How the EMBA Shaped My Professional Journey
“I advanced to the position of director, which was a significant leap that I owe to COTRUGLI and the skills I developed.”
Vedran Gašpić, an alumnus of the COTRUGLI EMBA program, has experienced remarkable career growth over the past two years. With experience managing international projects and holding the title of Project Manager, Vedran found the EMBA program to be the perfect opportunity to complement his engineering background with strategic knowledge in economics, finance, and management. Through the program, he strengthened his communication skills, deepened his understanding of marketing and finance, and developed a leadership style that blends expertise with empathy.
“It has definitely and directly impacted my career because from the very beginning to the very end, my communication skills improved drastically – through strategy, marketing, and finance,” Vedran shares.
Reflecting on his start at the COTRUGLI EMBA, Vedran recalls: “When I joined, I was stepping into an area where I was relatively inexperienced, but at the time, I was already a Project Manager leading international projects around the world. A major transformation happened within two years thanks to the knowledge I gained here. I advanced to the position of director, which was a significant leap that I owe to COTRUGLI and the skills I developed.”
People, Experiences, and Lessons That Last
On his journey to this advancement, the people who guided and inspired him played a key role: “Throughout the program, there were always individuals who guided and supported us. I have to highlight all the professors who influenced us and generously shared their knowledge; they were truly our guiding lights. Additionally, the dean and my mentor had a significant impact on my career and helped elevate it to a new level.”
The reason for pursuing the EMBA was his desire to expand his strategic and financial knowledge: “As an electrical engineer, my experience was primarily in engineering, but I lacked the strategic thinking, financial, and economic perspective. I’ve now complemented my engineering mindset, which I developed over years of working globally, with knowledge that ties it all together. The EMBA gave me the crown jewel – a title that enables a unified approach to both economics and engineering.”
For Vedran, the most valuable parts of the EMBA program were those focused on personal development: “The most interesting modules for me were the ones that were more about self-reflection, where you could build yourself, boost your confidence, and apply that in the business world.”
His fondest memories are tied to the people and teamwork: “Every interaction with the people I met, my team with whom I worked for a year developing our business idea, and the time spent in Šibenik at Solaris – it was all an amazing experience, filled with great people, including the professors.”
Balancing the demanding EMBA program with international business commitments and personal life was challenging but achievable: “My pace was fast because I traveled the world frequently, but with enough determination, I believe everything can be managed, and that’s exactly how it turned out. Some modules were more demanding than others, but anyone willing to put in the effort can fit it all into their schedule.”
Leadership, Balance, and Advice for Future Generations
While Vedran is not currently a mentor, he is open to the role: “I’m not a mentor at the moment, but I’m definitely open to it because I believe that with the knowledge I’ve gained and the approach I have today, I can help someone.”
For him, a successful leader is someone who knows where they came from and lifts others: “A successful leader is someone who reaches their position through knowledge and hard work but remains aware of where they started and is willing to help others. Such a leader can connect with anyone, assess the situation, and inspire others to become leaders themselves.”
His advice for those stepping into a leadership role for the first time: “You should definitely embrace it because nothing happens randomly. It’s important to understand that setbacks are possible, but what truly matters is how many times you can get back up.”
And for those considering enrolling in the EMBA, Vedran has a clear message: “If you’re even thinking about it, you should do it. The first step is the hardest, but once you take it, everything else falls into place, leading to an incredible journey. I’ve had the chance to experience this in my career and on my professional path. As always, every great beginning starts with small steps. As J. F. Kennedy said: ‘A rising tide lifts all boats’.”
