Stephanie E. Trpkov - COTRUGLI

“To get to the next level, rapid growth in this regional environment was needed and COTRUGLI became my catalyst towards excellence.”

I have lived several lifetimes, the most impactful turning point being the choice to move to Croatia by virtue of marriage in 2003. Armed with two degrees which turned out not to be acknowledged in Croatia, and a negative professional starting position where a total lack of networks was just one of many barriers, the options were to tackle the challenges or accept defeat and move to the UK, where my degrees would be immediately accepted. Defeat was unacceptable to me, and as doors kept closing in Croatia, a window opened in Slovenia.

The opportunities in Slovenia eventually led to various projects in Croatia. However, despite a varied experience in business including managerial roles, my background in biochemistry meant that I was locked in one perspective, unable to lead effectively, due to knowledge gaps in finance and economics. To get to the next level, rapid growth in this regional environment was needed and COTRUGLI became my catalyst towards excellence.

The integrated skills acquired from completing an Executive MBA program at COTRUGLI Business School made me confident in the value I bring to my peers and adopted society. I also gained valuable friendships and contacts. Based on my EMBA experience, I aced the job interview at the World Bank Group and got hired to work on major strategic projects, even before formally graduating. Now I am an established World Bank consultant specialised in strategic industry transition, specifically in the energy sector. I am also an entrepreneur, a member of several expert committees of the EC supporting high tech SMEs, and an expert contributor to the UNECE sustainable cities agenda. Choosing COTRUGLI was a leap of faith that fostered my personal development in ways I could not have predicted.