Dea Marušić

Reflecting on her time in the COTRUGLI MBA program, Dea Marušić smiles as she admits that it changed not only her career but also herself. “The MBA impacted me both directly and indirectly. Directly through the knowledge, new skills, and people I met. Indirectly because the process shaped me personally and professionally.”

The Power of Community in a Time of Isolation

She enrolled in the MBA during a time etched in everyone’s memory—the pandemic of 2020/2021. “Those were the years of the coronavirus; everything was online. That’s when the importance of personal initiative became clear. A few of us from the cohort created our own small community. That group has stayed together to this day; we meet every month and have become true friends. That’s perhaps the greatest treasure I took from the program.”

Professors Who Change Perspectives

Although the pandemic limited physical interactions, Dea recalls several modules that left a lasting impression. “The first module was Managerial Economics with Professor Evans. He shifted us from a business mindset to a ‘learning mode’ and laid the foundation for how to open our minds and approach every new topic. Then came Professor Kfuri and his modules on Strategic Management and Strategic Marketing, which were world-class. He teaches you to stop seeing yourself as someone ‘from a small Balkan environment.’ His approach gives you the confidence to step boldly onto the global stage.”

For Dea, the MBA was more than an educational program; it was a framework for changing perspectives. “The pandemic forced all of us to rethink our ways of thinking. COTRUGLI gave me the space to view that crisis differently, not just through the lens of work and family concerns but strategically: how business and the world would change. Without that community, I don’t know who I could have discussed these topics with on that level.”

Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone and Growing

During the MBA, Dea changed jobs, describing the transition as a significant step out of her comfort zone.

“I moved from a company where I had spent nine years to a startup with just five employees at the time. When I left, I was the COO of a company with over 40 people and clients on three continents. That experience taught me more than anything else about growth, risk, and responsibility.”

Today, she is at the beginning of a new chapter with Croz, where her task is to enhance an already stable system and further emphasize the importance of a true consultative approach in the highly competitive IT industry.

“The challenge now is different; it’s no longer about scaling but about fine-tuning the existing system to deliver even greater value to clients.”

Throughout her career, Dea has learned the importance of an environment that fosters growth.

“Someone once told me, ‘Surround yourself with people who will say yes.’ If you’re working with someone who constantly says ‘no,’ that’s not the person for you. I’ve always thrived in environments where I had those ‘yes’ people, those who support your ideas and give you the space to grow.”

Leadership That Begins with Learning, and Never Stops

When discussing leadership, her vision is clear: “A leader must understand every aspect of the organization—from technology and the market to people and capital. A broad knowledge base gives credibility. And if they’re also good with people, able to share knowledge and inspire, that’s a winning combination.”

Her advice to new leaders stepping into their roles for the first time comes from experience: “Find a mentor. Someone you can openly talk to about the situations you’ll face. When you move from being a colleague to being a boss, you lose some of those sounding boards. It’s important to have a trusted person by your side—a support system.’”

For anyone considering an MBA, her message is simple: “If you’re even asking the question, the answer is ‘yes’. There will always be reasons not to—work, children, lack of time… But the best time for many things in life is right now.”