Alumni opinions

Mariusz Filipiak - ESSA HQ Business Planning Lead, PepsiCo, Graduate of XXV Edition

At a certain stage of your professional life you may wonder what the next step is. I delayed my decision about starting Executive MBA studies several times and there were always perfect excuses behind it. As most of my co-students I examined offers from different universities and compared programs. Finally, I decided to apply to Warsaw University, since the program was intensive, and schedule of classes was the most condensed – that’s what I was looking for. Honestly, there is never perfect moment in life to begin MBA studies. Once you start it and become a part of newly created cohort which immediately needs to co-work intensively on creative problems solving, you will become fully committed to it.

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Stefan Karmaza, CEO and Major Owner, Vectio Sp. z o.o., Graduate of XXV Edition

Before I started the Executive MBA, I compared the best Executive Master of Business Administration programs available in Poland. An individual approach and a well-designed program convinced me to choose the program at the University of Warsaw. After the course, I can definitely say that it was one of the best business and personal decisions I made over the past few years.

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Stanisław Tański, Local Business Unit Financial Controller, ABB Sp. z o.o., Graduate of XXV Edition

Participation in the Executive MBA program is a unique experience in acquiring knowledge, solving business problems and expanding professional contacts. For three semesters, the studies convince oneself access to a full range of information and current business trends that need to be known and understood in order to function effectively in organizations, carry out changes and be an effective leader. Thanks to a solid professor's staff, interactive sessions and diversity of participants' professional experiences, the program helps to discover new perspectives and unconventional business solutions.

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Władysław Podraza, Owner & General Manager at AGROPOLE, Graduate of XXV Edition

In that point of my career I had known  that I needed a change. A deep breath of fresh air.  To perform smart change we need relevant opportunity for ourselves, and to create such opportunity we need inspiration driven by new experience. I had known what I was missing  and I found it all (and even much more) on Executive MBA at University of Warsaw.
 

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Ewa Dudzic-Filaseta, co-founder, Vice President Phenicoptere sp. z o.o., Graduate of the XXIV Edition

Being an entrepreneur has one main disadvantage - you have no one you can learn from. I have been always thinking that any entrepreneur has to look for opportunities to increase their own knowledge. This is why I got interested in Executive MBA studies and finally I found myself at Nowy Świat.

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Jacek Kuczyński, International Marketing Manager at SVANTEK Ltd. and owner at VIBROMED, Graduate of the XXIV Edition

MBA studies provide knowledge and implementation skills.
In the process of growth, many companies face similar problems, such as changes of the capital structure or investments in new products. In the history of business there are good solutions to such problems and learning about them was the main purpose of MBA studies, in my case.

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Jan Pastwa, General Counsellor, Legal Department, National Atomic Energy Agency, Graduate of the XXIV Edition

Education in a group in which not only different professions and business perspectives are represented, but also (and perhaps most importantly) business and public sectors forces you to leave your own comfort zone, collide with the unknown and gives you the unique opportunity to learn about different approaches and aspects of the level " executive ", as well as the understanding of" other worlds ", and as a result the chance of increasing results and the synergy that is otherwise difficult to achieve.

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Agnieszka Mielech, Marketing Director, Retail & Digital Galapagos Ltd. and writer, Graduate of the XXIII Edition

For many years I have been associated with the entertainment and media market as well as global entertainment companies and local producers.

The way we consume entertainment has changed significantly over the past decades, mainly due to the digitization and unlimited access to content that the internet offers today.

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Aleksander Sosnowski, Country Director for Information Systems, Country Director for Quality and Operational Excellence, ABB, Graduate of XXIII Edition

Most of us applying to study MBA at the Warsaw University have four main goals: to gain new theoretical knowledge from economics and widely understood business, systemize the knowledge, meet interesting people from various industries and to experience a fun adventure. I wasn’t very different from most of the students and that was exactly the attitude I started the program with.

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Dr. Remigiusz Lewandowski, CEO, Glucotronic Sp. z o.o., Graduate of the XXII Edition

In contemporary economy managers are expected to possess two essential assets: already acquired competences as well as development potential. The dynamically changing environment makes us use our previous knowledge and experience and, at the same time, forces us to quickly adjust to new conditions and face new challenges.

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Weronika Dejneka, Director of the Office Of Investment Products, PZU, Graduate of the XXI Edition

In my opinion, the greatest strength and value of Executive MBA studies is its people and the ability to build business, academic and private relationships.

Educational value is provided by the teaching staff from the University of Warsaw and also the professors representing prestigious universities from Europe and the USA.

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Michał Styś, Managing Director, OPG Orange Property Group, Graduate of the XXI Edition

I am an architect by profession. For me, the Executive MBA Program was, in large part, an opportunity to acquire new knowledge about optimizing organization and quantitative techniques in decision-making process as well as theoretical knowledge in the field of micro- and macroeconomics. The Program, however, helped to consolidate the basic knowledge about management accounting and broadly defined finances.

