Boris Bajtl

Boris Bajtl, Global Cybersecurity Presales Director at Marlink Cyber, has built his career at the intersection of technology, business strategy, and people development over nearly three decades of professional experience. In this interview, he discusses how the EMBA program impacted his career, as well as his views on leadership, learning, and the ability to adapt in times of constant change.

When asked about his professional journey, he smiles with a quiet understanding of what it means to grow through experience. “The EMBA certainly had an impact on me,” he says. “I wouldn’t say it was a single turning point, but it truly shaped who I am. It enhanced my skills, which then, directly or indirectly, influenced my future work, career, and even my life.”

From Engineer to Leader

Boris is an engineer with almost thirty years of corporate experience. He began his career at Siemens and later continued at Atos, where he was fortunate to work for companies that invested in their people and encouraged their development. “I started strictly on the technical side, but over time I transitioned into leadership roles. These positions require a different set of skills: managing people, strategic thinking, and everything that defines a true leader.”

At that point in his career, he began to feel the need for formal knowledge in the area of finance – a field that had been somewhat unfamiliar to him until then. “I realized I lacked an understanding of the financials necessary to effectively manage departments and make decisions. That was a clear reason for enrolling in an EMBA program. And I wasn’t wrong.”

The COTRUGLI EMBA – Knowledge, Structure, and a New Perspective

“My goal was to grasp the mechanisms of finance while systematizing everything I had learned from practical experience,” Boris explains. “The professors were excellent, and the program provided me with structure, breadth, and the confidence to lead. It was especially important for me to be able to competently engage in discussions with colleagues from other fields, to understand what they meant when they spoke of financial challenges, even without being a finance expert myself.”

Beyond the academic aspects, the EMBA experience carried a strong human dimension for him. “The best takeaway from the EMBA has been the people. I met colleagues who share similar values and goals, coming from completely different industries. Through group projects, you come to realize that business challenges are truly universal – they just go by different names.”

Challenges and Motivation

Traveling all the way from Osijek to attend each class added an extra layer of challenge. “Classes were held on the weekends, and between work, travel, and exam preparations, it wasn’t easy. Yet, I was extremely motivated; it never felt like pressure but rather a reward,” he recalls. “Honestly, it was more difficult returning home than setting off. I would leave full of expectations and energy, only to get back exhausted—but fulfilled.”

New Opportunities and Changes

After completing the EMBA, Boris’s career began to steer towards the field of cybersecurity, an area that increasingly captured his interest. “At the time, I wasn’t involved in security, but I recognized the trend and decided to launch a security segment within my then-company,” he explains. “After a great deal of effort, I managed to establish a department that rapidly grew to 60 people. It was a challenge: starting from scratch and building something that would become strategically significant. That project also showed me just how critical cybersecurity had become as a business and societal challenge, a realization that later significantly influenced the further direction of my career.”

This experience opened up new perspectives. Today, Boris serves as the Global Cybersecurity Presales Director at Marlink Cyber, where he positions advanced cybersecurity solutions for international clients, particularly within the maritime industry. It marks a new professional chapter, yet his approach remains the same: anticipate changes and actively shape the future. “I don’t want to be just another cog in the machine,”Boris asserts. “I’m motivated by the opportunity to bring something new to the organization and to actively influence our direction.”

Learning, Adapting, and Building Community

Boris views education as a continuous journey: “There is never a time to stop learning. I’m currently enrolled in a lifelong learning program, a member of the Economic Council at Algebra Bernays University, serve on the Quality Board at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Information Technology in Osijek, and am a co-founder and vice-chair of the Croatian Cybersecurity Institute. Learning fulfills me, not only for professional development but also for personal satisfaction.”

Interestingly, while many advocate for the inclusion of cutting-edge technological topics in MBA programs, Boris holds a different view: “I don’t believe that cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, or blockchain necessarily need to be part of the curriculum. These technologies change so rapidly. What an MBA should provide are the fundamentals: adaptability, strategic planning, and critical thinking. If you develop those, you’re ready for whatever comes next.”

On Leadership and Learning from People

Throughout his career, Boris has been fortunate to work with inspiring leaders who, he says, significantly shaped his professional path. “One person, my former foreign manager, taught me what it means to build a vision, resolve conflicts, and collaborate across different cultures. Another, although present only briefly, demonstrated how knowledge and determination can drive tremendous change in a very short time. Both showed me what real leadership is.”

When asked what it means to be a successful leader, Boris offers a thoughtful response: “A leader isn’t someone who knows everything, but someone who can bring people together around a common idea. A leader is trusted by others and is willing to learn and change. A successful leader continually adapts while staying true to his or her values.”

His advice to those stepping into leadership roles for the first time is simple yet profound: “Listen! First and foremost, speak less and listen more. Before making a decision, you need to understand the context and the people involved. Trust is the foundation of any relationship, and without it, leadership cannot succeed. On the other hand, don’t be afraid to make decisions. It’s better to consistently implement an imperfect strategy than to change direction constantly. It’s important to have a clear path and stick with it.”

The MBA as an Investment in Yourself

Towards the end of our conversation, Boris offers a piece of advice for anyone considering an MBA program: “It’s a personal decision. If someone thinks that simply earning an MBA will automatically make them better or smarter, then this program isn’t for them. An MBA isn’t a magic wand. It’s a platform. It offers tools, methods, contacts, and opportunities, but how much you gain from it is entirely up to you.”

“If you’re willing to work on yourself and eager to progress, an MBA is the right place. If not, it’ll just be a waste of time and money. I came away with the very best parts: a new perspective, the confidence, and the belief that opportunities should be created rather than waited for.”