects. In both segments our main drivers are added value for our customers and excellence of service. In the consulting segment of the business our customers are companies that need growth support and reorganization of their current operations. It is a mature market where a breakthrough can be done only through innovative and integral approaches. That is why we offer our customers legal (mergers, acquisitions), organizational (internal organization, ISO standards) and business (business consulting, marketing and sales) support. By combining different areas of expertise and employing consultants with different backgrounds (lawyers, machine engineers, marketing experts, human
Qualifications and pare-topare exchange of knowledge and experience gained during the EMBA program represent an important anchor in my career as an entrepreneur. 34
resource experts, and financial analysts) we can thoroughly understand and support needs of our customers. On the other hand through diversification of the service we disperse business risk and maintain sustainability, which is extremely important for a long term success. My belief in the virtues of sustainability, long term approach and added value for our customers is inspired by the knowledge and experience obtained during the COTRUGLI EMBA program.
Igor KoĹĄÄ?ak CEO INTERIM ADRIA Slovenia Executive MBA / 2011
I have always been a person who pursued high goals and expected high performance from people around me. Soon after my graduation in management I became enthusiastic about taking new challenges regarding my education. Searching for greater opportunity for personal and business development I just could not find something that would attract my attention that much to invest my time in it. The only experience I wanted to have at that time was the MBA, but unfortunately I just could not afford it. But not for long! And then came COTRUGLI Business School with Executive MBA scholarship competition, which was the best challenge for me at that time. Competing with the elite among present and future top managers was something I could not resist. And I won a scholarship! All the rest is history. My expectations started to grow. I expected to get additional knowledge, business connections and possibly a promotion at work. I got far more than I could ever imagine. Soon after getting the scholarship, I got a job offer that was a great opportunity for a further step in my carrier and COTRUGLI gave me a chance to be even better at it. Furthermore, I got to learn new ways of thinking about developing business strategies, insights in financial structure of a company and improved skills in personal and team development which I have been using and practicing every day at work. I met many wonderful people, created business opportunities and gained several friends along the way. However, this was not just a journey that ended with graduation. Knowledge remains and it is always upgraded, people I met during the program are still present in my life. Moreover, business always brings new challenges that need to be surpassed and Executive MBA gave me all the needed weapons to enjoy the good times and fight the bad times!
Business always brings new challenges that need to be surpassed and Executive MBA gave me all the needed weapons to enjoy good times and fight the bad times! 35
Irena Grofelnik CEO MONSADRIA LJUBLJANA Slovenia Executive MBA / 2007
Do you love to learn? Are you willing to constantly invest in your education and obtain new knowledge? I certainly am. Those motives brought me to COTRUGLI Business School. Since I always preferred straight-forward communication, greatly appreciated modesty and fairness, I was instantly attracted to the model COTRUGLI was offering; varieties of lecturers and colleagues from different countries were definitely the right surrounding for me. Currently I lead a team of 75 colleagues in a hospitality business. And it is all about people. Training, coaching, leading and managing would never be the same without experts and courses at COTRUGLI Business School. Business environment is changing so quickly that only the most innovative are able to maintain the competitive edge. Nowadays, situational leadership requires simultaneous use of various leadership styles, which is often exhausting as you have to react skillfully in order to adequately protect the company and the people. But I love my job and constant challenges it brings along. And when my batteries are low, meditation helps me to recharge and quickly get back on the track. So it is not just about professional development, it is also about gradual upgrade of your personal competences. Metaphorically speaking, it’s like two different worlds
Gaining experiences is one thing but seeing things from a completely different perspective is what makes the program worth every second of time and money invested. 36
coming together - like yin and yang, like sunrise and sunset, like me and myself. I would never recognize the crucial importance of mentioned elements without participating in the Executive MBA program. Gaining experiences is one thing, but seeing things from a completely different perspective is what makes the program worth every second of time and money invested. It was an amazing journey filled with new projects and new acquaintances in a high speed reality! Try it!
Iva Čadikovska Senior Sponsorship Specialist VIP OPERATOR Macedonia Executive MBA / 2008
I believe in “moments” in life. Lots of lovely moments have occurred in my life by now, showing me the right path and the opportunities. I is a real challenge to recognize it, to catch the real moment at the right time, to accept it and to know how to handle what is coming. The COTRUGLI moment is exactly that! It teaches you to learn how to handle not only business issues, but also the real things in life. It happened to me in 2008, when the School first started with its program in Macedonia. Professional approach and selection process; serious program and candidates, really tough competition - It was all very inspiring and challenged me to make the first step. The rest of the story is history and I am really proud to say that I am a member of the first generation of participants from Macedonia that joined the EMBA program at COTRYGLI Business School. Two years of week(end) studies filled with lots of travelling, learning, books, materials, pre-readings, projects, team work, preparation of the group project and the business plan, exams…. Every time I was looking forward to the next module to meet with everyone again and to learn something new. The unforgettable Borovec happened, the beautiful city of Ohrid offered unique experience next to the “white lake”, graduation ceremony in Belgrade… Magnificent time and moments to remember. A lot of the colleagues from the group became true friends. I feel the difference now. I am using the gained knowledge in my everyday activities; I take into consideration different views and perspectives when dealing with challenging tasks and I use new approaches when solving various situations. I am practicing leadership on every new project. I am inspired, motivated and I have better chances for further personal and professional development. The most important thing in life is to learn how to believe in your feelings and in yourself. Discover who you are and share your experiences; be aware of the real magic of the enthusiasm and keep reaching for the stars - because only the sky is the limit!
One must try to fulfill his/her own expectations. This is where everything starts – with your expectations! And COTRUGLI can help you on your way to achieve that. 37
Ivana Ćećez
Business Development Manager GLAXOSMITHKLINE Serbia MBA / 2009
I was in brand management for years in a well established pharmaceutical company. I was thinking for years about my further professional development including MBA program, however, at that time the schools were just starting with their programs in Serbia. I had limited information about COTRUGLI Business School but I took the risk. I was granted with a scholarship for the first MBA program at COTRUGLI Business School right when my career was in stagnation. Couple of months later I got a new opportunity to excel my career in another pharmaceutical company. As I was going through the MBA program at COTRUGLI Business School, I started to appreciate more the fact that, at the same time, I was working in a new company. I had the opportunity to immediately apply the course material to the real-life situations at work. That was a wonderful daily practice. It was especially useful for the development of my leadership skills. There are times when you think that enrolling in a part-time MBA program might not be the smartest decision you made. Even though I had one of those moments too, luckily it was just a brief crisis without any consequences. I would always point out
I had the opportunity to immediately apply the course material to the real-life situations at work. That was a wonderful daily practice. 38
COTRUGLI Business School as an example of a good mix of theoretical and practical knowledge, sharing experience and building network. Personally, I benefited the most from improving my flexibility that helps me move easily from one position to another. I am also very happy that as a representative of the generation X I had a great opportunity to get to know and understand better the generation Y who will work alongside me throughout my career.
Ivana Galić
Head of Marketing Communications VIPNET Croatia Executive MBA / 2010
My career started with the most important project of Croatia film, Hlapić. My responsibility increased, and by taking over contracts with leading national companies and managing Hlapić, I was soon named executive director of Croatia film. Since advertising always had an important role in Croatia film, I looked for additional marketing challenges in Spotstudio agency, where I was appointed director. Given that both companies are a part of the same group dealing with advertising, marketing and production, I believe the next step in my career is becoming a part of the Group’s Board. The rapid development and career progress in my case is the result of intensive work and learning. Passive monitoring has never been my choice. I have always wanted to be a part of the current that drives change. In this sense, the EMBA program at COTRUGLI Business School is the best choice for anyone who does not want to stop their career to study, but wants to enhance it and upgrade it with new knowledge. This was exactly my guiding principle when I was deciding on my further education – an approach that has enabled me to use new knowledge on a daily basis, to improve my managerial skills and bring a fresh perspective to my work. High-quality networking, open communication and availability of information and knowledge are the key factors, which differentiate COTRUGLI’s EMBA from other programs. Apart from developing business functions in order to achieve better results, COTRUGLI Business School provides quality education in personal development, which is crucial to every manager during his career when assessing if he is on a path he wants to be.
High-quality networking, open communication and availability of information and knowledge are the key factors, which differentiate COTRUGLI’s EMBA from other programs. 39
Ivana Premerl
Regional Total Rewards Consultant HEWLETT-PACKARD Croatia Executive MBA / 2008
The Career in Human Resources (HR) has always been my dream. But, by focusing on only one business field, people can miss seeing a bigger picture or even lose a business touch. And since we have no idea where our lives can bring us, we should never focus on only one thing and stop learning and growing. Therefore, early enough, I started to think about my EMBA education. At the time of winning the COTRUGLI Executive MBA scholarship I had no idea what this program will do for me. I only knew I needed something new, exciting and challenging. And in the end it was exactly that, and so much more. Already at the start of the program, the faculty members offered me a completely new view on how a range of business functions interact and impact organizations enabling more holistic analysis and decision making. In addition, great cohort of intelligent, talented and well-rounded individuals from various business and social fields gave me great insight in their specific knowledge, but also tested my teamwork, communication and people skills. In addition to all stated, numerous assignments, seminars, readings, and team-cases tested my time management and patience abilities.
