Mario Martinek

For Mario Martinek, a pivotal moment occurred during his time at COTRUGLI. “I decided to start my own business while I was still studying. I felt an inner drive, but it was the energy and ambition of my fellow students that pushed me forward: ‘Now is the right time, you’re ready for entrepreneurship.’”

An MBA as a Springboard for Courage and Vision

After eight years in managerial positions at T-Mobile and Whirlpool, Mario realized that the corporate world was holding him back, limiting his freedom to develop his own ideas.

For him, the MBA was more than just a diploma – it was a springboard that gave him the courage to step into entrepreneurship. “The greatest benefit I gained from the MBA was the confidence, knowledge, and experience needed to take on the entrepreneurial challenge. The MBA taught me how to connect personal growth with business skills and how to rely on my own competencies in unfamiliar environments.”

When asked what motivated him to enroll in the MBA, he recalls: “I wanted something new, something that didn’t yet exist in Croatia at the time. The program combined personal development with professional skills, and we were fortunate to have professors in the first generation who knew how to bridge those two worlds.”

One lecture that particularly stood out to him was by Mike George, which he still considers the foundation of his business mindset: “His method and the seven questions you always ask yourself: Who am I? How do I work? How do I master myself? Where am I? Why am I here? What’s next? How do I keep empowering myself? These remain the cornerstone of managerial thinking for me. Even after twenty years, I still keep his brochure – it’s my personal guide for self-development and business vision, and I often revisit it, especially in today’s world of constant change.”

But what shaped Mario the most wasn’t just the lessons; it was the people he met. “They were there to share their experiences, and I shared mine. We built a network of contacts and friendships that lasts to this day. That sense of community, support, and inspiration was priceless.”

20 Years of Creating Value and Inspiration

After completing his studies, Mario founded an alumni group for sports activities, which has been active for twenty years, with basketball meetups every Monday.

Studying for an MBA wasn’t easy. “It was an intense but incredibly rewarding period. I gained the knowledge, experience, connections, and confidence I needed to start my own business. Every challenge during the program was a step toward building my own company.”

Today, twenty years after earning his MBA, Mario runs a small but specialized company with around fifteen employees, operating in twenty European markets. “The greatest satisfaction comes from helping young entrepreneurs start their own businesses—we provide them with equipment, knowledge, and support. Around three hundred new companies in our part of Europe have been launched with our help. This network, which we call ‘One Team,’ continues to thrive today.”

Values That Shape Leaders

Reflecting on leadership lessons, Mario says: “I always strive to understand the people around me, the business, and the world we operate in. An ideal leader is authentic, has a clearly defined path they follow, and is honest in their thoughts and actions, consistent, and reliable. Leaders like that change the world and create lasting value.”

For those looking to start their own business, his advice is clear: “If you truly love what you do and are willing to put your heart and knowledge into it, you won’t give up. The most important thing is to feel happiness and fulfillment in your work – if that’s there, the results and environment will naturally follow.”

On the MBA experience, he concludes: “It opens up horizons. Meeting new people, exploring different industries, and learning from practical examples is something no other form of education can offer. Every new insight and piece of knowledge can be a springboard for new projects and the creation of new value.”