Aleksandra Suchorzewska
1. To start with your professional work. What is your area of professional specialization?
For over 15 years, I have been an IT Consultant, supporting my clients in solving important problems in their organizations related to the transformation of the IT area. The beginning of my career was the role of Systems Analyst in the IT Department of an international corporation, after which I moved into consulting, which I continue to this day. Currently, I manage the European part of a global team that deals with technology strategy and technology consulting at Accenture.
2. What challenges do you encounter in your professional work?
My professional work is full of challenges and is characterized by high unpredictability and variability. Every client and their associated project bring an entirely new challenge. The pace of change observed in technology means my work is primarily based on continuous development. You need to know the latest "trends" and approaches, and observe and analyze the market. Clients look to us primarily for the latest expert practical knowledge and unconventional, long-term solutions, which is why proper time management is one of the key challenges in my daily work. On one hand, you need to work effectively with the client, and on the other, to meet requirements, you must find time for continuous development, training, and exchanging experience with colleagues.
3. What key issues are addressed in the subject taught by you in the MBA studies?
During classes, I try to use my knowledge backed by rich experience, discussing many examples drawn from my daily life. I deal with the topic of strategic IT management. We talk about how to perform the role of an IT manager in a modern way, in line with current trends—a manager whose role is not limited solely to infrastructure management. A current IT manager is required to cooperate well with the business and undertake initiatives related to technology development. Let us remember that proper use of technology now determines gaining and subsequently maintaining a competitive advantage in almost every industry.
4. What is most important to you in imparting knowledge related to the taught subject in your studies?
The most effective approach is combining theoretical and practical knowledge, referencing real-life situations happening in a given company. During classes, I present many tools that can support Students' daily activities in their professional lives, discussing frameworks and various methods, among others. Most importantly, we discuss specific cases together from various perspectives, as each Student has different experiences and a different point of view. A common question asked during classes is: „Well, but what's in it for me and my organization? How can I use this?” That is when the real discussion about the practical side of the discussed issue begins. These are very interesting discussions, not only for the students, but also for me!
5. What topics are most frequently discussed with students during your classes? What interests students the most?
Students of the MBA for the IT industry at PJAIT are professionally experienced people coming from various departments and industries, which makes these discussions very interesting. When we discuss a specific situation one of the Students is facing, we use my experience while also building on the experiences of other class participants. We then focus on details, map out the entire strategy, and devise a new action plan. Discussions primarily concern topics that are currently trending. We talk about how to implement agile working methodologies to bring the greatest benefits, and how to manage architecture to make the best use of new technologies. We approach every topic comprehensively in class. The subject I teach – Strategic IT Management – requires a thorough discussion of most mechanisms. It is also very important to show Students where they can find specific information and point out sources so that they can return to them at any time and use them appropriately.
6. How can they use this knowledge in their professional work?
Always at the end of classes, I ask students one question: What did you take away from the class that you want to use in your work? It often happens that students point out a whole list of topics and specific tools and recommendations that they want to implement directly after class in their work. And this is probably the biggest compliment for a lecturer, when they know that the time spent in class influences the future professional activities of students – meaning it is PRACTICAL. I keep in touch with many students; they often inform me what, in retrospect, worked in their company and how much their professional activities improved the work of entire organizations. I am glad that students, finishing classes from the subject taught by me, leave them full of energy and new ideas, thanks to which they can give a new, fresh direction to their organizations.
7. What do you find valuable in working with MBA participants at PJAIT?
Our academy is a place that allows us to get appropriate feedback for a specialist who lectures on a given subject from the curriculum. Working in the MBA studies for the IT industry at the Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology is a lot of fun; it is interacting with people who are really ready for an effective educational process. These are very valuable people, more or less related to IT, but what unites them is openness to the world, a desire for change, and development! The great thing is that when classes end at 7:00 PM, I don't see people bored with the topic, almost dozing off; everyone is very engaged, and truly every hour we spend together is important both for them and for me! And this is something incredible that has been successfully developed in the MBA studies for the IT industry at the Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology.
8. How do you perceive the profile of an MBA student?
These are people rich in professional experience who are aware of how much the role of the IT area in organizations is changing. They want to rebuild or develop their competences that will allow them to change the role they play – from a support unit in a given area to a true, modern partner and co-creator of the company's success.
Aleksandra Suchorzewska – Experienced IT manager, long-time advisor to IT directors, PhD in legal sciences specializing in the issues of data security and computer systems, cyberterrorism. Senior Manager at Accenture Technology Strategy, specializing in strategic consulting, particularly in the IT area. She has a unique skill set combining legal knowledge in the field of criminal law and information security with deep computer science knowledge.
During her career, she has implemented projects regarding IT Strategy, Enterprise Architecture, operating model transformation, and portfolio and project management using both traditional and agile methods. Academic lecturer, author of publications, including the book „Ochrona prawna systemów informatycznych wobec zagrożenia cyberterroryzmem”.
