Stability as a Sign: It’s Time for the Next Step
“Throughout the program, we gave each other confidence through knowledge, experiences, and honest conversations. That has a real impact on your work.”
Darko Babić’s professional journey, now as Head of Seed Division at AgroChem Maks, has been marked by dynamic changes, challenges, and decisions that required courage. After years of successfully managing operations as a Country Manager, he felt the need for a new spark. “I had implemented everything, the systems were stable, but I was missing challenges. I knew it was time to work on myself,” Darko recalls.
Although he had significant management experience, he realized he lacked formal managerial education and a deeper understanding of finance. This realization led him to enroll in the COTRUGLI Executive MBA program, a journey briefly interrupted by an unexpected career shift and an intense engagement in a new company.
“It was too much; I had to pause my studies for a year to stabilize myself. But I knew I wanted to return.”
The MBA as a Space for Validation and Growth
Darko openly shares that the MBA gave him more than just knowledge. It provided the validation he needed at that moment to feel “good enough.”
He worked under demanding conditions, taking over markets and teams in crisis, often facing professionally challenging and emotionally draining situations.
“When you step into a role to fix something someone else complicated, you often ask yourself: Am I up to this? The MBA helped me see that we’re all in the same boat. That we all face similar challenges and doubts.”
Interactions with colleagues, group projects, and shared experiences gave him a new level of confidence: “I realized I had the capacity. I just needed to grit my teeth.”
He particularly remembers modules on marketing, sales, and HR, as well as group assignments: “In a group, you realize how important it is to be a team player. That’s one of the most crucial business skills.”
Beyond professional knowledge, the support among participants was a vital part of the experience for him: “Throughout the program, we gave each other confidence through knowledge, experiences, and honest conversations. That has a real impact on your work.”
A New Beginning at AgroChem and Building the Selectis Brand
After a series of intense professional challenges, Darko decided to take a new step in his career. At that moment, the management of AgroChem Maks approached him with a clear idea – they wanted to launch a new seed division and needed someone to build it from the ground up.
“They said they wanted to start a seed division and thought I was the ‘Neymar of this business’. I told them not to exaggerate, but we could give it a try.” This offer, delivered with respect and trust, was exactly what he needed after the previous period.
Joining AgroChem marked the beginning of creating an entirely new division. Darko activated international contacts, organized variety and hybrid testing, developed a strategy, and laid the foundation for the new Selectis brand.
“We started with testing, selecting what was worthwhile, and step by step built commercial activity as a new brand. The first year of sales exceeded expectations. We were pleasantly surprised by such success.”
In this new environment, he also found something he hadn’t had in a long time: professional respect, autonomy, and the freedom to create. “It’s a company with great achievements, yet they approached me with exceptional fairness. That meant a lot to me.”
On the Alumni Community, Mentorship, and Business Connections
The MBA also brought him a strong network of contacts that he still uses in his work. “I stayed in touch with many, and sometimes colleagues from the program helped me solve specific business situations between companies. That’s a value you can’t measure.”
Thanks to his positive experiences, he eagerly joined the alumni mentoring platform: “If I can help younger colleagues, I’m happy to. We’ve all needed a mentor at some point.”
He recognizes the importance of authentic connections among alumni: “If you stay at small talk, the community doesn’t thrive. Only when people open up and truly share their experiences does the alumni story gain meaning. In a way, we’re your fighters on the ground.”
A Message to His Younger Self and Candidates Considering an MBA
“To younger Darko, I’d say: calm down. Don’t waste energy where it’s not needed. Balance is everything, and sometimes you need to say: Now it’s my time.”
Today, he sees the importance of self-care more clearly than ever and believes personal development is just as important as professional growth.
To candidates considering the Executive MBA program, he says: “If there’s a spark, follow it. If you don’t go, you’ll regret it. It was hard for me to balance work and study, but if I hadn’t done it, I would’ve missed out on something big. The knowledge, the network, and the exchange of experiences you gain; that’s priceless.”