Sebastian Mindrou is an interior architect and co-founder of PickTwo Studio, an interior design studio that creates customized solutions for the HORECA industry, offices, retail spaces and, more recently, the residential segment. Founded in 2013, PickTwo has continuously developed, becoming in more than 10 years of activity one of the most important interior architectural studios specializing in commercial design in Romania.

When the business started to enter the interior design market, Sebastian found the need to improve his business management skills. Thus, between 2020 and 2022, he attended the WU Executive MBA Bucharest, which is among the top 45 Executive MBA programs in the world.[1] and the only one in Romania that has triple international accreditation – EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB.

Sebastian explains his decision to choose this program with the need to combine professional duties with studies: “I was looking for different EMBA programs that would allow me to continue my work and also provide me with a good quality of teachers, similar to those found in leading European universities. WU offers this EMBA option in Bucharest, so it was a natural choice.”

Participating in the Executive MBA program has made a significant contribution to his development as a manager and certainly to the success of PickTwo. The learning experience was not limited to deepening business concepts, but also became a source of inspiration and innovation, profoundly influencing the way he approaches business decisions and strategic planning. “I gained a better understanding of the financial aspects of the business, as well as managing people and the office in general. In less than a year, our company grew from 8 to 20 people, and the annual revenue increased 3 times. I also became more aware of the planning, strategy and steps we need to take as a business to achieve our goals. I believe we have the foundations in place to meet any future challenges.” he admits.

PickTwo currently has 35 employees and has completed more than 500 interior design projects in the hospitality, retail and residential sectors with a total investment budget of over €100 million. PickTwo is the first design studio in Romania to reach a turnover of 1 million euros in 2023. In 2024, the company aims to expand its client portfolio at the international level, which will lead to an increase in business volume by 10-15%.

The entrepreneur believes that an EMBA offers significant advantages in today’s complex and ever-changing business environment. He argues that despite the undeniable value of the degree, the real reward of an EMBA lies in the knowledge and innovative ideas gained. “While EMBA degrees are more important than ever because they demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement, I believe that the knowledge an EMBA offers is vital to the world in which we live. I went to the EMBA program not only for the degree, but especially for the knowledge and insights about business.” Sebastian states.

First, the EMBA prepares managers to understand and manage all aspects of running a business. Having received the big picture, graduates are ready to make informed decisions in different contexts. Secondly, access to an international network of professors and business leaders expands your horizons and opens up new opportunities for career growth. “It’s a program that takes you through different modules, from financial management to people management, soft skills and negotiation. Mixing teachers from different educational backgrounds is also an advantage, as you can learn new perspectives from different cultures and approach styles. A group of professors from different countries and universities gave me a complete and fascinating picture of the European business world.” he states.

Regarding his favorite modules in the program, Sebastian mentions: “I enjoyed the accounting module, which introduced me to the basics of accounting in a way that I did not know before. I would also like to highlight the negotiation module, where interactive chats and live negotiations helped us to identify the types of people to meet at the negotiating table.”

The Executive MBA program in Bucharest, organized by the WU Executive Academy, is aimed at managers with at least 5 years of experience who want to develop their career prospects or advance within the organization. It consists of 14 modules, delivered over 16 months on a part-time basis, offering students the flexibility to combine their career with their studies.

In more than 15 years of presence in Romania, the program has reached a community of more than 450 graduates. EMBA students come from a variety of industries, from IT, finance and insurance, construction/engineering, trade and energy to FMCG, medicine and pharmaceuticals. Their average age is 39 years, of which 15 years of professional experience and 8 years of managerial experience.

The new series of the program will start on November 6, 2024. Romanian managers and entrepreneurs who apply before March 31 will benefit early order discount 5% (3,000 euros) from the tuition fee. Full details are available here.

[1] According to the Financial Times EMBA Ranking 2023.