Without COTRUGLI, it would have taken me way much more time to gain all the knowledge so crucial for corporate climbing. And it would have taken me way much more time to build this huge network of great people. 40
By dealing with all the mentioned, sometimes you would not even notice how your career was progressing. And I can proudly say that I was astonished to realize how, after two years of COTRUGLI program, I slowly ended holding a regional Compensation & Benefits (C&B) role – taking care of seven countries and more than 5.000 employees - which I could have only dreamt of at the beginning. Without COTRUGLI, it would have taken me way much more time to gain all the knowledge so crucial for corporate climbing. And it would have taken me way much more time to build this huge network of great people.
Ivana Milić Subsidiary Controller MICROSOFT Serbia Executive MBA / 2007
I am coming from a broad overall business perspective obtained during nine years’ experience of doing business in Delta M Group, the biggest private company in Serbia, further extended through generating valuable experience in the Coca-Cola Company. Having a very demanding and time consuming job in the CocaCola Company as a Commercial Finance Manager responsible for Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania, in order to gain structured knowledge, to leverage work in domestic and multinational environment and to build further personal growth, I realized that I needed to continue with quality education and development. In 2007, I applied for a COTRUGLI scholarship program. After the intensive and highly competitive process I realized that the EMBA program at COTRUGLI Business Scholl is the real thing for me. I was really happy when I heard my name at the award ceremony. Although the program is very intense,the classes are held during weekends, which makes it possible to work and study at the same time. The two years of Executive MBA program at COTRUGLI Business School and more than sixteen different modules helped me gain an overall business perspective as well as build strong network with my colleagues at the alumni club. Knowledge, availability of information and expertise that eminent lecturers provided us with, helped me significantly during my career change from beverage to IT industry. If you are streaming towards business excellence as I do, I strongly believe that Executive MBA program at COTRUGLI Business School can provide us all the necessary support that we need on that journey.
The two years of Executive MBA program at COTRUGLI Business School and more than sixteen different modules helped me gain an overall business perspective as well as build strong network with my colleagues at the alumni club. 41
Ivica SrakoÄ?ić Marketing Manager FRANCK Croatia Executive MBA / 2008
In early 2008, I joined the Franck company at a position of a brand manager. Before Franck I had been working for a big international company and gained a lot of specific marketing knowledge, but coming to Franck required a completely new set of skills and knowledge. The Franck Marketing department was much smaller than the same department in my former company so as a brand and later marketing manager I had to deal with so many different things, which I was not used to. I was an experienced marketing manager, but I lacked specific knowledge in some other areas of business like finance, accounting, supply chain management etc. I realized that the best way to acquire those skills and knowledge was to apply to a business school. After a thorough analysis of many options, I chose COTRUGLI Business School. This was an easy choice because COTRUGLI had a great reputation, very good lecturers and a concept of Executive MBA program, which went very well with my business and personal obligations. The program turned out to be exactly what I needed. It filled the
The program turned out to be exactly what I needed. It filled the gaps in my set of managerial skills and I became much more rounded in other areas of business. 42
gaps in my set of managerial skills and I became much more rounded in other areas of business. It gave me a lot more confidence and independence and, as a consequence, I became more efficient and successful in my work. But maybe the greatest benefit of the program was the expansion of my professional business network, which now includes many new high profile managers from the region. We studied and had fun together for two years, which bonded many of us in a way that we can count on each other whenever needed.
Jadranka Boban Pejić CEO BIOVEGA
Croatia Executive MBA / 2007
As Biovega rapidly grew from a small company to a medium sized one, my responsibilities multiplied accordingly. I was a “self-taught” entrepreneur and manager (I graduated from the Faculty of Special Education), and that is why I felt the need to check “where I was, what I was doing well, what I had to improve and how to raise the quality of corporate management.” All this together led to a decision to enroll in the COTRUGLI EMBA program, and it seemed like a good idea to me to enroll in one more person from my company, so I proposed that to my deputy Žana Hinek. It proved to be an excellent idea because during the education we complemented each other; we had the opportunity to exchange our ideas and perceptions, and to discuss many topics that we wanted to apply in Biovega. The biggest challenge that I encountered while attending the school was the issue of synchronization of time for school attendance and the usual business and family obligations, and I felt the responsibility to make adequate preparation for attending the program. The school confirmed many things I had already tried at work; it strengthened me in some of my efforts, but also opened up some new possibilities. Certainly I would like to mention that communication with my colleagues at school was extremely valuable to me, and I am glad that after school was finished. we all stayed in touch, and help each other when needed. Although I consider all modules interesting and useful, to me the most useful modules were related to strategy, leadership, HR and personal development, because I felt that I could immediately apply some things to everyday situations. Practical work in teams, discussions and assignments were my favorite part of the education. The education at COTRUGLI has definitely strengthened my confidence and competence in the everyday business challenges.
Communication with my colleagues at school was extremely valuable to me, and I am glad that after the school was finished we all stayed in touch, and help each other when needed. 43
Jelena Ignjatović
Sr. Clinical Project Manager for Clinical Operations QUINTILES Serbia Executive MBA / 2009
My career started to move rapidly in the last few years and although I gained some expertise and knowledge through my daily activities, I felt that I was missing some important points. My background is in pharmacy, so once I started managing people and projects, there was a need for a higher level of business education. I was appointed as a leader of the biggest Clinical project, was for personal development. Parallel to that, it was necessary to gain wider knowledge of business in general. COTRUGLI Executive MBA helped me move through my career. I was finally able to look from a different perspective. Two years of hard work passed and although sometimes it seemed impossible to cope with everything, I have now great feeling of satisfaction. COTRUGLI EMBA program offered excellent lecturers from variety of business areas, giving us the opportunity to familiarize ourselves with different branches. Every lecturer had a specific approach based on his own experience, so the modules where interactive and I was able to implement gained knowledge immediately in my daily work. Although the program is very intensive, it also allows flexibility, so the absence from work is minimal.
The main advantage of COTRUGLI Business School is definitely the number of participants. There is no such school in region that gathers so many different business leaders. 44
The main advantage of COTRUGLI Business School is definitely the number of participants. There is no such school in region that gathers so many different business leaders. Program is organized in such a way that there is enough time for networking so that while people can meet and share business ideas. In the end, the School does not give the knowledge only, but makes you change your lifestyle in business environment, and I can definitely say that it changed my perspective of the future. Once you leave the School it is with high self-awareness of your own expectations and abilities. There are no limits.
Joze Tomaš CEO - General Manager POTESTAS (HOTEL PARK) Croatia Executive MBA / 2006
As a hotelier and a business professional I would like to describe my professional journey to a top management position, as the CEO and general manager of the hotel company Potestas. Every day I am in contact with people from all around the world and with people with different professional careers, so right at the beginning of my professional journey I understood that the connection with other people is the most prestigious value you can have. One of the most important reasons to join the successful COTRUGLI team, including innovative business knowledge and new educational values, was networking and meeting ambitious, open-minded people with different backgrounds and interests. During the Executive MBA program I established, together with my colleagues, a new project called Ostrea Dalmatia, so at this moment we are the proud owners of oyster’ fields on the island Pag. Life and business are unpredictable. You never know where you can be the next day and who can you meet tomorrow. On one such day, 15 years ago I started a small shoe business and today I own four shoe shops from a well-known local brand “Cipele Bella”. COTRUGLI EMBA program helped me understand that hard work is enjoyment and that at the end of every day you should ask yourself: “Have I missed an opportunity today? Have I made myself and someone else happy today?” COTRUGLI Business School is a logical choice for every manger who is looking for a new, exiting journey through business and life in general.
COTRUGLI EMBA program helped me understand that hard work is enjoyment and that at the end of every day you should ask yourself: “Have I missed an opportunity today? Have I made myself and someone else happy today?” 45
Karmen KriviÄ?ić Spajić Head of IT LUKA RIJEKA Croatia Executive MBA / 2008
After obtaining engineering degree in computing at FER, Ljubljana in 1992, I started my career as a young researcher in artificial intelligence. Although I always had strong academic records, I realised that the scientific career is probably not exactly what I was suited for. In 1994, I immigrated to Australia, where after a few years of teaching career at the University of Canberra, I started working as a software engineer at Medicare Australia. My management and leadership capabilities were early detected by my supervisors, and soon I got through a series of promotions to IT leading positions within the organization. Soon after returning to Croatia in 2007, I accepted the challenge to lead IT at Novi list in my hometown Rijeka. As an IT manager in non-IT business, besides obtaining domain knowledge, I started feeling the urge to expand my knowledge in finance, sales, marketing and business processes, as well as to exchange experience with other managers in Croatia and region. I believe this kind of knowledge is essential for an IT manager to be competent in aligning IT with business goals and making good decisions. Choosing COTRUGLI EMBA program was definitely the right choice. Besides obtaining core business knowledge, COTRUGLI experience improved my soft skills, thanks to both, high quality lecturers and participants. Most importantly, by networking and collaborating with high quality ambitious leaders around me, I got to know myself better and advanced on my personal development path.
I faced the biggest challenge so far in balancing work and life: I started my EMBA program a few months pregnant and managed to deliver and nurse my first baby without missing a single module and deadline. 46
Moreover, I faced the biggest challenge so far in balancing work and life: I started my EMBA program a few months pregnant and managed to deliver and nurse my first baby without missing a single module and deadline. Prioritizing was definitely the skill that I sharpened up on my journey to one of the top participants of the class. Finally, the COTRUGLI experience gave me the needed confidence and motivation to face another career challenge and change the job to a more fulfilling position, where again I have freedom to fully deploy my leadership capabilities and help organizational change.
