Bled (Slovenia), 15 October 2011
On the occasion of the IEDC’s 25th anniversary, a Global IEDC Alumni Reunion took place in Bled. A large group of alumni, representing the IEDC alumni clubs in various countries of the world, were impressed and inspired by the keynote address by Prof. Edgar Schein, who shared a personal view on his successful career. In the frame of the event, the IEDC Alumni Achievement Awards (AAA) were given for the first time to successful graduates of IEDC: Darko Babić (Serbia), Maja Ibrišimović (BiH), Krešimir Kvaternik (Croatia), Klaus Schuster (Austria/Slovenia), and Branko Žibret (Slovenia), who then participated in a panel discussion facilitated by Prof. Arshad Ahmad, author of the AAA idea.
In his address titled »Me and My Career«, Prof. Edgar Schein, the founding father of the study of corporate culture, often referred to as the world leading management thinker after Peter Drucker, walked the audience through his entire career as professor, consultant, and author of world-respected books on various topics; he sees “creative opportunism” and serendipity (composed of cautious observation, humble inquiry, agility, and rising to the occasion) as the cornerstones of his “appearance across the map.”
On the occasion of the IEDC’s 25th anniversary, the IEDC Alumni Achievement Awards (AAA) were given for the first time to successful graduates of IEDC. The AAA award celebrates IEDC alumni for demonstrating and epitomizing the highest ideals that personify outstanding individual career achievements, leadership, service to the community, as well as the contribution to the school development. »The AAA award is established as an answer to the need to further nurture the strive for excellence in professional and personal development of IEDC Alumni and to further stress the importance of great values that are cherished and celebrated at IEDC, whose task is to educate managers, but the School’s mission is to create inspiring and responsible leaders capable of leading and managing their organizations in the economically sound, socially responsible and environmentally friendly way«, stressed Prof. Arshad Ahmad, author of the AAA idea, Chair of the Selection Committee and visiting professor at IEDC for the last fourteenm years.
IEDC will, with the support of Unicredit Banka Slovenije, in the future recognize up to five individuals annually; the first five AAA recipients are (in alphabetical order):
Darko Babić (Serbia), Cluster Manager for Western Balkans at DHL; he recently participated in conceiving the Strategy 2015 document for the Parent Company Deutsche Post DHL. Darko completed his MBA in 2002 and is currently enrolled in IEDC’s Phd Program. He has lectured as a visiting professor in Belgrade and has several publications.
Maja Ibrišimović (BiH), co-owner and Managing Director of the IGEPA Group BH, which deals with graphic papers and equipment; she is responsible for general business results, key accounts, financial stability and its most valuable – human resources. She earned her MBA from IEDC graduating in 2006 and like her colleagues has been very active in Alumni events.
Krešimir Kvaternik (Croatia), CFO and Member of the Board of Fina – a Financial Agency; he is responsible for financial issues, corporate and retail client services, strategy development, restructuring and operational improvement initiatives. He earned his MBA from IEDC and graduated in 2005 and is also the VP of the Croatian Alumni Association and has led the Case Study Competition, which is now its 5th year.
Klaus Schuster (Austria/Slovenia), the principal of his Management Consulting Company, a trainer and coach for executives and an author of several popular books including his latest titled: “11 management sins and how to avoid them. How managers rob themselves of their career, mind, marriage partner and fun”. He earned his MBA from IEDC and graduated in 2006; like his peers, he has a strong connection with Alumni.
Branko Žibret (Slovenia), Partner and the only Slovenian Vice President of A.T. Kearney; among his many responsibilities, he is a project leader and consultant specializing in Strategy, Restructuring, Post Merger Programs and a Shared Services Expert. As head of the EMEA Government Practice, Branko Žibret has deep knowledge of the public sector, and extensive international experience. He earned his MBA from IEDC in 2000 and since then has been actively engaged in several Alumni events.