Ivan Pleše

When Ivan Pleše decided to enroll in the Executive MBA program at COTRUGLI Business School, he had no idea how much that decision would change the course of his life and career. Today, years later, he looks back on a successful career at Index.hr and a bold leap into the world of entrepreneurship, a decision he says he wouldn’t have made without the experience and knowledge gained through COTRUGLI.

“A lot has changed,” Pleše recalls. “I went from being part of a large company to starting a completely new chapter by launching my own business, focused on monetizing premium media in the Central and Eastern European region. It was a leap of faith, a decision that required a lot of courage because my position at Index was fantastic. But through my education at COTRUGLI and interactions with alumni, that entrepreneurial spirit was awakened. What once seemed like an enormous risk became understandable and achievable,” he explains.

The Beginning of Transformation

The decision to pursue an MBA, Pleše says, came from a desire for further development and professional growth. “At the time, my employer encouraged the management team to pursue education, and COTRUGLI stood out as the best option on the market. I wanted to expand my knowledge and strengthen my position within the company, but also to grow personally,” he says.

“COTRUGLI attracts people who already have significant business experience but want to understand the bigger picture, not just how decisions are made, but why. That’s where the transformation happens – from manager to leader, from employee to entrepreneur,” Ivan emphasizes.

Values That Stay

Pleše highlights that the greatest value of the program was learning from the experiences of others. “I learned the most from real-life examples shared by colleagues and lecturers. COTRUGLI taught me that every problem has multiple perspectives and approaches, and that having a broad view is the key to every solution. When you understand different viewpoints, your decision-making becomes much more effective.”

Despite the demands of work and personal life, the MBA experience was, he admits, both challenging and fulfilling. “It’s tough to balance a demanding job, studies, and personal life. There are moments when you wonder how you’ll manage it all, but in the end, you realize you’re not alone. Everyone is going through similar challenges, and that gives you extra strength,” he says with a laugh.

The Power of Community and Networking

Although his business commitments mean he’s not always in touch with his classmates, Pleše emphasizes that the COTRUGLI community is “a network you can always return to”.

“The topics are always familiar, the challenges recognizable, and that sense of connection doesn’t fade,” he says. Some of these connections have even led to concrete business collaborations: “Through COTRUGLI contacts, we completed a small web development project. It turned out great.”

Mentorship and Leadership

Today, Pleše runs a small, agile company with his partner Luka and often finds himself in a mentoring role with younger colleagues. “It’s not classic mentoring, though – it’s more like the daily ‘madness’ where we’re all learning from each other,” he adds with a smile.

He has a clear vision of what makes a successful leader:

“A leader is someone who leads by example, not just words. Someone who cares about their people, not just the results. People are the heart of every company. If we forget that they’re living, breathing individuals and not just names in a spreadsheet, we’ve lost the essence of leadership.”

Advice for Future MBA Students

For those considering an MBA, Pleše has straightforward advice: “Do it. Especially if you’re missing the bigger picture and the context of the business world. COTRUGLI provides structure. It teaches you how to connect different business segments into a cohesive whole, how to understand processes and the people within them.”

Ivan adds that these outcomes are what make COTRUGLI Business School stand out: “Our alumni are the best ambassadors. They’re proof that education isn’t just theory but real change in thinking, decision-making, and action.”

Finally, Pleše offers a message to anyone considering leaping into entrepreneurship:

“Don’t wait for the perfect moment. If you feel passionate about an idea, write it down, develop it, and give it a try. Risk is part of the journey, but without that first step, you’ll never know what you’re truly capable of.”