Łukasz Szweda

1. What influenced your decision to pursue an MBA at PJAIT?

I decided to pursue these studies primarily to broaden my knowledge in the area of management. In the past, I spent several years managing a small team, but back then, no one had prepared me for that role. I had to learn many things through practice, which did not always go as smoothly as I would have liked. When I opted for further studies, my position was more technical than managerial. Looking to the future, I decided to structure my knowledge in a more formal way and concluded that this type of program would help me achieve that.

My colleague from the company and I chose the MBA for the IT industry program at PJAIT after reviewing several offers, both local (we are both from the Tricity area) and further away. Most of the offers we found lasted two years, whereas the program at PJAIT was completed in one year. The shorter duration translated into lower costs—both for tuition itself, travel, and accommodation during the lectures. Additionally, based on feedback from other people who had completed two-year programs at other academies, the second year did not add nearly as much value to the curriculum as the first, and they often felt that they could have easily stopped after a one-year program.

2. How do you recall your time spent on the MBA for IT at PJAIT? What was most important to you during the studies themselves?

Initially, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. After all, MBA programs are commonly associated with elite institutions that educate the "cream of the crop" of managers with decades of experience. That was a bit intimidating. However, it turned out that most of my fellow students had similar experience to mine and had also chosen this program for similar reasons.

The atmosphere was very pleasant, open, and friendly the whole time. The group of participants was selected based on similar age, experience, and interests (as suggested by the name of the MBA for the IT industry program). Because of this, probably no one felt inferior or less important during our discussions, and everyone could share their acquired professional experience. I think this is one of the most important aspects, as it allows real-world insights from each participant's daily work to be added to the established curriculum, which would be difficult in a formal, rigid atmosphere.

3. Which areas of the curriculum covered during the MBA studies were most important to you and proved most useful in your professional life?

If I had to choose one area, it would definitely be Mr. Krzysztof Górlicki's lectures on public speaking. This has always been my Achilles' heel, as I never felt very comfortable in such situations and avoided them like the plague. Krzysztof gave us many tips and practical advice that significantly boosted my self-confidence. Since then, I have participated in several conferences as a speaker and conducted a significant number of internal training sessions and presentations within the company, for both Polish- and English-speaking colleagues.

Another area that I remember well was storytelling led by Mr. Pawel Tkaczyk. This field is closely connected with public speaking and allows you to engage the listener by framing the topic into a story. Thanks to this, I know how to prepare a better, more interesting presentation, and I frequently draw on real-life examples from my life and career, which noticeably improves the reception and engagement of my audience.

4. How do you assess the cooperation between MBA students during classes and the contact between students and lecturers? Are the relationships that you managed to build important to you?

Definitely. I think we managed to bond very well as a group, which contributed to much better practical classes and participation in discussions that quite often arose during classes. Each Meeting ended with further evening socializing over dinner. We still keep in touch via Slack and meet whenever I have the opportunity to come to Warsaw.

Collaboration with the lecturers was of a high standard. I felt that I could turn to them with any topics I hadn't understood during classes. Of course, these relationships were on a different level than with my fellow students, but we partially changed that at the graduation party.

5. How have the MBA studies contributed to the development of your professional career?

The knowledge I gained definitely helped me in my career. By improving my presentation skills, I was able to present what I was working on to a wider audience. This, in turn, strengthened my position as an expert in my fields of interest and ultimately contributed to my promotion from expert to Chief IT Developer a year after graduating. For now, my career is not following a managerial track, but I do not rule it out in the future, and I believe that having completed an MBA program will certainly be helpful.

6. What values, apart from the curriculum itself, were most important to you during the MBA studies?

The welcoming atmosphere, openness, approach of the lecturers, and the connections and time spent with the other participants were key to my overall perception of the studies. I do not feel that my time was wasted (even if, years later, I regret that these studies weren't two years long). I miss the regular meetings with my group of peers, discussions, teamwork, and informal get-togethers after classes.

7. What advice could you give to prospective candidates for MBA studies?

First of all, they should verify their expectations regarding their future after graduation. I believe that studies are meant to show us many different areas and provide a solid foundation for exploring those that interest a given person. No curriculum will turn us into an experienced manager or computer science specialist. That comes with time, and studies are just a prelude. Fifteen years after finishing my first studies at a university of technology, I don't remember most of what I learned there, but what remains is a certain "aura," the result of various topics I encountered. Years later, the feeling that "I've heard this somewhere before" returns, allowing for a quicker and more effective dive back into the topic. It is no different with an MBA program, and I believe the knowledge I acquired there will bear fruit in the future, whichever career track I choose.