WU Executive Academy Podcast

In this episode, Karin Apjarova delves into the topic of success. She and the host, Čedomir Pušica, talk about the colorful hobbies that shape her life and how these impact her professional outlook. They also discuss what makes for a good leader, how her team works with account-based marketing (ABM), and what helps Karin make decisions.

What makes change management processes successful? Rita Jakusch is an evangelist of diversely set up companies who is a strong promoter of communication when it comes to change management processes. The lawyer by training and MBA alumna explains her career transition into general management and how she tackled some professional challenges (especially in the change management sphere). She's known to be a passionate leader of change, whose first project was at a Bulgarian bank at the young age of 30.

In this lively interview, Barbara Sladek is a self-made entrepreneur who started out as a scientist. She talks about the differences between the scientific and corporate working environments, plus the important steps she took to build her business. The Professional MBA Finance alumna explains how calculations, finding the right staff, and making the necessary strategic changes are all part of a successful business.

Listen to this interview to learn about different sides of management that you might not yet have explored. You're bound to learn something new and you will laugh too.

Where a person grows up often shapes how they see the world. Alexander Resch was born in South Tyrol and is used to living in different cultures at the same time. By drawing on his different job placements and from his Global Executive MBA program, Alexander talks about doing intercultural business with Cedomir Pusica. The two also discuss educational reforms, tough management decisions, and the impacts of the pandemic on the banking system.

During the pandemic, Timea Reicher fought hard to protect her front-line staff at Slovnaft, a large oil refining company. At the same time, she managed to turn the company’s services around with a fresh start, nearly doubling its profits. Timea Reicher is a Member of their Board of Directors of Slovnaft and was voted the best female leader in Slovakia last year by the Slovak edition of FORBES magazine. In this podcast, Cedomir and Timea look at critical aspects of HR management. “It’s you and your decision based on what kind of culture you create in your department,” is a quote Timea is particularly fond of. Check out this podcast if you’re interested in hearing about this successful work culture that brought real results.

If the entrepreneurial spirit moves you, check out this episode to get advice on starting a business - getting solid financial backing and making for smooth relations with investors are brought up. Anatoly Evdokimov is responsible for securing new investments in sports tech. The alumni ambassador supports startups and has years of experience in investment evaluations. He and Čedomir Pušica discuss the main milestones in startups and why it is good to sometimes pivot as a company founder, a technique also seen in basketball.

Last year, Adela Mehic-Dzanic set a personal goal of sharing my career story with 1000 women across the globe. As an expat, the Vice President of the Female Leaders Network and an MBA graduate, she definitely has learned a thing or two about networking. Hear how she created meaningful relationships out of regular networking situations to advance her career.

Changes in the work environment can be scary for many people. Mae Leyrer discusses why fighting change is a waste of energy and why you should focus on searching for the opportunity that this moment can hold for you instead.

The change management expert also unhesitatingly shares her leadership strategies as CEO of a company with a € 50 million turnover. The company was dangerously teetering on the edge of bankruptcy before Mae turned it around.

The Global Executive MBA alumna is also a strong proponent of breaking familiar norms, such as the 8-5 workday.

On a more personal note, the mother of a son also shared stories from her time balancing her MBA with family responsibilities and expectations from her own executive mindset.

Peter Wilfinger is the second graduate to be interviewed. The former president of our International Advisory Board (IAB) talks about the value of our alumni network (including networking tips!) and his interesting professional path.

The WU Executive Academy has now launched its own podcast series: real stories from our community and inspiration from leaders and entrepreneurs around the world.

As the host, Čedomir Pušica says, “it is my task to ask the right questions so that you can learn more about the person, their industry, their mindset, and how they managed to bring positive change to businesses and their communities.”

In our first episode, he speaks with the CEO of Fairo, Olena Khlon, MBA alumna, on her leadership style, turning the impossible into the possible.