KreĹĄimir DelaÄ? Director SIMULUS GRUPA
Croatia Executive MBA / 2008
Being an engineer by formal training, I started my career at T-HT and Ericsson Nikola Tesla at various positions. The job complexity and levels of responsibility were rising with each new position and, by the time I joined b4b, it became obvious that I needed extra education in areas not covered by an engineering curriculum. My work started to revolve more around processes and business, and less around IT and computing. As responsibilities grew, I became aware of the lack of soft skills as well. People needed to be managed and led, and I had only a vague idea of how to do it. Well, that was that - I decided to enrol an Executive MBA program at COTRUGLI Business School and had very high expectations. Soon after the first few modules I realised I was really able to use the knowledge in real life. Immediately! I started looking at things from different perspectives, a skill mostly acquired from my fellow participants of different backgrounds. My network started to spread rapidly and I started to have new ideas. One thing led to another and I suppose the inevitable happened - after graduation I started my own company, in partnership with a fellow participant from my generation. We sat down, listed the things we believe, we were good at, devised a business plan as taught at COTRUGLI and started a consulting company of our own - Simulus grupa. We have now been operating for some time and have successfully finished a few projects, with lots more on the horizon. We stayed very close with our fellow participants and we are constantly spreading our network through COTRUGLI Alumni, something that is invaluable in our line of business. Most comforting of all is that I know I can always knock on COTRUGLI doors and a friendly face will greet me and offer help in any way. That really is priceless.
Most comforting of all is that I know I can always knock on COTRUGLI doors and a friendly face will greet me and offer help in any way. That really is priceless. 47
Kristina Ercegović Owner ZAOKRET Croatia Executive MBA / 2006
At a Career day, a COTRUGLI Business School representative literally ran after me, pulling my sleeve, asking me if it was really me and telling me that his boss ordered him to convince me to join them. I liked the guerrilla approach of the young and enthusiastic team and since it was right at that time I wanted to learn more about HR and management and had already been planning to enrol in the MBA – so I said to myself, why not! I took literally everything that Executive MBA program offered, during and between classes. I learned a lot from lecturers and even more from the colleagues and their life experiences. I received a lot more than expected especially in HR and personal development. I told all my colleagues about the mystery shopping and my work as a mystery shopper.
I took literally everything that Executive MBA program offered, during and between classes. I learned a lot from lecturers and even more from the colleagues and their life experiences. 48
Finally, I know how to talk to financiers. Of course, it was nice to hear that apart from life, even the tests said that I was an entrepreneur at heart. After completing the program, I read that people earn more money with an MBA, but my salaries fell a little when I got my diploma, but I blame global recession for that, not my newly acquired knowledge. I sold my company Heraklea and now I run another company Zaokret where I educate small business entrepreneurs and organize Business Cafe networking events for them.
Larisa Živković Regional director for SEE JADRAN GALENSKI LABORATORIJ Croatia Executive MBA / 2006
COTRUGLI Business School is a driver of change! I am a pharmacist and I have been working in a young and perspective Croatian pharmaceutical company. My responsibility increased every year and in 2006, I was promoted to a Director of the Croatian market. The company has highly skilled personnel because we believe that education and everyday learning is a priority for further development and achieving goals. At JGL, the phrase “Knowledge is Power” is taken very seriously. Business environment which we are a part of is more and more challenging, more competitive and fast changing. Besides professional knowledge, managers must acquire wider knowledge and skills to get an ability to execute all strategic activities. Few years ago my CEO decided to send me to COTRUGLI Business School to enhance my knowledge and to improve my managerial skills. Before that I completed various training courses, but only at COTRUGLI Business School did I get a chance to meet the real world-class lecturers, acquire practical and appropriate knowledge and make the best of networking. Flexible scheduling of modules gave us the freedom to plan time and this part was no less important for my family and me. After completing Executive MBA program at COTRUGLI Business School, I became JGL’s regional director for SE Europe. Excellent COTRUGLI regional networking helps leaders meet other proactive, high qualified, self-confident and socially aware people in an open communication who can push the boundaries and encourage the development and growth of this region.
I was delighted to meet real world-class lecturers, acquire practical and appropriate knowledge and make the best of networking. Flexible scheduling of modules gave us the freedom to plan time and this part was no less important for my family and me. 49
Lejla BrÄ?aninović PR Director PRIME COMMUNICATIONS Bosnia & Herzegovina MBA / 2010
After my working experience in media and several years at the PRIME Communications PR agency as a PR Director, I wanted to expand my knowledge in economics, management and leadership, because I felt that with new skills and experience I would be able to better understand the needs of my clients. MBA program of COTRUGLI Business School met my demands so I instantly decided to start this challenging and educational adventure. Although my expectations were very high, the experience and knowledge that I gained with this MBA program exceeded my expectations. And today, after this special experience, nothing is the same and this form of education changed my business views completely. Besides new skills and competences in various business segments, MBA taught me to set the right goals and to achieve them very quickly and without obstacles. The greatest advantage of MBA for me was meeting and working with colleagues from my generation, what gave me the opportunity to exchange experiences and opinions and it was a real pleasure to learn from them. Working together with ambitious and capable young professionals from different sectors and countries on cases and business plans helped me to acquire a broad spectrum of knowledge. Although sometimes it was difficult to bal-
Besides new skills and competences in various business segments, MBA taught me to set the right goals and to achieve them very quickly and without obstacles. 50
ance between business commitments, traveling to lectures in different cities, studying for exams and following each lecture, it was worth it, because it influenced my professional and personal development. What is certain is that, I will remember this MBA experience because it directed me in the right way and I believe that I acquired knowledge and friendships that will play an important role in my future career. For those who are ready for a change and have the ambition to achieve more than average, I recommend an MBA, because I believe that this is a life changing experience.
Lora Čurković CEO SEDAM IT Croatia Executive MBA / 2007
A very close friend of mine came to me and told me: „Hey Lora, I am going to enrol COTRUGLI Business School! Come on; let us go together to the Executive MBA program! We are going to have fun!“ So, I did it! Did my friend lie regarding the fun part? Absolutely NOT! It has been more than three years since we finished the program and I still miss it a lot! Great colleagues, great lecturers, great program! COTRUGLI made me rethink myself, my career, who I am in general and what I need to change about myself in order to perform better and to be better – as a person at work, and as a person in general. We worked in teams, we brainstormed, we argued and we delivered together! I miss that a lot! During the time when I was an Executive MBA participant it was not always easy to balance between my family, my work and the school. But I did my job; I went one small step at the time and just kept on going. I synchronized my „to do list“ – privately and professionally, because we worked in a team and I did not want to let other team members down. And as the time went by I started realizing that they are not just my team members, but real friends. I am in touch with them regardless of COTRUGLI, I ask them for help, for opinion of any kind, or we just go for a drink or two and discuss almost everything. This is the most valuable thing that I have taken from COTRUGLI and the fact that we are done with the program cannot change that. Today, I am the President of the Board of an IT company and I am absolutely sure that without COTRUGLI I would not be there and able to do the work that I like a lot. Every day I have to work in a team, brainstorm, argue, deliver solutions or make decisions – it is fun, but COTRUGLI taught me how to do it and how to perform better. I am so happy and proud of the fact that I had an opportunity to be among all these intelligent and successful people who shall always be the best part of my COTRUGLI Business School experience!
Great colleagues, great lecturers, great program! COTRUGLI made me rethink myself, my career, who I am in general and what do I need to change within myself in order to perform better and to be better – as a person at work, and as a person in general. 51
Maja Petkovska Program Manager, Certified Performance Technologist WORLD LEARNING Macedonia MBA / 2009
I once said that the COTRUGLI journey is worth taking for every person that wants to broaden his/her horizons in the world of business. When I decided that my know-how in performance improvement was ready to be upgraded, the only logical way to proceed was through business education, a program that would allow me to share my experience with lecturers and study fellows and enrich it by learning from their experiences. The COTRUGLI Business School MBA program matched my criteria. Hence, I hopped on! My Macedonian MBA Dream Team was the first win for me! The mixture of our different backgrounds and areas of practice from the very beginning promised great learning experience. Merged with the international group of participants and well-selected lecturers, the wins continued counting: the journey transformed into a very dynamic experiential learning; the network expanded; the friendships grew stronger and are to stay for life. The greatest win of all was that what I learnt globally – thanks to the outstanding lecturers and quick-witted participants in the program, I could apply locally. The best practice I took away from the program is one of the most valuable tools in my consulting work with the organizations at home and internation-
The greatest win of all was that what I learnt globally – thanks to the outstanding lecturers and quick-witted participants on the program, I could apply locally. 52
ally. And this is not a personal gain only, but it is more like a snow ball effect - my work impacts the work of individuals and organizations, which by improving their performance improve the mega systems, the societies, in which they operate. Next generations, if you are reading this: do not hesitate, join us! The MBA program at COTRUGLI Business School is an appealing journey! It will, for sure, influence you, your closest environment and the world in which you live and work.
Mario Martinek
Director LOGSYS/BIJELI SVIJET (WHITE WORLD) Croatia Executive MBA / 2010
My own experience confirms that COTRUGLI serves as a kind of incubator for developing companies and a meeting point for ambitious and proactive people. After completing EMBA program, I started two different projects with the colleagues I met at the program. Today, these two companies have been successfully operating for three years. The first project is Logsys, a unique company specialized in logistics, transportation and distribution, management and optimization of business processes. The Company offers storage capacities in the free zone of the port of Rijeka, which is ideal for a regional logistics center. Our clients are companies engaged in distribution of goods, and they use the warehouse as a regional center where they can work on finishing the goods. We started the company after having spent a lot of time and effort in the business plan development during the program, but all the hard work paid off once the company was up and running. Another project is the White World (Bijeli Svijet), a company specializing in furnishing hotels and restaurants. In Croatia, the company operates as a strategic partner to the world’s leading white goods manufacturer, the American Whirlpool. We are very proud of the success the company has achieved in just a few years, fully equipping more than 50 restaurants and hotels in Croatia. As I said, I see COTRUGLI as a catalyst and a driver of change; the School can truly help develop a network of top leaders in corporate and public sector. In the end, it is only high qualified, self-confident and socially aware leaders that can lead the country and create an environment which supports the development and growth of competitive, financially stable companies, which the society greatly needs.
