The MBA Gave Me Perspective and Confidence
“A leader is someone who creates new leaders. They’re not afraid to surround themselves with people who are smarter and better, giving them freedom and sharing their experience.”
Berislav Sokač’s career is hard to summarize in a single sentence. An entrepreneur since the age of 18, a baker at the Sheraton, an IT specialist, a consultant, Oracle’s Sales Director for 17 countries, the founder of Croatia Run, and the owner of his own consulting business. And somewhere along the way, a proud MBA alumnus.
“Before the MBA, I was always entrepreneurial, hungry for knowledge, and accustomed to ups and downs. I worked in import/export, baking, IT, and eventually landed at Oracle. I enrolled in the MBA at a point when I wanted an extra ‘boost,’ to build a strong network and a global platform through the COTRUGLI community,” he recalls.
The MBA as Validation and Acceleration
For Sokač, the MBA wasn’t a career pivot but rather a source of added confidence and clarity. “It’s hard to say whether everything would have happened anyway, but what you definitely gain is experience and confidence. Over two years, you learn how the entire corporate system works, how decisions are made, where the shortcuts are, and where the showstoppers are. This makes you faster in decision-making and more confident in execution.”
He also highlights the company he kept during the program: “You spend two years with people who are all performance-driven, career-focused, and results-oriented. That energy and those connections are invaluable. Today, I’m still in touch with about twenty colleagues from my cohort, and I even collaborate professionally with some of them.”
Memorable Modules
Berislav particularly remembers Mike George’s lectures on personal development. “He uniquely opens your mind. You learn not to attach to things and to live freely. It was a confirmation for me that this is the way to live. Some modules build on corporate knowledge, but George’s really touched me.”
Balancing Personal and Professional Life
During his MBA studies, Berislav became a father. “It was challenging, but I’m very organized. I prioritize my calendar; once something is scheduled, I commit to it. That’s how I managed to balance the MBA, my career, and my family.”
Leadership as Creating New Leaders
When asked what a successful leader means to him, he answers without hesitation: “A leader is someone who creates new leaders. They’re not afraid to surround themselves with people who are smarter and better, giving them freedom and sharing their experience. I’m not intimidated if my people are smarter than me; I’m happy when I can pass on my life’s lessons to them.”
Today, Berislav is also a mentor, from the Bird incubator to young colleagues at Bitelab, and even to his own son. “I love giving back. Someone once gave to me, and now it’s my turn to give back.”
A Message to Those Considering an MBA
“I would absolutely recommend an MBA to anyone. It gives you the breadth and confidence to sit at the table with a marketing director, a finance director, an HR director, an IT director, or a CEO and understand their goals and way of thinking. This makes leading teams and projects much easier. And perhaps most importantly, the MBA gives you a network and friendships that last a lifetime.”
