VC University
Although most business people already acknowledge the presence of an emerging venture capital (VC)/private equity industry in Poland, there are virtually no academic or professional training programs that specialize in VC training for this line of work. Those affected are not just the college and university students planning careers in this sector, but more importantly the managers and entrepreneurs looking to acquire venture capital funds.
In fact, very few options exist for ambitious business leaders who would seize any opportunity to add to their stock of knowledge in order to maintain an edge over the competition. Even the well-established business schools, including the prestigious SGH, offer nothing at the post-professional level.
According to Harvard Business School Professor Robert S. Kaplan, only companies run by those passionate enough-and curious enough-to keep studying stand a chance of remaining healthy regardless of the market situation.
MCI's post-grad curriculum in corporate restructuring and development through venture capital focuses not just on the best market experiences and patterns for restructuring and development. First of all, it stresses the importance of preparing future leaders via trainings designed by Tomasz Czechowicz, winner of the distinguished "Leader of Tomorrow" title awarded at the 2001 World Economic Forum. Czechowicz and the MCI Management S.A. team are shining examples of business leaders who aim to help train the best possible future business leaders who will continue to transform Polish-and European-markets.
Future leaders
Many companies in Poland that do not qualify for financing from venture capital nevertheless require deep restructuring and reorientation of the core business. But the execution of restructuring programs in Poland can be extremely difficult.
Banks and investors tend to be suspicious of companies from the less attractive sectors, generally lacking confidence about their potential for growth and stability. In spite of the bad rap plaguing some segments, however, smart companies have taken measures to maximize their chances of success-and they have gotten excellent results.
Technologie Buczek (formerly Buczek Steelwork) is an excellent example of how a company from a comparatively unpopular industry managed to increase its sales by 57 percent between August 2002 and May 2003, despite the obstacles encountered by the entire steel sector in Poland. Currently Technologie Buczek is one of the top steel firms in Poland.
In addition to restructuring, there are other options open to companies willing to take up new initiatives to increase profits. Tremendous opportunity abounds for IT development in Poland-and recent success stories among several portfolio companies confirm that management by a strong venture capital fund can be just the ticket. In most cases, these IT companies began as independent start-ups and ended up the leaders in their respective sub-sectors. Managers of MCI Management, S.A., have been utilizing their own experiences with administering winning VC management solutions in IT to craft training programs for professionals in tandem with the London School of Economics and Political Science. Now if they can only turn out some alums who are as successful as Tomasz Czechowicz himself...
Training institutions
Now for the burning questions: What sets the Wrocław program apart in VC corporate restructuring and development? And what makes it credible given that MCI Management is hardly an objective party?
The curriculum is based on the experiences of established training institutions, such as the Institute of Finance in Amsterdam. Students are not limited to abstract textbook examples-in fact, most of their courses are designed around actual case studies. A real-world consulting project ensures that they acquire the necessary skills to solve real strategic business problems.
Lecturers include venture capital experts from MCI-investment director Marek Piątkowski and investment manager Andrzej Jasienicki-and of course Czechowicz himself. Other instructors are representatives of companies that have utilized venture capital financing, lawyers whose specialty is venture capital transaction, and the authors of the first Polish book on private equity/venture capital investments, Piotr Sieradzan and Katarzyna Sobańska. Experience-based advice and insight is what drives these instructors-not theoretical models with questionable application in the CEE markets. The program consists of distinct modules: financial analysis and investment project appraisal, corporate restructuring and change of management, international Financial markets, and financing through venture capital. Each one is built around actual venture capital investment projects in Poland, Europe, and the US, as well as on case studies used in the MBA program at Harvard Business School. Students also participate in three projects in negotiation and investment project appraisal conducted in the English language. Further information can be found on the websites of Wyższa Szkoła Bankowa (Wrocław School of Banking) and MCI Management S.A.