We started the company after having spent a lot of time and effort in the business plan development during the program, but all the hard work paid off once the company was up and running. 53
Marko Sekulić Product Manager NOVO NORDISK Serbia Executive MBA / 2010
Having worked in a marketing department of an international company for a decade I had an opportunity to develop and master many skills necessary for running a successful business. Nevertheless, the office organization does not give the opportunity for job rotations or other projects which would enable me to broaden my views and get insight in different business perspectives such as HR, financial or operations management. Getting a broader picture was my expectation back a few years ago when I decided to attend a business school. The Executive MBA program enabled me to make a more thorough and systematic approach to many problems I am facing in everyday work. COTRUGLI Business School also gave me the opportunity to connect with colleagues from different business areas
To my surprise, my classmates were not stuffy, serious businessmen but young, interesting and innovative people who made this kind of education interesting and creative. 54
and different countries and exchange views and experiences. Yet, it cherishes individuality so it enabled me to develop my own business profile. To my surprise, my classmates were not stuffy, serious businessmen, but young, interesting and innovative people who made this kind of education interesting and creative. I would like to believe that I am more successful and productive now and that I do add more value to my team. What is more, I am enriched with new friends and colleagues.
Matej Golob Business Unit Manager for IBM Software INTEREXPORT Slovenia Executive MBA / 2008
It all began with my blog. I write about restaurants and people I have lunch with (Bloglunch.net). It so happened that I ended up on a mailing list of an interesting person that I had met over lunch and had written about. Through that mailing list I received a notification about a certain MBA Scholarship contest. I like competition, so I applied. It was of course by now already well-known COTRUGLI MBA Scholarship contest. I did my best and was as a finalist given a scholarship offer. At the same time my employer IBM also gave me an offer for an IBM MBA program at Warwick. I decided I wanted to spend more time outside IT and be exposed to views from different industries. I decided for COTRUGLI. While I enjoyed the journey and hard work with colleagues immensely, it also forced me into stringent discipline and strong focus on work-life-study balance. Positive side effect was new ability to do a lot more then previously thought possible. Influenced by the usage of TED Talks – of which I had already been a huge fan - in the MBA program, I decided to join TEDxLjubljana team. We organized many successful events, including TEDxCOTRUGLI Business School. Being equipped with new MBA knowledge and drive, I established a company and built my first solar power plant. Within IBM, I shifted my conversations to C-level (CFO, CMO, CRO and CEO). Soon I was offered to lead a Business Unit outside IBM with a focus on developing business in solution areas and with stakeholders where IBM is posed to grow in the future - most of it outside IT. After graduation, I am still very much connected and active in COTRUGLI Alumni. I keep meeting new colleagues, have lunch with them and write about them. It all began with my blog and also through my blog COTRUGLI will remain an important part of my life.
Being equipped with new MBA knowledge and drive, I established a company and built my first solar power plant. 55
Mateja Krpić
Business Development Manager CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES Croatia Executive MBA / 2009
My decision to continue education with the post-graduate program was initiated by a desire to continue developing myself, both professionally and personally. After examining the opportunities in Croatia and the region, the decision to enrol the COTRUGLI Executive MBA program was made after attending the Experience MBA module. By attending one Executive MBA module I was
COTRUGLI EMBA program fulfilled my expectations not only because I got to gain new knowledge, listen to the excellent lecturers and attend interesting classes, but it also provided me with the opportunity to work in a team, motivation and amazing experience my EMBA colleagues shared with me. 56
given the opportunity to understand how a typical lecture day for a COTRUGLI participant looks like, join the group work, discuss with colleagues and take the final exam. The shift in my professional career occurred both at the beginning of the MBA when I accepted the position on Nova TV and also after finishing the MBA when i moved to a central position with Central European Media Enterprises, the owner of Nova TV. COTRUGLI EMBA program fulfilled my expectations not only because I got to gain new knowledge, listen to the excellent lecturers and attend interesting classes, but it also provided me with the opportunity to work in a team, motivation and amazing experience my EMBA colleagues shared with me. The knowledge I gained was not only academic, but I also learned a great deal about myself through modules like Personal Development and Business Communication, which helped me refine my management skills and enrich collaboration with colleagues from various business backgrounds.
Matija Nakić Business Sales Manager HT ERONET Bosnia and Herzegovina MBA / 2009
After I had graduated from college, I soon realized that no matter which industry you are in, you need to know the basics of the business in order to advance. Reading about various postgraduate programmes, it seemed to me that an MBA would be the best way to “get the bigger picture” and catalyze this process enormously. Aside from a powerful life experience, the MBA degree should supply three main value propositions: Skills, Networking, and Brand. One day, I accidently stumbled upon COTRUGLI MBA program. Since that day, my life and my career took a whole new direction. I was given the opportunity to meet motivated and knowledgeable young people, to listen the lectures of world’s finest business lecturers, to learn and evolve both personally and professionally, and last but not least, to have wild parties with our so called “hard core crew”. Once you join COTRUGLI, you become a part of a group of people who share your thoughts, your experiences and your background. The power that this network wields and the advantage of the same is enormous! Job, career, academic know-how – you may be stuck on any conundrum, and summon help from a worldwide association simply by an email or a phone call. And this fabric is one of the strongest that I have witnessed till date, and I am sure that no query addressed to this group has gone unanswered. Finally, the best thing about an MBA is that it muscles up your personality. An MBA course is a hotbed of activities where the participants are constantly goaded to deliver. These are make or break conditions – you either shape up or ship out. But besides competing, you learn how to co-operate with different personalities, you learn how to lead and follow, as well as how to win and lose with dignity (although that has never stopped us from doing the victory dance, after winning in basically anything). If all of this is not enough reason for you to sign up, please give the brochure to the person you think has the best potential of becoming an MBA.
The best thing about an MBA is that it muscles up your personality. These are make or break conditions – you either shape up or ship out. 57
Milica Labus
Business Development Manager BELOX ADVISORY SERVICES Serbia Executive MBA / 2009
I received my Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics at the Faculty of Mathematics, University of Belgrade and Master’s degree in Computer Science at Stanford University, USA. From the beginning of my career, I occupied a managerial position – first as a Project/Product Manager, later as Operations and Business Development Director in a local software development company. At the time of COTRUGLI Business School enrolment, I was working as a Business Development / Sales Manager in Comtrade. After seven years of managerial working experience, I obtained a lot of knowledge and developed skills, but still, I remained with a strong ambition for more advanced professional excellence. I wanted to have structural knowledge in all managerial disciplines, particularly in finance, marketing and strategic planning. I chose COTRUGLI Business School to continue education because of excellent balance between theory and practical knowledge, admirable lecturers and superb networking opportunities in Serbia and in the Region. COTRUGLI Executive MBA program gives you new knowledge that can be applied in everyday work, gives you new perspectives, inspires you, and it opens your mind towards new opportunities.
I chose COTRUGLI Business School to continue education because of excellent balance between theory and practical knowledge, admirable lecturers and superb networking opportunities in Serbia and in the Region. 58
It provides you with the possibility to speak with top of the class managers from various industries, and to learn from their success stories. On the other side, COTRUGLI Business School provides you with the opportunity for extensive personal and leadership development. Today, I am a Business Development Manager at Siemens Serbia, in charge of business with FIAT and the City of Belgrade, and I am looking forward to further personal and business challenges. COTRUGLI EMBA was, and still is through alumni program, an extraordinary and invaluable experience!
Mirjana Rosić Category Management, spv. IMLEK Serbia Executive MBA / 2008
Category Management is a formal authority within a privately held organization that is driven by profit and operates in a highly competitive environment. My studying at COTRUGLI is at its heart about giving meaning to my life beyond my own ambition. By clarifying my priorities I have subordinated some of my valued purposes for a while. Leadership means spiritualism and orientation to people, and this is what COTRUGLI fosters. By accumulating a track record of success, fostering mutually beneficial relationships, modeling reliability, exchanging favors and support with others, scoring early wins, addressing interests unconnected to the challenge and selling small pieces of the idea, I mobilize stakeholders to engage in my initiative. My colleagues see me not as a threat but as part of a larger system in which I carry a mixed load of heavy expectations. Seeing them in all complexity enables me to expand my range of options to work and deal with them. I am challenging them, negotiate with them, and leverage their powers in the service of progressive change. Like individuals, organizations have numerous commitments, which sometimes come into conflict. Win – win solutions are ideal, but not common with strategic choices. Right now we are changing the cohesive properties of relationships and a system agreed upon rules, procedures and norms and contain and I am facing complex realities. Building the tolerance for disorder, ambiguity and tension is particularly important in leading adaptive change. COTRUGLI is valuable to me because leading adaptive change would have been immeasurably more difficult if I had tried doing it alone. Each colleague at School has relationships, allegiances, and political capital with people in other organizations whose support I may need to make further progress.
