FABULOUS GRADUATION PARTY FOR SLOVENIAN ALUMNI

Managers who sing, play and present? This, too, we have in our Slovenian Alumni.

Slovenian managers who were recently granted Cotrugli Executive MBA diplomas in Zagreb decided to celebrate the happy event a little bit differently. On Thursday, 11th of November in the festive ambient of restaurant Via Bona, they prepared a vivid music program, which was performed by themselves (sung, played and managed) in cooperation with famous Slovenian singer Regina and Frenk Nova. The event was spiced with a humorous presentation of the graduates, dress code, St. Martin's excellent finger food by Via Bona and with varied wine from Slovenian vineyards (wine shop PROVIN, Istenič, Mansus, Ščurek and Steyer). The highlight of the evening was a surprise in the form of special guest, singer Lucienne Lončina.

Special thanks for support: Via Bona restaurant, PROVIN - vinoteka vsebin in okusov, Istenič d.o.o., Ljubljana, Makovec, blagovna znamka Mansus, Ščurek, Steyer - Hiša dišečega traminca.
Photos: Grega Potokar

COTRUGLIS’ QUEST FOR INNOVATIVE MARKETING AND SALES IN LJUBLJANA

At the recent Cotrugli managers’ forum ˝ Quest for Innovative Marketing and Sales ˝ in Ljubljana, the participants were in a megalomaniac and often chaotic world of marketing and sales.

In the maze of changes, the mass of information, products, discounts and new opportunities, changing consumers increasingly demand new approaches in the field of sales and marketing. At the forum, participants learned about innovations and trends in marketing and sales, and through workshops and round table they assume many new practical implications and experience. Two interesting topics were covered: Hans Houmark, Smartim: How to catch your consumer when they are on the move and ignoring the mass messages and Dino Ivan Tot, Totalia: How do customers react to web discounts and where are the new opportunities for web sales – case 1nadan.si.

The practical workshops covered a Sales Management Case study trough which participants analyzed and brainstormed in small groups on an interactive Sales-case study and tried to get to best solutions to given problems (MBA working groups approach). Case study moderator was mag. Primož Hvala.
At the final round table, which wrapped up the whole event, Congestion, stagnation, and different consumer desires were discussed. Respected guests were: Matej Golob (IBM), Boštjan Perko (Pivovarna Laško), Zoran Trojar (Sonce.net), Borut Mavsar (Droga Kolinska).

The event was kindly supported by sponsors: Droga Kolinska and Avto Aktiv – Volvo center.

Mednarodno akreditirana poslovna šola COTRUGLI Business School (www.cotrugli.eu), v sodelovanju z medijskimi partnerji MojeDelo.com, Radio1 in Dnevnik, razpisuje:

6 MBA in 6 Executive MBA štipendij v vrednosti 105.000 EUR

Ponosno najavljamo že 5. tekmovanje za štipendije za programa Executive MBA in MBA na COTRUGLI Business School za leto 2010.

Projekt štipendiranja je del programa družbene odgovornosti COTRUGLI Business School. 105.000 EUR bomo v obliki dveh polnih in desetih polovičnih štipendij podelili posameznikom, ki imajo največji potencial, da prispevajo k kvaliteti menedžmenta v regiji.

Kar 12 slovenskih junior, middle in top menedžerjev bo prejelo 6 štipendij za COTRUGLI Executive MBA program in 6 štipendij za COTRUGLI MBA program.
K prijavi (najkasneje do 15. 11. 2010) preko spletnega obrazca, ki se nahaja na www.mojedelo.com/mba, vabimo vse proaktivne in ambiciozne kandidate z voditeljskim potencialom. Štipendijo bodo prejeli kandidati, ki bodo s svojim znanjem, razmišljanjem in sposobnostmi najbolj navdušili neodvisno komisijo.

Zahteve za prijavo v program štipendiranja za Executive MBA: diploma, dobro znanje angleščine, najmanj 3 leta relevantnih delovnih izkušenj, ter za prijavo v program štipendiranja za MBA: diploma, dobro znanje angleščine, in najmanj 1 leto relevantnih delovnih izkušenj.

Info in prijave preko spletnega obrazca na:

www.mojedelo.com/mba ali www.cotrugli.eu/scholarships.

Glavni medijski pokrovitelji: MojeDelo.com, Radio1, Dnevnik.

Projekt podpirajo: Združenje Manager, Tehnološki park Ljubljana, Poslovni Angeli Slovenije, Ljubljanski Univerzitetni Inkubator, CPM, Poslovni Utrip, DKD Ljubljana.

We definitely did get a taste of MBA!

There are many questions regarding MBA programs; how does it look like, will I benefit from it, will I be able to understand the content, language, do I have enough skills etc. You know what they say - you can not know what you buy unless you see it for yourself ... MBA is definitely an investment for life and the best thing to do in order to decide for it is to experience it!