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Sylwester Gabriel Wybranowski, Menedżer ds. Sprzedaży Apartamentów, Dom Development S.A., Graduate of the XXI Edition

Executive MBA means business plus emotions wrapped up in academic patterns.
After finishing the final project presentation, one may breathe a sigh of relief. Immediately, though, comes the time for reflection and answering the question: “What did my life look like before?”. Three semesters full of sacrifices, sleepless nights, waking up in the morning, tons of analyzed documents, hundreds of pages of text read, numerous meetings with people one did not know before and hours spent on discussions.

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Mariusz Chochołek, Presidednt of T-Systems Polska, Graduate of the XXI Edition

Today's market challenges associated with the unprecedented pace of evolution of business models, mutual interaction of previously separated industries and growing role of technology in shaping the competitiveness of companies require that managers develop a new, much more transversal approach to improving their skills and knowledge.

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Tomasz Németh, President of the Management Board, CEO of Gedeon Richter Polska Sp. z o.o., Graduate of the XXI Edition

The three most important qualities of the course are:

1. Cooperation: most of the assignments are done in small groups, so the members of these small groups have to learn to cooperate, delegate tasks and establish a common position. Taking into consideration the fact that almost all students are senior executives, this alone provides a valuable experience in itself.

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Janusz Buława – Secretary General, Member of the Management Board, CFO, Eiffage Polska Budownictwo S.A., Graduate of the XX Edition

Over a dozen years of professional experience in different countries and on different jobs at multinational corporation made me to think whether my knowledge and skills are truly adequate to the more and more challenging business environment. I decided to take part in the Executive MBA Program, hoping to meet business practitioners, experts in various fields, and managers facing similar challenges in everyday life...

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Jarosław Pękala – Sales Director, ALPLA, Graduate of the XX Edition

From time perspespective, I consider taking a decision on studying at the MBA program was a right move. I was aware that in the dynamically changing business environment, my experience, based on humanistic and law education,  needed developing, systemizing, and most importantly, confronting with experience of the others.
The faculty makes the WIEMBA program’s asset. Classes carried out by experienced practitioners give not only quintessence of knowledge, but also a large set of supplementary materials, which I often go back to during present projects.

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Shanmugaraja Kathiresan – Head of Strategic Projects including Digital and Fintech partnerships, Addiko Bank AG , Graduate of the XIX Edition

EMBA at Univeristy of Warsaw is an excellent program and I would recommend this for anyone who wants to be successful in this ever-changing marketplace or start their own business. The professors (both US and Polish) are very committed and talented in their respective areas of specialization.

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Barbara Sikora - Finance Director, Member of The Board, Centrum Development and Investments Group and Immobel Poland, Graduate of the XIX Edition

I have decided to take the Warsaw – Illinois Executive MBA Program for several reasons. Most importantly for a need to confront my professional experience with the latest trends and achievements of the science, in other words:  to regularize the practice in the theory frames. My expectations came true thanks to such wonderful courses as: negotiations in business, strategic management, legal aspects of managerial decisions, marketing, and International management. Thanks to exceptional professors, recognized experts in respective fields, and at the same time, practitioners,  my evaluation of these courses is very affirmative.

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Marek Wiśniewski – Managing Director, Member of the Board, Polchar Ltd., Graduate of the XIX Cohort

Motivation, enthusiasm, commitment, hard work, inspiration, success, joy and satisfaction – these are the most important feelings that accompanied my Executive MBA studies. What are the distinctive elements of the Program, constituting its competitive advantage?
Achieving, deepening and systemizing theoretical knowledge, obviously, constituted  key elements of the studies, but they were barely their small part. Exploring the knowledge and fostering an attitude to put it into practice were definitely the most important features of the Program. Moreover, a true, not declarative, executive aspect made also its value.

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Rajasekhar Cheemakurthi - Senior Vice President Payments, Santander Bank, N.A., Graduate of XVIII Edition

While developing business skills and knowledge, EMBA allowed me to gain a strong business network, and life-long friendships and personal growth. The professors are dedicated experts in their fields and shared the wealth of their enormous practical experience, reality and wisdom. The cohort style of the EMBA was truly rewarding and fun.

Dominik Zawadzki - former Marketing Director, Sanitec Koło, Graduate of XVIII Edition

Executive MBA is a much different experience from traditional studies.
First of all classes are held in a rather small group of students of whom all are experienced managers. Secondly the course material is much condensed into key areas that are helpful in everyday work on managerial positions. Therefore MBA students receive only the most necessary substance of information about how the company and its outside environment function. And all this is given by very good Polish and American professors with support of excellent books, case studies and practical exercises. Final consulting project is also an excellent experience.