Leadership means spiritualism and orientation to people, and this is what COTRUGLI fosters. 59
Narves Behlilović BOSN I A & H ERZ EGOV I NA MBA / 2010
My professional career started in an Insurance company. As a young telecommunication engineer I worked in IT department and, at first, had only a few assignments. Gaining more and more knowledge, day by day, meant raising complexity and quantity of my assignments. In less than one year, my knowledge of IT was not any more sufficient for me to do my job properly. I needed more knowledge and more skills to understand the environment, assignments, and deal with them the way I wanted. During my studies, I noticed that people worldwide who are successful in business, leaders, as a rule, combine different kinds of knowledge in order to achieve their standings. This led me into search for the knowledge, which makes difference between leaders and followers. It was easy to find a common denominator – an MBA study. My choice was COTRUGLI Business School, for several reasons, and today I know it was a correct one. Meanwhile, I got a managerial position in the leading IT company in region - InfoDom Group. Time spent at COTRUGLI Business School, surrounded by young and ambitious individuals, professionals, from different backgrounds, discussing our everyday situations, was irreplaceable. A lot of experience and knowledge transmitted to us, from our lecturers, enlightened us and created desire for self-improvement, showing us the way to achieve it. After the process of
This led me into search for the knowledge, which makes difference between leaders and followers. It was easy to find a common denominator – an MBA study. 60
“COTRUGLIzation”, by becoming a member of COTRUGLI Alumni Club, one has a perfect base of contacts for further self-development in business and life. COTRUGLI MBA program changed my life in a positive way and I see it as a very important part of me today. If you feel you need to speed up your life and business, in order to learn and achieve more, you have found the right way to do it – at COTRUGLI Business School.
Nataša Stojanović
ICT Manager for Serbia and Croatia UJEDINJENE SRPSKE PIVARE (MEMBER OD HEINEKEN GROUP) Serbia Executive MBA / 2010
Already early in my life, I knew what general direction I wanted my professional career to take. Information and Communications Technology appealed to me in various areas and on various grounds. One such factor is the strong presence of change dynamics. ICT never “is”, rather we find it is always “evolving into”. Similarly, I experienced how my choice of challenges evolved during the last decade from a technological focus into the managerial challenge. Our industry needs both: skilled, experienced experts, working both with and on technology, as well as those whose focus is to work with the people: colleagues, customers and business partners. My university background as an engineer was a suiting basis for my career launch. But I felt it did not sufficiently fuel my skills for the new challenge I chose, which was managing a highly diverse, multi-national team of skilled specialists in a competitive industry, where ICT is the most tangible of all supportive business processes. Furthermore, one has to reckon that in a mature, highly competitive industry, exists a strong risk when choosing to evolve managerial or leadership skills through experience alone: time is lost on making the right, often crucial decisions. Here is where the EMBA program of COTRUGLI Business School made the difference for me: unlike any other program I evaluated, COTRUGLI is focusing on that perfect blend of knowledge I was convinced I needed for my next career step to be successful for myself and the company. Through new insights and fine-tuned skills, and by opening doors into a vast network of similarly motivated colleagues from many industries, COTRUGLI’S EMBA program has truly left me ready to face tomorrow’s challenges, confidently.
Through new insights and fine-tuned skills, and by opening doors into a vast network of similarly motivated colleagues from many industries, COTRUGLI’S EMBA program has truly left me ready to face tomorrow’s challenges, confidently. 61
Nejc KlopÄ?iÄ?
Business Development Manager DASSAULT SYSTEMS AUSTRIA Slovenia MBA / 2009
My first job after completing the university was that of a product designer. Having graduated from mechanical engineering and being driven by the passion of designing new products, I thought that I possessed all the skills necessary to achieve my career goals. However, as I became more ambitious and moved into the business development, I realized that I lacked managerial and soft skills necessary to succeed at the highest level. All of a sudden, my daily tasks and people interaction became too challenging and I soon made the decision to pursue an MBA degree. COTRUGLI Business School and its MBA program seemed a perfect fit for my needs. I enrolled in the program in 2009, after winning the scholarship. Today, I am happy to see how positively MBA has influenced my professional (and personal) life. The knowledge and skills that
The knowledge and skills that I gained at COTRUGLI have had a transformational effect on my performance, while the business network that I built during the program has opened new doors and new professional opportunities. 62
I gained at COTRUGLI have had a transformational effect on my performance, while the business network that I built during the program has opened new doors and new professional opportunities. At the same time, many of my COTRUGLI colleagues became my close friends. I firmly believe that people who want to prosper should strive to improve themselves through continuous and life-long learning. The society, on the other hand, needs people with fresh ideas and proper skill set to lead and manage companies that will be able to compete on a global level. For such people, COTRUGLI Business School is a unique opportunity to gain new knowledge and competencies, and build a network that will push their careers to the next level.
Petko Karamotchev
Managing Partner MERAR INVESTMENT NETWORK Bulgaria Executive MBA / 2007
To be completely honest with you, it appears that I am kind of addicted to COTRUGLI Business School. I am surrounded by the COTRUGLI brand name! My partners in the company are participating in the program; the angel investor who put money in our web-development business completed his Executive MBA program at COTRUGLI, not to mention the fantastic client relationships we established with other participants in the program. To those who ask me, is it really worth investing in the COTRUGLI Executive MBA, I can tell that I managed to double, even triple every cent I put in the program. And it is not just the fantastic contacts. It is a combination of knowledge you receive and a network you create by establishing relationship with professionals from all over the region. Therefore, it should not sound strange that the project I am currently working on (Merar Investment Network: www.merar. com) is inspired very much from what I learned in the COTRUGLI program. As a network, we want to open new doors for starters and entrepreneurs from all over the world and especially from the emerging markets. This is also what the COTRUGLI Business School program is about – broadening the horizons for businesses and the creative minds.
To those who ask me, is it really worth investing in the COTRUGLI Executive MBA, I can tell that I managed to double, even triple every cent I put in the program. 63
Predrag Bojović Sales Director STRAUSS ADRIATIC Serbia Executive MBA / 2008
During my business career that lasts for more than 16 years, I have worked in sales management and construction. In the first 10 years my main scope was field work (on my own or with smaller teams) without any obligation to take care of many business parameters. I did not know anything about finance, accounting, operations. At that time I did not think about improving my knowledge except in my narrow business scope. But then I joined Centroproizvod as the Sales Director. For the first time in my life I ran a team of more than 130 people. I managed different sales channels, markets, products. I was also in charge of transport and logistics. As the Sales Director I was a member of the Board of Directors. I was deeply involved in R&D, production processes, marketing, pricing, financial analysis. I soon realized that I would need to further develop myself regarding different business disciplines. Then I saw the advertisement for COTRUGLI Business School. I did not know anything about MBA or Executive MBA. I went to see the presentation, consulted with colleagues of mine and made a decision – to join the first COTRUGLI Executive MBA generation in Belgrade. From this point, I can say that COTRUGLI helped me a lot in would. EMBA gives you the opportunity to learn new things and to refresh some knowledge that you already gained in the past from official education or from experience. In my opinion, the most important asset of COTRUGLI Business School is networking. During the three years I met many bright
From this point I can say that COTRUGLI helped me a lot in both personal and business development. 64
young women and men from the region, already very successful in their businesses. This assured me that there is a bright future in front of us. Many of them will become leaders in business and politics in the next several years. I am very proud that I am a part of this change. I am sure that I will cooperate with some of my colleagues in the future.
Predrag Rađenović Brand Manager JAFFA Serbia Executive MBA / 2010
Already at the moment I graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Belgrade’s University, I knew that I would be going after an MBA. It is just that I did not know it was going to be that good! Six years in one of the largest Multinational Corporations in the world, made me brave enough to apply for a COTRUGLI scholarship process in the spring of 2010. After an exhausting day, I felt satisfied just for the fact that it was finally over. Later on, this feeling followed me throughout classes and exams. But hard work, strong will, and smart moves is what makes a professional brilliant. It is what makes a person eager to compete – with his surrounding, with job challenges, with himself! And then you get to COTRUGLI – you learn from great lecturers, you learn from your colleagues from industries you were not even aware existed, you learn from scripts, PowerPoints, Excels, internet, books… You learn and you grow, and you can really feel it! In one sentence - it is an experience for people who are always looking for the best in their lives, daring to look around and give a positive answer to a simple question: “Is it really possible?” And it is not just about experience, it is not just about knowledge and opportunities that you unfold, and it is not just about sacrifice. It is also about enlightening new horizons – for yourself and your own family as well. Before COTRUGLI I knew that MBA was a good idea. Now I know it is a great one, as well as I know that COTRUGLI made it that way.
And it’s not just about experience, it’s not just about knowledge and opportunities that you unfold, and it’s not just about sacrifice. It is also about enlightening new horizons – for yourself and your own family as well. 65
Rašeljka Maras Founder MERITOR MEDIA Croatia Executive MBA / 2009
When, almost ten years ago, I decided to start Meritor Media, I could not even dream where it was going to lead me. I simply wanted to do the job I liked and be surrounded with people I wanted to work with. On the way to success, luck had an important role. And today, I can see that I had a lot of luck, incredible courage – and, maybe I was sometimes just plain crazy. Today I believe that when a young person of 23 starts her own company she does not actually have much more than these characteristics – luck, courage, craziness and, of course, some theoretical knowledge gained during the faculty years. When I found a strategic partner in a global company three and a half years ago and became a minor owner of Meritor Media, I realized it was time for me to add some serious business education to my experience, luck, courage and hundreds of books I had read. I decided to enroll COTRUGLI EMBA, because I knew that my previous experience would be useful in the process of learning, but also that learning would be essential for my future growth. After eight years of running a company of my own, developing my business, finding a strategic partner, I believe I chose the right moment and the right school to continue my education.