So why should the aspiring tycoon seriously consider MCI Management's Wrocław offering? The answers are simple enough: Because of the passionate faculty. Because of the added value provided by MCI Management's patronage. And because there is nothing like it offered anywhere else in Poland.
In fact, very few options exist for ambitious business leaders who would seize any opportunity to add to their stock of knowledge in order to maintain an edge over the competition. Even the well-established business schools, including the prestigious SGH, offer nothing at the post-professional level.
According to Harvard Business School Professor Robert S. Kaplan, only companies run by those passionate enough-and curious enough-to keep studying stand a chance of remaining healthy regardless of the market situation.
MCI's post-grad curriculum in corporate restructuring and development through venture capital focuses not just on the best market experiences and patterns for restructuring and development. First of all, it stresses the importance of preparing future leaders via trainings designed by Tomasz Czechowicz, winner of the distinguished "Leader of Tomorrow" title awarded at the 2001 World Economic Forum. Czechowicz and the MCI Management S.A. team are shining examples of business leaders who aim to help train the best possible future business leaders who will continue to transform Polish-and European-markets.
Future leaders
Many companies in Poland that do not qualify for financing from venture capital nevertheless require deep restructuring and reorientation of the core business. But the execution of restructuring programs in Poland can be extremely difficult.
Banks and investors tend to be suspicious of companies from the less attractive sectors, generally lacking confidence about their potential for growth and stability. In spite of the bad rap plaguing some segments, however, smart companies have taken measures to maximize their chances of success-and they have gotten excellent results.
Technologie Buczek (formerly Buczek Steelwork) is an excellent example of how a company from a comparatively unpopular industry managed to increase its sales by 57 percent between August 2002 and May 2003, despite the obstacles encountered by the entire steel sector in Poland. Currently Technologie Buczek is one of the top steel firms in Poland.
In addition to restructuring, there are other options open to companies willing to take up new initiatives to increase profits. Tremendous opportunity abounds for IT development in Poland-and recent success stories among several portfolio companies confirm that management by a strong venture capital fund can be just the ticket. In most cases, these IT companies began as independent start-ups and ended up the leaders in their respective sub-sectors. Managers of MCI Management, S.A., have been utilizing their own experiences with administering winning VC management solutions in IT to craft training programs for professionals in tandem with the London School of Economics and Political Science. Now if they can only turn out some alums who are as successful as Tomasz Czechowicz himself...
Training institutions
Now for the burning questions: What sets the Wrocław program apart in VC corporate restructuring and development? And what makes it credible given that MCI Management is hardly an objective party?
The curriculum is based on the experiences of established training institutions, such as the Institute of Finance in Amsterdam. Students are not limited to abstract textbook examples-in fact, most of their courses are designed around actual case studies. A real-world consulting project ensures that they acquire the necessary skills to solve real strategic business problems.
Lecturers include venture capital experts from MCI-investment director Marek Piątkowski and investment manager Andrzej Jasienicki-and of course Czechowicz himself. Other instructors are representatives of companies that have utilized venture capital financing, lawyers whose specialty is venture capital transaction, and the authors of the first Polish book on private equity/venture capital investments, Piotr Sieradzan and Katarzyna Sobańska. Experience-based advice and insight is what drives these instructors-not theoretical models with questionable application in the CEE markets. The program consists of distinct modules: financial analysis and investment project appraisal, corporate restructuring and change of management, international Financial markets, and financing through venture capital. Each one is built around actual venture capital investment projects in Poland, Europe, and the US, as well as on case studies used in the MBA program at Harvard Business School. Students also participate in three projects in negotiation and investment project appraisal conducted in the English language. Further information can be found on the websites of Wyższa Szkoła Bankowa (Wrocław School of Banking) and MCI Management S.A.
So why should the aspiring tycoon seriously consider MCI Management's Wrocław offering? The answers are simple enough: Because of the passionate faculty. Because of the added value provided by MCI Management's patronage. And because there is nothing like it offered anywhere else in Poland.
