A Leader Must Listen, Make Decisions, and Be Both Father and Mother to Their Team
“My advice to everyone is to keep the momentum once you start. It's hard to come back later.”
Nearly two decades ago, when the opportunity for a scholarship arose through a collaboration between Končar and COTRUGLI Business School, Nusret Šuvalić didn’t hesitate. As a newly appointed director at the time, he felt that a period of intense learning lay ahead and that the MBA would be the perfect chance to complement his technical expertise with managerial tools.
“I was part of the second generation at COTRUGLI. There were about twenty of us in the group, and we had lectures every weekend; it was an extraordinary experience. Some things I already knew, but the program opened up so much more for me, especially when I look back on it now, twenty years later.”
The Value of Knowledge That Lasts
Although participants came from various industries, lasting friendships and occasional professional connections were formed. “We didn’t work on joint projects, but when I need help or my colleagues need me, we always try to find a way to assist, whether through contacts, suppliers, or advice.”
Among the many modules, Šuvalić highlights finance as the most valuable knowledge for any manager with a technical background. “Professor Gupta led that module, and it was incredibly valuable to me. At this level, you need to understand financial reports, plans, and investments. These are skills that make a real difference for any manager.”
Balancing the demands of work and family, the MBA journey wasn’t always smooth. “I didn’t complete all my exams within the expected timeframe. I graduated in 2014, almost ten years later. Business and personal obligations kept me occupied in the meantime, but I didn’t want to leave anything unfinished. When my colleague and I decided to finish, we said: now we have to find the time and see it through. My advice to everyone is to keep the momentum once you start. It’s hard to come back later.”
Leadership as Responsibility to People
With a career spanning more than two decades at the helm of a company, Nusret emphasizes the importance of mentors and teachers: “I was fortunate to learn from older colleagues, most of whom are now retired. My predecessor was my role model and mentor. Even today, when I face a challenging situation, we still talk. I don’t ask him to tell me what to do, but to challenge my decisions, that’s invaluable.”
On the other hand, Nusret now passes on his knowledge to others. “All the managers I’ve chosen and appointed, I am, as I like to say, both father and mother to them in the company. I will always support anyone who shows ambition.”
When asked what makes a good leader, Nusret answers simply but with the weight of experience: “A leader must make decisions quickly, even if they make a mistake – there’s time to correct it. Hesitation often costs more. They must know how to listen to people, be open and transparent, and above all, care for their team, which sometimes means being a psychologist, a father, and a mother.”
Today, with the benefit of hindsight, Nusret sees the MBA as a cornerstone of his professional development. “I believe that anyone who wants to advance in management should go through an MBA. The experience changes you because it teaches you to think more broadly, make better decisions, and understand people on a deeper level.”