After eight years of running a company of my own, developing my business, finding a strategic partner, I believe I chose the right moment and the right school to continue my education. 66
With COTRUGLI EMBA I have climbed a step further in my professional as well as private development. I have secured additional knowledge and development but, what is most important, a great number of high quality people, colleagues with whom I share good and bad in our mutual path towards learning new business disciplines. That was certainly one of my best decisions, and I can already feel the results. The knowledge I acquired can be used immediately in my work and the result is a continuous growth of the company I lead. Do I need more proof that the decision to enroll COTRUGLI EMBA was the right one?
Renata Brkić CEO and Owner ULTRA LINK Croatia Executive MBA / 2006
After fifteen years of experience in corporate management, at the age of 37, I decided to start my own business and at the same time enrol in COTRUGLI Executive MBA program. The modules themselves rounded up nicely everything that I had already learnt and experienced at work. They also opened new horizons and equipped me with necessary knowledge in the areas that were not my first fields, such as Accounting and Finance. However, the most valuable asset for me as a fresh entrepreneur was the world of networking that was opened once I became a member of COTRUGLI family. I was able to get to know at the spot a community of 100 top managers from different business sectors in Croatia and abroad. This gave a great start up wind to my new business. I also gained the consciousness and confidence to establish the right balance between private and business life thanks to the excellent Personal Development module ran by Prof. Mike George. It resulted in a great situation where, in addition to my own business and the COTRUGLI EMBA diploma, I also ended up with having a third child that is for me the most valuable asset gained from this period of life.
The most valuable asset for me as a fresh entrepreneur, however, was the world of networking that was opened once I became a member of COTRUGLI family. 67
Saša Spasić Country Manager ABBOTT Serbia Executive MBA / 2008
I must admit that I have never had any opinion about MBA programs or, better to say any positive opinion. I graduated at the Medical School at the University of Belgrade, and very soon started to work for different pharmaceutical companies. For the last 7 years, I have been working in one of the largest MNCs in the World, Abbott Laboratories as a Country Manager covering Serbia, Montenegro and FYR Macedonia. After 5 years, the company offered me to take an MBA and at the first moment I was scared and thought “Am I so bad?”. Despite that, I went to the interview at COTRUGLI Business School and after couple of days I said to myself: “O.k., let’s try it.” From the very beginning, I liked the fact that I met a lot of new
Lectures and lecturers that held them made it even more interesting, especially because nobody had any intention to teach you something - it was obvious that their intention was to open the window of opportunities for us. 68
people from different industries, as up till then, I had had contacts mainly with the people coming from pharmaceutical business. Later, as the time was passing by, lectures and lecturers that held them made it even more interesting, especially because nobody had any intention to teach you something - it was obvious that their intention was to open the window of opportunities for us. Everything else was up to us to learn more of finance, marketing, sales, HR, etc. That is why I think COTRUGLI Business School concept is great and I would like to recommend it to anybody who is willing to try something new and benefit from it.
Siniša Tutuš
Managing Partner DATA OUTSOURCING CENTRE Serbia MBA / 2009
MBA program at COTRUGLI Business School has had a major impact on my career by giving me the skills, tools and resources to exceed my own expectations and achievements. The MBA project of my group was archive management and Data Outsourcing Centre company. In just one year of operations in Serbia, the Data Outsourcing Centre became a recognizable company in the field of archive management. Besides the knowledge and skills that were the result of this success, COTRUGLI Business School has given me the opportunity to explore new possibilities, therefore, thanks to networking at COTRUGLI Business School – the Data Outsourcing Centre expanded into the Macedonian market. The School has allowed me access a network of distinguished professionals and the alumni club that regularly helped me in my career. Although admitted, canceling the MIB - and the Aston Business School - Birmingham, and choosing MBA at COTRUGLI Business School - is definitely one of the best decisions I have ever made. Starting the MBA program at the COTRUGLI Business School, I harbored extremely high expectations, but at that time I had no idea how much experience would exceed that expectations.
The School has allowed me access a network of distinguished professionals and the alumni club that regularly helped me in my career. 69
Snježana Melnik Vallant
Regional Director RAIFFEISEN STAMBENA ŠTEDIONICA (RAIFFEISEN BUILDING SOCIETY) Croatia Executive MBA / 2005
Being on a position in Raiffeisen Building Society as a leader of the sales department, I had a great desire to upgrade my knowledge. Trying to find a good combination of a challenging multicultural environment supported by excellent teams of lecturers, my search brought me to COTRUGLI Business School. And, as a known Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said »A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step», my journey to world-changing knowledge and experience did start easily. During the time spent in COTRUGLI Business School, where lifetime friendships and business connection were made, I confirmed the basic rule that we all know - the world was biult on relationships between human beings. Learning from COTRUGLI lecturers and participant colleagues, I started to look at things from differ-
This step made me the most successful director in my company, not just in terms of results but also in terms of managing very difficult situations full of conflicts in knowledgeable and assertive way. 70
ent perspectives. As a result, I began to change relations with my working colleagues and to implement successfully new instruments of my personal leadership methods. This step made me the most successful director in my company, not just in terms of results but also in terms of managing very difficult situations full of conflicts in knowledgeable and assertive way. Furthermore, I was given the tools to look differently on the future strategy of my company. This made me more confident to contribute with very fruitful ideas to the management board and owners. In the end, I am very thankful to have COTRUGLI educational experience, which empowered my strengths as an activator.
Stela Stefanova Regional Sales Consultant ADECCO BULGARIA Bulgaria MBA / 2008
I have always shared the opinion that every successful person should develop simultaneously not only proficiency in his/her work and personal skills, but also should seek constant knowledge and development. What I missed most at the time when applying for MBA at COTRUGLI Business School was definitely international exposure and networking with successful people from Bulgaria and the region. At the beginning, this was what I expected from the MBA program. But later, I got much more! I met people who have the skills and knowledge to drive change and, what is most important, - dare to try and realize their ideas and dreams. I gained knowledge and different, fresh perspective of business, which I applied directly in my work. I had the chance to have open communication and free networking with people from some of the leading companies in the region. When I enrolled in the MBA program, I was a Key Account Specialist in a telecommunication company in Bulgaria. As the modules passed one after the other, my managers assigned me with more responsibilities – to lead important projects and take part in creating company strategy for development. Now, I am a Sales Specialist at Adecco Bulgaria, part of Adecco S.A. and I am responsible for half of the country market. What happened to me in the past few years was exactly what I wanted – gaining new knowledge, together with career development! I will always remember one quotation from my commencement day: “This is just the beginning, fellows”, which keeps on reminding me of the priceless moments during my MBA. I believe that the decision to enroll in this program was one of the best I have made. This is a great landmark not just in my career, but in my development as a person and a specialist. What I got from the program is something which cannot be described, it should be experienced!
What happened to me in the past few years was exactly what I wanted – gaining new knowledge, together with career development! 71
Tamara Šišić Kramer
Sales&Marketing Director and Partner KRAMER IN KRAMER (NUPO CEE) Slovenia Executive MBA / 2009
I grew up in a family that owned a business and I had a passion for entrepreneurship from the early years. But circumstances led me to pharmaceutical industry where I grew as a person and a manager, working at the time as a Product Manager for weight loss drug on prescription. I realized that if I wanted to evolve into a leader who was versatile and possessed wide range of knowledge, I had to enroll in the Executive MBA program. I applied for a scholarship and won in a very tough competition of 50 finalists. My expectations in life are very high and I want that the foundation for my future business is to live the passion, make profits while doing something good and valuable for the world. And I felt that COTRUGLI is a part of my journey, which I just wanted to experience. And the journey it was, I must say. It is always nice to be introduced to new concepts and theories, but what to do with a theory if you do not put it in practice? And we did exactly that, through case studies and sharing experience of different industries we expanded our horizons and obtained broad view of the things. Knowledge that is priceless! But foremost, the jackpot that we won was through networking that led us towards the changes and improvements in life of each one of us. For me, this was the push I needed to wake up and smell the coffee and make a bold step in my entrepreneurial path. Together with my husband I created a company that is an exclusive distributor for CEE region of Nupo, food for special medical purposes for weight loss, which is scientifically world’s most documented nutrition used in a very low calorie diet. The main driver for my company was to create value for our customers, not just with a product, but with an entire service, so that each time our customers comes in contact with Nupo brand, it changes
For me this was the push I needed to wake up and smell the coffee and make a bold step in my entrepreneurial path. 72
their lives in a small way. I am a social entrepreneur by soul and doing business this way brought happiness in my life bcause I am true to myself and I do something good and valuable for the world. But without ‘guts’ I would not be where I am now, as Richard Branson says: “The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all!”