COTRUGLI Experience MBA module Business Communication led by Marijo Bos, was held in Ljubljana - Tehnološki park on July 3rd & 4th, hosted by COTRUGLI Business School office in Slovenia (http://www.cotrugli.eu/). A group of interested participants joined to experience the atmosphere, the course work and the two day interactive agenda. Powered by Volvo (Avto aktiv d. o. o.), the participants had the opportunity to make test drives and even to win a Volvo over the weekend.

Every participant who successfully passed the test at the very end of the Experience MBA module, was granted a participation certificate.

SUMMER MBA HAPPENING IN LJUBLJANA

Alias: Why is it fun to be an MBA student at Cotrugli?

June and July in Slovenia were absolutely covered in the MBA colours! First, COTRUGLI Business School office in Ljubljana hosted 60 international MBA participants from all over the region, then 25 Experience MBA participants who crushed knowledge bricks, then tried to crush them with real cars!

Get a taste what happened:
June 25th – 60 International MBA particiants enjoyed their first Entrepreneurship and Managerial Economics MBA modules. During their intense learning process the atmosphere was chilled in the evening with a Fish picnic in Laguna pool area, then a boat trip and cocktail party at Ljubljanica river.

July 3rd – Ljubljana office hosted 25 Experience MBA participants who experienced Business Communication module at the executive level, led by Marijo Bos. Interactive class with many inovative insights was powered by Volvo who organised a networking event and an interesting test drive session.

Visit http://www.cotrugli.eu/ to see the photogallery!

Experience MBA!

EXPERIENCE MBA PROGRAM RE-OPEN
Powered by Volvo

Ekskluzivno preizkusite v dvodnevnem brezplačnem modulu, ali je Executive MBA prava izbira za vas ali vaš menedžerski tim v podjetju!

3. – 4. Julij 2010, Tehnološki park Ljubljana (velika predavalnica)

Executive MBA modul: Business Communication
Predavateljica: Maryjo Boss

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O PROGRAMU
V dveh interaktivnih dneh Experience MBA doživite pravi utrip Executive MBA programa; delo v skupinah, reševanje poslovnih problemov, mreženje in prost pretok poslovnega znanja. Modul Business Communication bo v angleškem jeziku vodila izkušena predavateljica Executive MBA, Marijo Boss. Preizkusite, ali vam Executive MBA ustreza! Brezplačno in brez obveznosti.

MOŽNOST TESTIRANJA IN DELNEGA ŠTIPEDIRANJA
Zadnji dan modula vključuje testiranje kandidatov. Kandidati, ki uspešno preidejo postopek testiranja, so upravičeni do delnega štipendiranja Executive MBA programa na Cotrugli Business School ter prejmejo certifikat o opravljanju programa.

BREZPLAČNA UDELEŽBA
Udeležba na Experience MBA programu je brezplačna in k ničemur ne zavezuje, vendar mora kandidat/ka izpolnjevati pogoje za prijavo in izpolniti prijavnico. Pogoji za prijavo na Experience MBA program so:

· Najmanj 3 leta primernih delovnih izkušenj
· diploma
· Znanje angleškega jezika
· Izpolnjena prijavna dokumentacija (po e-prijavi)

Dodatne informacije in prijava: COTRUGLI Business School, Tehnološki park 19, 1000 Ljubljana, daniela.bervar@cotrugli.eu, www.cotrugli.eu, +386 41 252 614

STE PRIMEREN/A KANDIDAT/KA? PRIJAVITE SE ŠE DANES TUKAJ!
Ob prijavi vam bomo v najkrajšem času poslali Prijavno dokumentacijo (Application Form).

POWERED BY VOLVO
Izmed vseh udeležencev Experience MBA programa bo partner Avto Aktiv d.o.o. izžrebal srečnega dobitnika prestižnega vozila Volvo za podaljšan vikend!

O PREDAVATELJICI
Marijo Boss ima 20 let izkušenj iz upravljanja človeškega kapitala in razvoja talentov, področja poslovne komunikacije in vodenja ter strateške priprave in izvedbe executive programov za organizacije. Marijo podpira Fortune 1000 podjetja s post-združitveno integracijo organizacijskih kultur in ekip ter njihovega vodenja. Njeni programi vodenja in svetovanja se osredotočajo na samozavedanje in povratne informacije iz različnih ocen, vključno 360 Feedback, reševanja konfliktov, delovanja v skupinah, vodenja in drugih. Marijo je prav tako vodja številnih modulov, vključno z moduli celostnega vodstva ter upravljanja preko meja. Certificirana je za treninge vodenja in coachinga, vključno z Myers-Briggs MBTI I Step, II, Derailers, čustveno inteligenco, FIRO-B, in drugih orodij. Ima diplomo iz komunikacije in je opravljala PMD, izvršni upravljalni program na Harvard BusinessSchool. Marijo je prv tako navdušena mentorica in svetovalka študentom MBA programov in pretekla štiri leta intenzivno sodeluje s svetovnimi programi MBA v Španiji in drugod.

