Michał Gołda
1. What influenced your decision to pursue an MBA at PJAIT?
I had been considering this type of study for some time. I looked into many offers, but I was most interested in information about MBA studies for the IT industry at the Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology. I decided to begin my education at this University because I know many alumni of this school who particularly value this place and fondly remember their education at PJAIT. Furthermore, my decision was influenced by the list of lecturers in the MBA program, which consists of practitioners and experts who know the area of their activities well. An additional advantage is the fact that the studies are addressed directly to people from the IT industry.
2. How do you look back on your time spent on MBA 4 IT at PJAIT? What was most important to you during your studies?
I remember the time spent on my studies as very valuable. MBA studies are primarily about people; I was fortunate enough that my group was truly outstanding in terms of the diversity of characters, professional experiences, and held positions. I am glad I could meet such interesting people and exchange many insights with them.
3. Which areas of the curriculum covered during the MBA studies were most important to you and proved most useful in your professional life?
The MBA studies fully met my expectations. At that time, it was essential for me to consolidate my basic knowledge in the area of finance, typical management, and HR-related areas. In addition, classes that addressed unconventional topics, such as gamification led by Paweł Tkaczyk or the public speaking subject by Krzysztof Górlicki, were of immense value to me. Also worthy of note are the topics related to the psychology of leadership and managerial decisions, taught by Katarzyna Olszyńska. I think that the success of these subjects, apart from interesting issues, was influenced by the lecturers' approach to each student. The classes did not consist of a monologue by the instructor, but were based on discussion and a lively exchange of views.
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?
Our relationships were very partnership-based. We were a group that had no barriers to experimentation or honest conversation. Above all, our relationship featured great freedom in expressing our own opinions. To this day, I stay in touch with most of the students. Thanks to our diversity, we could truly learn a lot from each other. As I mentioned before, the lecturers were open to our questions, which made the discussions live with their own energy, and I think this greatly contributed to the effective educational process.
5. How have the MBA studies contributed to the development of your professional career?
I changed my role in the company from People Manager to being responsible for regional project portfolios in the context of quality delivery.
6. What values, apart from the curriculum itself, were most important to you during the MBA studies?
Above all, interpersonal relationships and the opportunity to experience a different perspective on the same subject. If someone works in an organization, certain ways of operating established over years of work are already standard. It is interesting to confront other experiences and jointly exchange developed practices.
7. What advice could you give to prospective candidates for MBA studies?
One of the tips, which may seem obvious but is crucial for me, is to ask as many questions as possible, delve into the subject, and approach currently discussed issues in an unconventional way.
It is important to be properly prepared to undertake this type of studies. I mean experience. It is worth starting the educational process with a certain baggage of experience. This is necessary to be able to conduct an effective discussion. Without experience, these studies would be based more on listening to lectures and absorbing theory, without practical application of the issues. One of the greatest advantages of these studies is the exchange of viewpoints, which, after all, come from the professional experiences of each student.
