On the MBA Experience, Career, and the Definition of Success
“The MBA taught me that there’s always a solution and how to find it.”
When reflecting on his MBA journey, Marjan Jakobac recalls the beginning with honesty and humor. “Primarily because of the people,” he says when asked why he chose COTRUGLI. “I saw individuals from previous generations whom I considered more successful and smarter than myself. At the time, I was the youngest in my Executive MBA cohort, and I thought that if I wanted to progress, I needed to learn from them. That’s what drew me to COTRUGLI.”
I Wanted to Learn from Those Better Than Me
However, when asked to compare his career before and after the MBA, he responds candidly: “Honestly, it’s difficult. My generation and I went through two major crises—the financial and real estate crises. External circumstances shaped my career more than my own desires or plans. I’d even say my career was guided by what was possible at the time, from early entrepreneurial attempts to working in large corporations like LIDL and Agrokor, and then back to entrepreneurship.”
Today, Marjan is an entrepreneur with an impressive portfolio of projects. “My main business is coffee—with a focus on innovation and sourcing. Additionally, I distribute MUST coffee and Radgonske Gorice sparkling wines, Penine. I also run a CBD retail chain, LA CANNTINA, and even a construction company. I do a lot, and yes, I don’t sleep much—you can tell by the bags under my eyes,” he laughs. “On top of that, I had the energy drink MTV UP!, which I successfully sold to a multinational company in 2020. That was my biggest and most significant project so far. In general, I think my strength lies in executing risky ideas—creating something from scratch and, when the time is right, selling it to someone smarter.”
His proudest career moment is the global success of the MTV UP! brand: “It felt like conquering the world. From Nigeria to Nepal, Australia, America, China, and Russia, we were everywhere. A special moment was having a booth at the world’s largest trade fair in Shanghai, alongside giants like Coca-Cola and Apple. That was a privilege few experience, to take an idea from Croatia and conquer the world with it. I feel deeply honored and grateful for the rare opportunity to travel the world and achieve success with my own project.”
My Role Models Are Values, Not Individuals
When discussing inspiration, Marjan says he doesn’t look for role models in individuals but in values: “I don’t have one role model. My role models are values, and I try to take the best from every person. No one is perfect, but there’s always something worth learning or adopting.”
He recalls a few MBA modules that left a lasting impression: “I remember the modules in Rovinj the most, especially entrepreneurship and finance. They were long and content-rich but also great opportunities for networking and connecting outside Zagreb.”
Although he was too young at the time to immediately apply what he learned, he later realized how much the program had given him: “The MBA taught me that there’s always a solution and how to find it. The greatest impact, however, came from the people—older, more experienced individuals from whom I could learn and observe in various situations.”
Success Is Balance
For Marjan, a successful leader is someone who “has passion, vision, perseverance, and believes in what they do.” He adds, “They must have charisma and be a good speaker. Leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all; everyone defines success differently. For me personally, success is the balance between money and time. With full respect for those who live for their work, I work to live.”
In conclusion, he shares two messages: “Don’t be afraid to be alone. It’s often cold at the top, and loneliness is a sign that you’re thinking for yourself. That’s the price of leadership.”
And to those considering an MBA, he advises: “Take every opportunity. Connect as much as possible, learn from each other, and enjoy the time you spend there.”