Marcin Rogalski

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

The first factor that influenced my decision to undertake MBA studies at PJAIT was the desire for self-realization through acquiring knowledge and valuable skills. I simply like to develop. The second element that influenced my decision was my future plans. Developing my own business and projects that have been maturing in my head for a long time is the goal I set for myself for the coming years. I believe that to pursue large ventures, one must possess extensive theoretical and practical knowledge to avoid mistakes at early stages. I knew that in a program of this profile I would meet experienced managers, and as we all know, a rich network of contacts is a huge added value and one of the pillars of modern business.

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?

It was very pleasantly and productively spent time. A pleasant surprise for me was the wide spectrum of industries from which my female and male colleagues in the group came. It made me realize how fast IT is developing and how much of an impact it has on aspects of our everyday life. A group of experienced managers who eagerly shared their rich experiences with other participants, but above all, a group of warm and smiling people with whom you could talk about many interesting topics – not necessarily related to IT.

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

Due to the profile of my professional activity, I was mainly interested in classes concerning brand building, including personal branding, as well as gamification and cybersecurity. I also gained a lot from soft skills classes. Developing leadership and public speaking skills increased my self-confidence in this area.

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?

During classes, the boundary between lecturer and student practically blurs. The vast majority of lecturers conducted classes on a partnership basis, where the mutual exchange of knowledge and experience yielded extraordinary results and vast resources of practical knowledge. I think that this very synergy is the advantage of MBA studies over other types of studies.

The teaching staff is a collection of practitioner specialists with vast experience who are eager to stay in touch with students after the end of the classes program. The relationships I formed during my studies are something very important to me. Such a valuable networking grid is an additional reward that I hope will last a long time and prove helpful to all of us.

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

First of all, I gained vast knowledge needed to manage and develop my business. Thanks to the skills I acquired, I am developing my projects. Whenever necessary, I can always consult with lecturers or friends from the group. The studies definitely changed my approach to management and cooperation with people. I got to know my strengths and weaknesses. Thanks to this, I know what I still need to work on to become an even better manager.

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

As I mentioned earlier, in my opinion, the greatest added value is the network of contacts, which includes experienced people from a wide range of industries. Both the lecturers and the other students in my study group are open people who eagerly share their rich knowledge. With the support of such a group, it is much easier to achieve business goals and solve encountered problems. Taking this opportunity, I would like to thank them all for the time spent together during and outside of classes.

7. What advice would you give to potential candidates for MBA studies? Investing in yourself is always a good investment. Some of you probably think that this is not a good time to start such studies, but do not postpone this decision. Believe in your abilities. Developing a managerial toolkit is a process that never ends, and MBA-type studies are a chance for tremendous growth. For younger managers, this is an opportunity to gather knowledge from experienced colleagues and specialists, and for managers with more experience, a chance to refine their skills and refresh their knowledge. The IT industry changes very dynamically, and a good manager should develop along with it.