Kamila Pendyk
1. What influenced your decision to undertake MBA studies at PJAIT?
As I explored new areas of professional development, I became fascinated by the broad IT market and new technologies. I began educating myself independently in this area, and then searched for modern, interesting studies or courses tailored to current market demands. I felt the need to expand and organize my knowledge in this field, based on my previous experience and with an awareness of future professional challenges. I started working as a Project Manager, and the activities in this role only reinforced my need to acquire comprehensive knowledge of the IT industry. While searching for various educational opportunities, I came across the offer of PJAIT and the MBA for the IT industry, and then decided that this would be the right place to begin a structured educational process.
2. How do you remember the time spent on MBA 4 IT at PJAIT? What was most important to you during the studies themselves?
It was a very important time for me. I had the opportunity to meet extremely interesting people – students and lecturers. New, lasting relationships were formed among people with similar opportunities, passions, and future career plans. Interesting, engaging classes conducted in an appealing way, tailored to current market challenges and taught by top-class lecturers, greatly contributed to my competencies. From negotiation skills with the absolutely phenomenal Paweł Tkaczyk, to hard skills in multi-level budget management and making difficult decisions based on the IT industry. To sum up, the time spent on MBA studies at PJAIT was very inspiring for me.
3. Which areas from the curriculum covered during the MBA studies were most important to you and proved most useful in your professional life?
The most important area of the curriculum for me was the management of IT projects and teams. I cared about genuine development of competencies in this direction. In substantive terms, the most valuable knowledge for me was about project management methodologies, as well as comparing methodologies based on multi-level management.
4. How do you assess the cooperation of MBA students during classes and the contact between the student and the lecturer? Are the relationships that managed to be created important to you?
It was a completely different educational experience compared to previous years, because the student-lecturer relationship in the MBA program at PJAIT is largely based on partnership. Every lecturer shared their knowledge in an extremely engaging way – they cooperated, collaborated, asked questions, and showed genuine interest. Students had the freedom to ask questions on an ongoing basis. We were a very active and demanding group. The relationship between us was based on absolute cooperation. We met outside of classes and discussed things together. Thanks to these studies, we formed a tight-knit team of truly close people, and this is an invaluable asset that pays off to this day.
5. In what way did the MBA studies contribute to the development of your professional career?
In my case, studying at PJAIT had a huge impact on the development of my professional career. After graduating from the MBA for the IT industry, I got a job at the Ministry of Digital Affairs as a Minister's Advisor. A requirement for working at the Ministry of Digital Affairs was having a degree in a relevant IT field, so the MBA studies were really a bullseye, and thanks to that, I am working in my dream job.
6. What values, apart from the curriculum itself, were most important to you during the MBA studies themselves?
First of all, interpersonal contacts; that was the true value of these studies. We managed to create a cohesive group that went beyond the framework of the curriculum in its activities.
7. What advice could you give to potential candidates for MBA studies?
MBA studies at PJAIT have something unique about them – they are strongly grounded in the IT industry. Students have the opportunity to learn about many aspects directly related to ready-to-use work tools. If someone is planning a career in IT management, an MBA is an absolute MUST HAVE. A diploma from PJAIT is truly welcomed by recruiting employers.
