A broader learning environment that only a University like Oxford can offer

3 minute read
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Top of the class

Poets & Quants Best & Brightest Executive MBA Graduates

Andrzej is a recipient of the Executive MBA Director's Awards and has recently been listed in the Poets and Quants' Best & Brightest Executive MBAs Of 2022.

I was delighted and humbled to be named one of the 2022 Best and Brightest EMBAs. I am also deeply honoured to have been profiled, along with Saïd Business School, in the Poets & Quants article as one of a handful of top students in this year's global cohort. This is a unique privilege, and I am grateful to my family, fellow classmates, faculty, and the Oxford Saïd leadership team for their support and encouragement throughout this unique learning experience.

Why the Oxford Executive MBA?

My mentor, the Honourable Peter Milliken, was an Oxford Alumnus. He instilled in me the value of the broader learning environment that only a university like Oxford can offer. I remember us discussing his formative years at Oxford over many a bottle of wine and the smile on his face when he would recall the classes, debates and friends that he made along the way. He’s a wise man and his advice was spot on.

The experience has made me grow so much as an individual. From the thought-provoking lectures with some of the preeminent business minds in the world, to the spirited debates with classmates on issues which are gripping our world today, every moment has been an opportunity to learn more about myself and the world around us.

What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work?

I learned that your experience, much like the courses in an EMBA programme, is a toolkit – the more varied your tools, the more challenges you can solve. At work it taught me to specifically hire new staff for my teams with experience in some of the fields we directly learned about in our EMBA courses. The team became more thematically diverse, and these individuals were invaluable during our final tests ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

FIFA World Cup, two EMBA modules and becoming a parent

In late 2021 I was in Qatar for almost two months working on a test event ahead of the FIFA World Cup. At the same time, I needed to work on two EMBA modules and two assignments, all while also supporting my 7-month pregnant wife back in Zurich. What made it work was the support of my wife and the professionalism of my staff. We didn’t drop a single ball, delivered on our test event programme, and on 2/2/22 my daughter Ada was born!

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What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA programme?

The balance of work-life-study is key on and off campus. Make sure you plan your time well but don’t be too rigid while on campus. Some of the most amazing learning opportunities are outside the classroom.

Fun fact

I was the first ever intern at the Canadian Space Agency. I did it by pestering the Canadian Industry Minister and eventually he caved in. It was a success and the Canadian Space Agency made it a real programme open to high-school students inspiring hundreds of young boys and girls to pursue careers in space. Bonus fact: I also own 2 Obama NATO Summit Chairs. They were gifts from the Host Countries for the Summits which I led the organisation of.

Oxford Executive MBA