Mikhail Amanovich

1. What influenced you to pursue an MBA at the Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology?

Willing to grow, learn new solutions and get a broader view of IT management. And, of course, networking, as it is important to meet people in similar positions and be able to exchange valuable experience. It was also important for me to maintain such friendships after graduation, where there is a high probability that they can pay off in the future. I think that the Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology has a really good reputation, it is a recognized school. In addition, the MBA for the IT industry is a study with a clearly defined profile for IT managers. So area of the studies and the school's reputation were decisive.

2. How do you recall your time at MBA 4 IT at PJAIT? What was the most significant thing for you during the studies themselves?

The most important thing for me was to explore new areas such as Design Thinking. Meeting very interesting people - Students and Lecturers. I remember the process of education at the MBA for the IT industry very well. I approached the conventions with great enthusiasm - such positive energy, exchange of experiences - each of the classes I attended gave me additional value and new insights into aspects of strategic management.

3. What areas from the curriculum covered during the MBA program were most relevant and useful to you in your professional life?

I would mention three subjects: IT Strategic Management - a very substantive class, showing not only theory, but also a practical approach to many issues, which is an important aspect for managers. Then Public Speaking - a very valuable class that opened my eyes to many topics related to proper preparation for speeches - the areas learned pay off in improving my professional activities, where I conduct large team meetings. Valuable tips allowed me to make some modifications to how to prepare for large presentations, how to moderate the discussion, but also, how to deal with stress. The third subject is Design Thinking, a class that complements Design Sprint - an interesting approach to the process of fixing problems. These are the subjects that have contributed the most to my development.

4. How do you assess the cooperation of MBA students during the course and the contact between the student and the lecturer. Are the relationships that have been established important to you?

I believe that at the study we formed partnerships with the Students, as well as with the Lecturers. We exchanged experiences, worked in groups, had very interesting discussions. Many of us work in different areas of IT, and some outside the industry, so in classes such as Strategic Management we were able to exchange our own insights, discuss different approaches and make various improvements to our professional areas. Our relationship with the Lecturers gave plenty of space for free speech and questions about details. After the classes are over, we continue our acquaintance, have various virtual groups where we post topics and continue to discuss. In MBA studies one of the most important things is networking, the goal in itself is not to get credit, but more to expand one's knowledge, gain contacts and exchange information.

5. How did your MBA study contribute to your career development?

I have been steadily increasing my role of responsibility in the company. Being after my first semester at the MBA, my supervisor, evaluating my attitude at work, noticed a lot of progress, which involved taking on more responsibility over different areas. I'm also on the receiving end of an internal promotion, and it's safe to say that my studies are contributing to my career development.

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

I think such mutual respect and understanding, where our classes were held in an atmosphere of discussion and free exchange of experiences, rather than opposing someone's opinion. Here everyone felt a space for themselves.

7. What tips could you give to potential MBA candidates?  

I believe that it is worthwhile to opt for an MBA education with some experience, because the study is supposed to provide us with additional value. In order to be able to assess whether this value actually brought something to the area of our work, we should already have a preliminary background. I recommend answering the following questions: Do I really need this study? Am I at a point in my professional development where I already manage teams, or processes, systems at a level where I actually need the additional information and knowledge? MBA studies are based on mutual exchange of experience and it is worth trying to pass on, something from each other, so that the absorption of knowledge is not one-sided.