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Jarosław Starczewski - Client Carrier Branch Director, Telekomunikacja Polska, Graduate of XVIII Edition

Telecommunication market that I work on is abundant in dynamic changes as well as fast technological development, which requires from the management higher qualifications not only within computer field but mainly within business one.
My every day work involves duties which demand great initiative, creativity and quick thinking under time pressure.  In order to achieve success I need to quickly analyze situation and propose solutions. Accomplishing all of the mentioned above is eased by MBA studies which not only help to systematize knowledge but also provide with a great deal of practice.

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Małgorzata Matusiewicz - Marketing Director, UPS, Graduate of XVI Edition

Great challenge even for those who 'know it all'. You get exposed to all aspects of running a company - you will never again be intimidated by strange terms and ideas form your Finance or Manufacturing departments. You work in a group of seasoned managers, who never accept anything just on its face value - a great chance to learn a lot from them but also an obligation to give a lot back. Last but not least - time spent here provides you an opportunity to take a step back and have a good look at what you have been doing in your daily job. As a result you start to implement changes in what in the beginning seemed to be perfect. In this way the program stays with you long after you graduate.

Jakub Kłoczewiak - CEO, Orange Customer Service Sp. z o.o., Graduate of XVI Edition 

I have been a corporate manager for years, so MBA studies gave me a chance for a better perspective on my professional achievements. I mostly valued team work and an opinion of experts – it was a unique opportunity to gain new experience – after years of judging others I had a chance to be judged by professionals.

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Rui Bento de Carvalho - Plant Manager at Colep Polska Sp. z o.o., Graduate of XV Edition

The EMBA provided a vast management knowledge that fulfilled gaps of my specialized qualification and it opened for me interesting professional perspectives. The program created useful habits of work, self-discipline and allowed me to meet professionals of high intellectual and human level in a friendship environment which largely exceeded my expectations.

Evgeny Roshchupkin – AVON Cosmetics, Graduate of XIV Edition

The program allowed me to seriously widen my business perspective. It armed me with knowledge and tools to be an effective top executive of any company in any country. The studies inspired me to persue the general management career in my company. The true uniqueness of this program is the feeling of a world-class business studies experience, which you get without leaving Warsaw. Besides, the great atmosphere in class and the remarkable individuals who studied with us make me miss the times we spend together during the program.

Włodzimierz Sobczyk – IT Director, Wyborowa S.A., Graduate of XI Edition

As a typical "techie", I considered marketing the occupation suitable only for day-dreaming money-spenders. Prof. Sudharshan has shown that marketing can be also an art of disciplined, analytical thinking - for me an "eye-opener" served in a very likeable manner. It was very challenging, but also enjoyable and stimulating experience. In short, that's what the Executive MBA is supposed to be.

Man-ying Chen - Graduate of XIII Edition

The Warsaw-Illinois Executive MBA program not only equipped me with management skills and knowledge but also made me to re-discover my own values and career potential. Prof. Krzysztof Obłój's Strategic Management is one of the most challenging and amazing classes. As a distinguished academic and practitioner of management, he always created a great classroom atmosphere and led us to draw conclusions by taking a right course of actions among a mass of both useful and redundant information!

Agata Raniecka – CEO of Dixi-Car. Graduate of VIII Edition

EMBA course took two years of my life but gave me back a lot - knowledge (so important to manager!) and best friendships. It was time of studying during the night, meeting wonderful people, knowing myself. And now, when it is over, I finally feel how much it gave me. I use my knowledge every day, it helps me work, it kills the business stress, it shows my value. I truly believe it was worth my time and money and I would say everybody should do it! So, just try!

Paweł Wujec, Head of Internet Division at Agora S.A., Graduate of X Edition

Professor Obloj's strategy class was truly amazing. Extensive theoretical background, first-rate case studies, great classroom atmosphere. It's intellectually challenging. It's practical. And, due to professor Obloj's sharp sense of humor, it's also funny.

Jarosław Urban, CEO and Managing Director in Metsä Tissue. Graduate of X Edition

One of the most exciting subjects within MBA course we went through was reengineering. The number of cases and workshops helped us understand that processes can be shaped thus fundamentally changing an organization by designing new business internal environment. We learned that process management is at the same time an excellent tool of learning one's organization and building commitment as very often employees gathered in project teams "build the common house". Additionally tutor's professional approach and his wide experience gave the feeling of well tailored program were theory and practice were balanced. FULLY RECOMMENDED!

Zdzisław Ingielewicz – former CEO, Zakłady Chemiczne Dwory S.A. Oświęcim Graduate of IX Edition

I am an engineer, with an extensive practical experience and a lot of professional training. I decided to start an Executive MBA at the University of Warsaw in 2000 (as an oldest student in the group!) in order to supplement and tie together my practical experience and training with new concepts and systemic knowledge offered at the program. I decided on this particular program because of very high reputation of University of Warsaw...

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Szymon Gutkowski, Managing Director - Corporate Profiles DDB. Graduate of X Edition

I work in marketing consulting and to my surprise also in marketing class I have structured my knowledge and learned new concepts.