07.04.2025Christina Orzechowsky, CAS in General Management

Christina Orzechowsky, 32, lives in Olten, her adopted home, and works for Swiss Customs as a external consultant in the role of business analyst. She is about to complete her CAS in General Management, which she is studying part-time. A graduate in mechanical engineering, she quickly realized that her interest lies not in the usual issues of the field, but in project work. Creating something new from nothing and modernizing long-established structures is her passion. In various stages of her career to date, she has already successfully initiated and implemented transformations, always in close cooperation with all those involved. In her current role, she is now driving digital transformation in the public sector. The CAS is a welcome change for her and has given her the courage to break new ground and develop fresh ideas.

I became interested in management at an early stage, as I was involved in senior management early on in my career. I found that the topic is often underestimated. Competent management decisions can make a big difference, especially if you encourage teamwork and don't just delegate. Inspiring people and interacting with them gives me great pleasure and is a personal enrichment for me, which is why I also see my future in management.

I am planning to complete the Executive MBA at the University of Zurich in a few years and attended an information event. In conversation with the director of the EMBA, I learned about the CAS in General Management. It covers all the subjects and topics that interest me and that I enjoy. I can definitely learn more in this area, which is why I signed up for the course. Fortunately, I can even have certain points from this CAS credited towards the EMBA.

I always need people who can act as role models for me. And I found them at the University of Zurich. At the information event I attended, there were also alumni there and it was noticeable how the continuing education had helped them to develop further. Because of this good feeling, in combination with the convincing content, it was clear to me that I didn't have to look any further.

Very positive. I like the fact that the classes are kept small. This allows all participants to develop and ask questions. This makes the lessons very interactive. I also find it very valuable that the lecturers not only know the theory, but also have a lot of practical experience. You could ask any conceivable question and receive a practical answer. For me, this is invaluable and I have the feeling that all participants benefit from it. And finally, I also love the diversity of the participants. They all have different backgrounds, so I was able to gain a lot of insights into new working environments. It's interesting to see the different approaches that each individual takes. This helps me to get out of my own way of thinking.

I was able to identify a lot of interfaces with the content of the degree program, partly because I had deliberately chosen it that way. I was able to take a lot from the Corporate Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management modules in particular. The Corporate Entrepreneurship module inspired me a lot because it has a lot to do with innovation and disruptive technologies. In my job, I like to drive new topics forward and it's not always easy to convince those around me. In the module, I learned new approaches to how this is possible and also how to identify things that are no longer up to date. That was really great. In Strategic Management, the lecturer's years of practical experience stood out. I learned that theory is not always 100% applicable to practice and that that's okay.

Yes, actually. In theMarketing Management module, I realized that marketing is closely linked to psychology. Translated into my work, this doesn't mean manipulating people, but rather responding to their needs. I am convinced that you work best when you take these aspects into account. The Leadership module was also helpful. I learned how to deal with emotions and that people's behavior always has a reason. If you understand the motives behind your actions, you can solve problems much more effectively. In my current position, I also continue to apply the content from the Leadership Communication module by writing short and concise texts. This approach is rather unusual in management, but I have realized how important it is. Previously, I was often told that my statements were not clearly understandable. The situation has improved significantly since I put the knowledge gained from the course into practice.

The big wow moment was getting a new perspective and getting out of the old rut, the habitual way of thinking. That refreshed my mind enormously. This new way of thinking enables me to tackle challenges better. There was also an insight in each module that I was able to draw out for myself. Overall, these insights have had a huge impact on my work. What I also find very noteworthy is the personal interaction with the students. I had expected it to be very impersonal and unapproachable at a large university. But it's not like that at all! I was warmly welcomed at the information event and even the exchange with the professors is very personal. You can talk to the head of the degree program on a regular basis and you always get the time you need. I really appreciate that.

Working with most of my fellow students has been very pleasant so far, as we had a similar mindset. This has made the work efficient. You can clearly feel that there are a lot of motivated people involved, which is also reflected in the questions that are asked. Statements are critically scrutinized, which gives me - and I'm sure the others - a lot of pleasure.

The certificate is more of a nice extra, another milestone on my path. Ultimately, you have to follow the path yourself and put what you have learned into practice. I don't expect the CAS to get me a new position straight away - I'm already quite high up in management. Nevertheless, I have found that continuous training and the courage to try new things offer a real advantage. The CAS has given me the courage to break new ground and develop fresh ideas, which is a clear advantage over those who don't continue their education.

There was no real challenge for me, everything fitted perfectly. I identified directly with the CAS and the content. If you have a passion for the topics, refreshing your knowledge and learning new content is a welcome change. Completing the CAS while working also works wonderfully. The dates are fixed in advance, so everything can be planned well. I really appreciate this flexibility of the course.

I only have one module left, AI for Business. I think the topic has an incredible amount of potential and I'm very excited about it.

Yes, I really like the CAS in General Management, I can highly recommend it! Many people in my team would like to develop in my direction. I always sit down with them and work out a development plan. Based on my experience with the program, I now know how helpful the content is, which is why I recommend this CAS to my team and no other. The CAS is an absolute success and ideal for professionals. In Germany, it's difficult to work alongside your studies, as you either study full-time or can't find part-time work. It was only in Switzerland that I realized how valuable the combination of studies and practical experience can be. That's why I find it particularly impressive that the course management is constantly working on expanding the courses on offer to keep up with the times. This is more far-sighted than at other universities I have looked at. So the course was a very good decision for me. Definitely.

(Here you can find more information about the CAS in General Management.)

Text: Linda Betschart