Tatjana Ransom Management consultant FREE LANCE Croatia Executive MBA / 2007
My curiosity and a strong desire for continuous learning and personal development brought me from my medical doctor career to different management positions in pharmaceutical industry, which was always the industry that I enjoyed a lot because it allowed me to mix my medical, business and multilingual knowledge. Through the years I was changing and growing with the experience of sales and marketing gathered in multinational and local pharma and medical device companies. However, there was always an inner voice that kept telling me that I could do something more to improve my business competencies, to learn the best practices from different areas, to share experience, to open new perspectives. It was then that I applied for the Executive MBA program. I chose COTRUGLI Business School because their team radiated a kind of enthusiastic energy with very positive attitude that grabbed my attention and I felt that we had a few things in common, like ambition and desire for continuous improvement. The two-years program made huge changes for me: it improved my competencies in people management, reinforced self-confidence in decision making and brought new cognitions in hard skills area. When I enrolled in the Executive MBA program I was a regional manager in a well-known multinational FMCG company. Today, I am a free-lance management consultant in a health care business where I am helping managers to develop more effective ways in achieving their business results. In a way I can thank COTRUGLI Business School for bringing added value to my previous knowledge and experience and that is what my clients now easily recognize. The very well organized Executive MBA program also offered high-quality networking, and, regardless of my dynamic business path, it always allowed me to find time for my private life, travelling, sport and argentine tango.
The two-years program made huge changes for me: improved my competencies in people management, reinforced self-confidence in decision making and brought new cognitions in hard skills area. 73
Tomislav Đuričin
CEO, BIO-ZRNO Advisor & Project Manager for investments and funding, BIOVEGA Croatia Executive MBA / 2007
I believe that learning is a process that never ends, and that permanent education and improvement of business skills, as well as personal development, are a must for a businessman. That is why after graduating from the University, I continued my training through numerous seminars and workshops. One of my wishes was to attend the MBA since it provides a wide spectrum of knowledge and skills necessary for successful implementation of business processes, and leadership skills. Apart from professional advancement, this type of education also provides a possibility of personal development – nowadays a very important dimension in the business world. While I was considering business school options, I consulted my friends and colleagues. Most of them recommended COTRUGLI since its concept and reputable lecturers can be compared with famous business schools abroad. Each and every lecturer was there for us - giving a lot, but at the same time being really demanding at modules and workshops. Practical work was extremely valuable since case studies provided us with a new perspective. I believe that this is another quality of this school. Networking is an additional special feature of COTRUGLI. Exchange of knowledge and experiences with colleagues working in different sectors of business is a valuable source of information. What is more important is that we have continued our cooperation after graduating.
Each and every lecturer was there for us - giving a lot, but at the same time being really demanding at modules and workshops. 74
Immediately after graduating, I decided to join a company owned by a colleague of mine from COTRUGLI. She believed that my competencies could be beneficial to her company, and since this job offer was in a new and developing business sector, I decided to accept the challenge. Soon after joining the company,I was in charge of a successful acquisition of another company, and today I am managing it.
Tomislav Šarec
Systems Analyst CENTRAL DEPOSITORY & CLEARING COMPANY INC. Croatia MBA / 2009
I have always been a very curious person, eager to learn new things and develop new skills, challenging myself to push the limits and boundaries of what I can achieve. After my graduation, I started to work in a company specialized in capital markets, which introduced me to economics and expanded my previous, mostly technical knowledge. I wanted more and always thought about taking an MBA program someday. Having heard about a new school which was giving an opportunity to become a graduate by participating in national scholarship program, I immediately knew what I had to do. I thought that the selection process would be hard but I was wrong – it was even worse. It pushed the person to its limits, demanding the last resorts of strength, will and determination. The funny thing was that at the end of a strenuous day, even with empty stomachs, nobody was hungry and nobody was complaining either. Only happy faces could be seen, together with people shaking hands and exchanging new ‘war stories’. By winning the scholarship, I became a lifelong member of the COTRUGLI family. It was not easy to spend a year and a half on studying and travelling, and at the same time, to maintain a balance between private life and regular job tasks. But like they say: when there is a will, there is a way. Was it hard? Yes. Would I do it again? Most definitely! I met some wonderful new people, true professionals in their areas of expertise and learned some new things about myself, all thanks to COTRUGLI. I wanted the best, so I got the best. After successful collaboration on several projects with my fellow participants, the biggest challenge yet is to put into life an idea, a company, which was presented as our final business plan. And I think that it will not stop there. I know that it will not stop there…
I met some wonderful new people, true professionals in their areas of expertise and learned some new things about myself, all thanks to COTRUGLI. I wanted the best, so I got the best. 75
Toni Lukanovski HR Director MAKEDONSKI TELEKOM Macedonia Executive MBA / 2008
My experience confirms that COTRUGLI Business School is a unique institution, where successful managers, together with young and strong potentials from the entire Balkan region, develop more challenging careers. The educational model of COTRUGLI Business School provided me with an opportunity to learn from international experts, participate in interactive studies based on the real life situations and use up-to-date top class materials. This method provides excellent opportunity for enhancement of creativity and entrepreneurship. Combined with the extraordinary network of successful people from the whole SEE region, COTRUGLI can be named as the best place for ambitious people - where new ideas are born, developed and new businesses are created. COTRUGLI Business School is creating a network of successful people, strong managers and top leaders in the countries of this region. Being a member of that network is a big benefit for every participant. On a business level, it was the experience that
For me, the COTRUGLI Executive MBA program is a lifetime experience, which has “opened new doors” and provided me with huge opportunities. 76
gave me a lot of practical knowledge and useful ideas. On a personal level, I had the chance to interact with extraordinary group of innovative, talented and intelligent individuals. As a conclusion, during the studies I got excellent professional knowledge upgrade and created unique friendships with other influential managers and leaders from the region. In my profession, it is a huge asset. For me, the COTRUGLI Executive MBA program is a lifetime experience, which has “opened new doors” and provided me with huge opportunities.
Toni Masevski Executive Director STEEL CON. Macedonia Executive MBA / 2010
I can proudly say that I am one of the many examples where COTRUGLI’s Executive MBA had a direct impact on the successful development of a career. I enrolled in COTRUGLI’s EMBA program while working as a Head of the Sales Promotion to SMEs Unit in Ohridska Banka Societe Generale Group. My career in the Macedonian banking industry was in constant growth, triggering hunger for more knowledge, the one that extends beyond the banking business. My intention was to back up my professional experience with an academic background, which was offered by the eminent lecturers at COTRGULI and supported by top and middle management colleagues. Did the COTRUGLI’s Executive MBA program meet my expectations? YES, it was far beyond what I had expected. The COTRUGLI program offers the necessary range of knowledge and skills for a contemporary manager, which enabled me to discover more of my managerial potential during the intensive modules. The exchange of experience with my colleagues and lecturers encouraged me to further consider where I was at the time and where I wanted to be. Furthermore, Executive MBA is a unique opportunity to build a network of current and future business leaders of the South East Europe. I finally made my decision: I wrapped up my seven years of banking career and accepted the challenge to join the ”real sector” of Steel Con, a Macedonian – Dutch Steel Construction and Rebar Production Company. As a part of the Executive Board, I am now in charge of Finance, Strategy, HR, Marketing and Sales, the areas I feel more confident about after completing the COTRUGLI program. Now I have the unique opportunity to put my knowledge into practice. Time will show the progress I will make in my professional career after completing COTRUGLI program as well as the benefits of the unselfish support from a large network of regional business leaders.
Executive MBA is a unique opportunity to build a network of current and future business leaders of the South East Europe. 77
Tsanio Tsanev Manager Business Consulting and Software Solutions MAGIC SOLUTIONS Bulgaria Executive MBA / 2008
I was eager to improve my educational background so I decided to enroll in an MBA program. I found out that COTRUGLI Business School would suit me best. I can say that starting the program was one of the most crucial decisions and actions I have made. In these two unforgettable years I have established very valuable friendships, I improved my managerial and leadership skills and the most important achievement was that I shaped and developed my personality. Throughout the modules, especially the case discussions, I changed my managerial approach towards different aspects of the business environment. I will always keep those wonderful moments during the class sessions where we discussed and analysed cases like we were in a real business situation. The interventions were so close to reality that it motivated me to give the best of me and share it with others. I also improved my communication and presentation skills towards a more interactive and professional manner. This was one of the biggest challenges and I am very proud and pleased with the results. I was engaged from the very beginning of the program and my will to explore and learn increased progressively. I was feeling that all
I can honestly state that the knowledge I obtained and the experience I gained at the School are the most valuable impact on my personality so far. 78
my efforts were reasonable and would be rewarded. When you see the same attitude all around you it increases your readiness to contribute in the name of the team. I can honestly state that the knowledge I obtained and the experience I gained at the School are the most valuable impact on my personality so far. Now I feel more confident and ready to share them to achieve the goal of a better society. Let us all do the same and only then our mission will be completed!
Tsvetomira Tsotsova Investment Manager INNIMMO INVESTMENTS Bulgaria MBA / 2008
COTRUGLI MBA is not about improving your professional skills by upgrading your academic knowledge. It is a platform to exchange knowledge and experience, broaden your network of contacts and challenge your mind and skills to drive positive change in your business environment. The main benefit from my MBA degree is intangible. I have changed my mindset! Since enrolling an MBA at COTRUGLI Business School till now there has been a tremendous progress in my career. When I started my MBA two years ago, I had been working as a financial analyst for almost two years. At that time I felt the need not only to progress in my career but also to become a driver of change for the Bulgarian market. I believed I was able to become one of these change drives with innovative thinking, current concepts and entrepreneurial approach that trigger the development of the markets. And the MBA program became the tool, my lecturers the guides, my MBA fellows - the ones to exchange knowledge and experience with, and my colleagues – the ones to support me in achieving this goal. Of course, the core was hard work. The immediate benefit was I could apply the gained knowledge to my work environment. The long-term benefits are new business opportunities that I discovered thanks to my MBA program, the partnerships I gained and the investments I managed as a result of all the mentioned.
