Experience with MBA - Ing. Petr Ulč, LL.M., MBA

I enjoy seeking out new challenges that push me out of my comfort zone, make me think differently, and help me acquire new knowledge. So, after successfully completing my LL.M. at Masaryk University, I decided to take on another challenge and pursue an MBA, even though I was already at a somewhat more advanced stage of my student life.

When choosing a school, I had several clear requirements. I was looking for a program where earning the degree was not simply a matter of paying the tuition fees on time, but where the real objective was to learn something valuable.

I was also looking forward to meeting new classmates, which is why I ruled out fully online study from the outset. In my view, that would have meant missing out on one of the greatest added benefits of an MBA: the opportunity to meet a new group of interesting people, discuss ideas face to face, work on group assignments, compare experiences, and, of course, occasionally disagree.

And since the MBA has its roots in the United States, I wanted a program directly connected to an established American university.

I found all of this in the US-MBA program at the Faculty of Business and Management at Brno University of Technology, delivered in cooperation with the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois.

One of the biggest challenges for me was that approximately half of the program was taught in English. American professors came to Brno to teach us, and we also completed one of the modules directly at the University of St. Francis in Illinois. At the end of the program, I received an American Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree awarded by the University of St. Francis.

Was the program always easy? No. And that was precisely why I chose it.

Beyond the knowledge itself, however, another aspect of the experience was enormously valuable to me. I have held management positions for more than 30 years. For many of the topics we covered, I was therefore able to compare my practical experience with what we were learning, confirm what we were already doing well, and identify areas where we could approach things differently.

Perhaps even more valuable, though, was studying alongside a younger generation of male and female managers from a variety of industries. I could observe how they think, solve problems, collaborate, respond under pressure, and approach issues that I might see quite differently thanks to my own experience. I also had the opportunity to hear their perspectives on my own views.

This was an exceptionally valuable experience that I now put to very practical use in my day-to-day work with people in our company.

And finally, there was something no school can guarantee: we were lucky to become part of a fantastic group of people. Our classmates became friends, and the time we spent studying together, having discussions, enjoying evenings together, and travelling to the USA are memories I will look back on fondly.

When I started the program, I was primarily looking for further education and a new challenge. I am taking away so much more: new knowledge, a different perspective on many things, experience studying in English, a connection with an American university, new friendships, and, above all, the confirmation that it really is never too late to continue learning.

So, if you are considering an MBA and looking for a program that will challenge you but also has a great deal to offer, I can wholeheartedly recommend the US-MBA program at Brno University of Technology based on my own experience.