At 2nd COTRUGLI Business BreakFast about Internationalisation of the brand despite of low budgets

During a tasty Cotrugli business BreakFast, the keynote guest speaker Vasja Veber, Msc., focused on e-promotion, e-marketing and innovative social network contents and challenged the e-promo knowledge of the selected participants – MBA alumni and members of Technology park Ljubljana.

In an interactive breakfast presentation Vasja focused on intense web promotion, e-marketing and modern internationalization of the brand despite dealing with low budgets. He presented his best practices on the case of promoting DJ Umek worldwide trough latest social and other e-network trends. During discussion, the participants came to some interesting conclusions:

- Social networks: only creating a profile on a social network challenge is not enough.

- Viral promotion: do not try to make ˝virus promo campaigns˝ as direct adverts. Hidden promo content and inovativeness is the key!

- E-promo campaigning: for a company to be effective in the e-promotion, one must have a person (or an expert) for social network contents, e-promotion tools & channels. Amateur profiles and simple advertising was yesterday. Tomorrow is creativity.

- Local markets: local markets can have different usage of specific social networks. Watch the statistic or hire an agency for support. Don't go blind-guessing.

- Go international! Yes, but be aware of the global trend and global attractiveness of your product and campaign! Research!

About guest speaker Vasja Veber, Msc.

Vasja is the director of FM Virtual, FM Musick and Subscribe-O-Matic. They are one of the leaders in e-promotion and amongst the first agencies in Slovenia to use Second Life, Google and similar e-promo tools and social networks as a successful tool for brand promotion. Following the latest trends, Vasja surely spiced up our e-marketing knowledge.
In friendly cooperation with Klub Tehnološki park Ljubljana.

Managers and communication in crisis

Nowadays, the term Crisis became many different connotations in the academic and business sphere. But the fact is that managers are facing hard times in real life business cases during still lasting global crisis. An important aspect of crisis-handling is the internal (employees) and external (media) crisis communication and presentation of managers in public. The above mentioned requires special communication strategies and skills which can be developed as a precaution for potential crisis situations.

In the Cotrugli Business School Alumni, MBA's of Slovenia, a focus-group discussed the burning issue at the Cotrugli Business BreakFast on Tuesday, March 16th 2010. The basis for the discussion was an interview-research carried out on 20 Slovenian middle- and top managers, carried out by Daniela Bervar, Country manager for Slovenia. The research focused on crisis communication and threats during a crisis situation a company can be facing. Although the research sample can not be representative to the whole management (N=20), it can provide interesting facts about the fears of management during crisis communication processes. The focus of the research was to determine what do managers fear more in the crisis communication – external negative media attack or internal revolt of the employees. The results showed, that the potential negative publicity attack of the media was less feared by the managers - in 19 out of 20 cases was stated, that the internal employee revolt and loss of internal trust would pose a much greater threat. The general idea was, that ˝the media can be handled the one way or another, but the hardest thing is if your own employees turn against you.˝

The Slovenian Cotrugli MBA and Executive MBA Focus group, together with the guest-media expert and CEO Leo Oblak (Infonet Media), discussed further on the reasons why and how managers deal with crisis communication, and here are some ˝golden rules˝ as findings of the discussion group:

1. PR department or professionals. When should CEO's in crisis situations use a PR manager and when should they speak in media themselves? The idea was that it depends on the situation. Placing a PR instead of speaking for himself/herself can attach a sense of guilt and media avoidance to a manager, but there are cases when it is better that managers leave the communication to a PR (in order not to make ˝overexposure˝ of a situation which is not so relevant).

2. Have a healthy balance between internal relations and external public presentations. Do not try to give different picture to the media about your company if the employees know that is not the reality going on.

3. Be yourself as a CEO. Internally and externally, with no different ˝face˝ when you speak to employees and to the media. Be genuine in your deeds as well in presentation of yourself.

4. ˝Devils' lawyer˝ concept – Have a professional engaged, who will critically judge your decisions and actions as well as your public presentation as a CEO. Let the Devils' lawyer put you in different situations as your opponents would do. Prepare accordingly.

5. Interact with employees as well as with the media. But for real. Close, but professional interaction with the employees and media can facilitate the communication in crisis. If you are known to be a good listener and a humane persona, you will be less judged in times of crisis. It is not so easy to blame someone you know, but if the people do not know you, they will also be less keen to trust you.

6. If you would like to be correctly understood by the media, form your statements in a short and effective way as slogans. Make your statements concise and clear – the message should be understandable to everybody. Metaphors are also very effective for illustrations of the problem.

Special thanx to the MBA / EMBA participants and Alumni from Slovenia for the interactive discussion and to Leo Oblak (Infonet Media) for the professional input and practical business cases.