The main benefit from my MBA degree is intangible. I have changed my mindset! 79
Valerija Marić
Assistant Executive Director for Accounting Division HBOR – CROATIAN BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT Croatia Executive MBA / 2008
With 19 years of experience in different businesses like non-profit organizations, telecommunications, hospitality, investments and banking, my professional life was a continuous learning process focused on accounting, controlling and finances. Starting as a basic accountant, my responsibilities increased over time from accounting to controlling and finances by managing these three areas again in different environments: from start-up companies to operational ones, from mergers and acquisitions to legal separations. Still, I had a need to learn more about business, so I joined the COTRUGLI Executive MBA program mostly because of its flexible modular program approach and courses that were held on weekends, which enabled me to attend all the lectures without being absent from work. The two-year program was an intensive, hardworking, but pleasant journey with top-ranked international lecturers, excellent COTRUGLI team professionals and amazing colleagues – managers and entrepreneurs from all over the region. By getting new knowledge from Sales, Marketing, Operations and Strategy Management I have definitely gained a new dimension of my professional development but I believe I’ve benefited the most in the areas of self-awareness, self-understanding and self-management for which I have to thank lecturers like Mike George, Marijo Bos, Ivica Vrančić and many others.
By learning to manage myself, I have improved my management with all other resources more effectively, accurately and with better creativity. 80
By learning to manage myself, I have improved my management with all other resources more effectively, accurately and with better creativity. This also enabled me to focus on the relevant and balance my professional life with my private life, which again, brought success in all areas. After all, life is not a contest but an interesting game and not a bunch of survival tasks but a creative workshop - learning never stops.
Vanja Roller
Managing Director AERO ROLLER (CROATIA) Vice President Technical AIRTRAILS (SWITZERLAND) Croatia Executive MBA / 2007
After more than a decade of working and training in aviation industry, I noticed that I needed something completely different. The world of aviation is a challenging one, it is a large industry and great community, but sometimes closed in its shell and without any horizon. From time to time in life, we have to choose different approaches. So I did. At the end of 2007, I joined COTRUGLI Business School as an Executive Vice President at Croatia Airlines. What is so special about this School? Well, many of my colleagues would mention networking, and that is true, but other schools have good networking opportunities, as well. Lecturers? Definitely, not only their knowledge and teaching skills, but their approach and communication with participants were excellent. Program? With engineering background and experience in management, I found it interesting and enthusiastic. In the first year it was more about hard skills, but the second year had a great influence on my career. Soft skills modules, including personal development module by Mike George, changed my life. After graduation, I have continued with personal development training and I continuously work on myself. Finally, in 2011, I decided to change my professional career, I left the position in the national airline and I began an entrepreneurial life. Today, I have my own consulting company Aero Roller, specialized in civil aviation technical, financial and trade business. At the same time I work as the Vice President in Swiss aviation company Airtrails that provides wide range of aviation services: leasing, brokerage, trading and consulting. I spend months travelling, I work hard, I like my job, I am happy and I enjoy every moment of my life.
Program? With engineering background and experience in management, I found it interesting and enthusiastic. In the first year it was more about hard skills, but the second year had a great influence on my career. 81
Zoran Kolarević Business Analyst MERCK SHARP & DOHME Croatia Executive MBA / 2008
Before going to MBA courses, I was on a very good middle management position in a local FMCG company. A desire to complete COTRUGLI Executive MBA for me started with a very simple question: Can I do better than I already do? That precise moment all my rational thinking strived to reach one goal – my personal maximum potential. In order to achieve it, I decided that an EMBA course could be the bridge towards my personal success. There are two reasons for that. The first is that you need to be constantly surrounded by people that would force you to think harder in order to be on their level or even better. The second is that those people that you are amongst, are the ones who are also on great positions in their companies and will eventually recognize your positive sides, which will result in moving up on corporate level whether in the same company or another one. There is also one bonus attribute of going to EMBA class and that is that you will overcome fear of loss and achieve higher level of confidence in creating your own value in business world, meaning becoming an entrepreneur if this intrigues you. My path after completing COTRUGLI EMBA, with Valedictorian
Completing an EMBA made me feel confident to run business development projects in current company or to manage luxury spaceflights to the Moon tomorrow. 82
honors, started with moving to another company to a better paid and more mind-challenging position. I even changed industries completely, moving from FMCG to Pharmaceuticals and believe me, I fear no fear. Completing an EMBA made me feel confident to run business development projects in current company or to manage luxury spaceflights to the Moon tomorrow. It is important to think out of the average scope and you will find endless possibilities out there because future is now. To me now, every day is a victory in both business and personal sense and I will not stop any time soon. For me, the journey began when I completed COTRUGLI EMBA - and where does yours begin?
Zvonimir Seki
Executive Marketing Director, SEE LACTALIS SOUTH EAST EUROPE / DUKAT Croatia Executive MBA / 2007
As a young manager, I was included in an internal educational program designed as a “Mini MBA” for young potentials of my company, aimed to build core competencies and management skills in key business areas. Having participated in the program only confirmed my determination to complete my “real” MBA, as I wanted to complement the expertise in my business area with a broader business view. My wish was realized in 2007, when I enrolled the Executive MBA at COTRUGLI Business School. I would describe my EMBA experience as a thrilling two-year journey, very motivating and challenging. What I respected from the very beginning of the program was the challenging environment, there was no way one could “sit back & enjoy” since all the modules were very interactive, requiring solid pre-work and preparation, in order to be able to participate. From today’s perspective, when I try to summarize my COTRUGLI experience, I would say that first class speakers and well-composed modules are surely not the only value of the program. The network of knowledge and experiences is a lot wider, and it spreads well beyond the “official” part of EMBA. I think I learned in equal terms both from lecturers and my fellow participants. Different people, different businesses and life experiences – all this was really enriching for any participant. Executive MBA has helped me a lot to build my business confidence, and to have a broader view on company’s issues and challenges in these demanding times for any industry. I am now able to look further and propose solutions that sometimes are out of my standard “jurisdiction”, covering only fraction of what company does on everyday basis. On the personal side, I have acquired many good friends and wide network of business contacts during my COTRUGLI years, and I am quite sure that we will continue to build this network together further on.
I am now able to look further and propose solutions that sometimes are out of my standard “jurisdiction”, covering only fraction of what company does on everyday basis. 83
Željko Ilić
Free Lance Project and Business Consultant GOVERNMENT OF SERBIA Serbia Executive MBA / 2009
After time spent in this School, I get to view my choices and experiences with the clarity that only hindsight provides. COTRUGLI Business School was the right place for me. From its exemplary focus on general management to its culture, COTRUGLI fulfilled all expectations I had from the business school. At COTRUGLI I found genuine friendships that forged not only through common experiences, but also through common aspirations. From 2005 to 2009, I worked in the civil society sector, as the General Manager of a nongovernmental organization. I was responsible for the set-up of a Youth Forum nongovernmental organization; development and marketing, coalition and networking among international, national and other relevant authorities. Having work experience before taking Executive MBA education certainly adds on to the efficiency and capability to learn more and perform better. After the first year at COTRUGLI I started to work as professional consultant with experience from grassroots towards corporate level, and this is one of the most important things that makes EMBA special, providing new jobs and new life opportunities. The first question most people will ask is “Was getting an EMBA worth it?”. On a personal level, it was a truly great experience. It gave me a lot of confidence, motivation, purpose, and energy. On a business and learning level during the two years journey I had a chance to work and play with an extraordinary group of
I launched a new stage in my professional career, and managed to expand connection to most influential network of experts and authorities from the whole SEE region. 84
talented, intelligent, and well-rounded individuals. I launched a new stage in my professional career, and managed to expand connection to most influential network of experts and authorities from the whole SEE region. Moreover, I had an opportunity to learn from outstanding international faculty from top business schools and from the world’s leading companies. Finally, COTRUGLI Business School provided me with key variables for success and at each stage increased my leadership capacity and created opportunities to have access to best practices and business knowledge.
Željko Šestan
Customer Care Department Director B.NET HRVATSKA Croatia Executive MBA / 2006
Regardless of the fact that we are just passive observers or active participants in the process, we cannot ignore the fact that the present time constantly requires some new attitudes, abilities and knowledge. Furthermore, we are not just becoming a knowledge-based society – we are already there. And for anyone who is not convinced of the fact that the oncoming time requires constant education and development, I would not bet on the survival. So, at one point of my life, I started considering the educational environment, which would offer me capacities to achieve extra business knowledge and support my personal development. There was no doubt that I found it in COTRUGLI Business School. It is a great feeling to find yourself in an environment where you are surrounded with dozens of like-minded people, equally eager to obtain the same - competences and expertise that count in today’s globalized business world. The pace of COTRUGLI lectures, activities and tasks were so well lined up that I had no difficulties in meeting the obligations. And even if I had missed something, at any point of time I could have counted on my Executive MBA colleagues and a support of school staff. In overall, I would call that business par excellence. And this is exactly what we were taught and one of the things that we learned. The major point of the Executive MBA program that I attended was that it balanced perfectly between offering deep business functions’ knowledge and the art of personal development. The latter one helped me immensely to establish equilibrium between material and spiritual. Without that there is no success today. And we graduates from COTRUGLI know very well today what the success means: it is for sure an achievement and an acquisition of wealth but NOT without an increase of quality of life. Without any doubts the whole process of education at COTRUGLI Business School added immensely to the quality of my life.
The major point of the Executive MBA program that I attended was that it balanced perfectly between offering deep business functions’ knowledge and the art of personal development. 85
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