From Engineer to Innovation Leader at Visage Technologies
“I learned that problems are normal, that they need to be identified and solved, but also that it’s important to trust your team and allow them to make decisions independently.”
Hrvoje Šamija, Chief Business Development Officer at Visage Technologies, has built his career on the intersection of technical expertise and team leadership. From his high school days, he demonstrated initiative, leading his school’s programming team in competitions, and later serving as the president of the student council during university. This combination of technical competence and leadership became the foundation of his professional philosophy.
Blending Technical Knowledge and Team Leadership as a Career Foundation
After graduating, Hrvoje began working in smaller companies, combining software development with project and team management. This hands-on approach quickly taught him the importance of balancing technical and managerial tasks. His journey at Visage Technologies began in 2016, when he joined a small team of about ten people. He became involved in a project focused on automated driving based on computer vision—a technology he had studied during university and pursued in his doctoral research.
From Startup to Global Company
Over the years, Hrvoje played a key role in transforming Visage Technologies from a small startup into an established company with over 180 employees. His responsibilities extended beyond managing people to structuring teams, defining processes, and implementing changes. He emphasized how the Executive MBA program at COTRUGLI Business School was pivotal in his professional development. Through modules, group work, and practical case studies, Hrvoje learned how to strategically apply knowledge, use frameworks for business development, and better structure internal teams.
“The greatest benefit of the COTRUGLI Executive MBA program was the practical learning through the experiences of others and the advice of mentors,” Hrvoje highlights. “I learned that problems are normal, that they need to be identified and solved, but also that it’s important to trust your team and allow them to make decisions independently.”
The Executive MBA program helped Hrvoje develop skills that supported the growth of Visage Technologies, from leading project teams to strategic business planning. Additionally, implementing COTRUGLI methodologies and frameworks enabled him to better track projects, optimize processes, and improve team efficiency. “Without the knowledge and tools I gained through the Executive MBA program, managing such complex teams and projects would have been significantly more challenging,” Hrvoje adds. The program also provided him with a structured approach to thinking about company growth, product development strategies, and maintaining innovation within the team.
Leadership, Innovation, and Lessons to Pass On
Today, Hrvoje focuses on developing algorithms for automated driving, including work on the world’s first official Level 3 autonomous vehicle. His teams work on technologies that recognize objects and situations, enabling features like automatic braking and lane-keeping. Hrvoje emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and adapting to new technologies, as well as the value of maintaining mentoring relationships with colleagues and alumni.
Through all challenges, Hrvoje remains committed to the philosophy that a leader must trust their team, take responsibility, and learn from mistakes—both their own and others’. His advice to candidates considering an MBA is not to choose a program solely for the diploma but for the practical tools, mentoring experience, and network it offers. “I truly felt that COTRUGLI Business School and the Executive MBA program were places where knowledge could be immediately applied to real business situations. If you want to advance your career, understand business strategy, and develop team leadership skills, the COTRUGLI Executive MBA program is an investment that pays off many times over.”
Hrvoje also stresses the importance of engagement during the program: “Active participation, sharing experiences, and applying what you’ve learned in practice are key to maximizing the benefits of the program.”