The Webster Vienna MBA sparked Ana Tajder’s career path from business manager to award-winning journalist, author, podcast creator and professor. Ana reflects on how the skills and insights gained through the MBA propelled her career forward and enabled her to succeed in the creative sector.
Webster Vienna Private University is located in the heart of Austria’s cosmopolitan capital. It is an accredited private university that offers quality education across three continents. As part of Webster University’s global campuses, it offers students a truly international education. The university prioritizes small classes, personalized student mentorship, practical learning, and a respect for diversity.
Webster Vienna Private University offers various graduate programs, including a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. The program focuses on giving students a comprehensive understanding of business. Students gain industry know-how as well as critical skills. The courses in the program center on accounting, economics, finance, marketing, and more. Students have multiple opportunities to put their knowledge to use during case studies, the final capstone course, and other projects.
Ana Tajder is a business manager turned award-winning author, podcaster, and adjunct professor at Webster Vienna Private University. She recounts her student journey through the MBA program at the university and how it has enhanced her career. Interestingly, Ana states that her MBA was equally beneficial for her creative and business careers.
Let’s dive into Ana’s story, examining how Webster Vienna Private University’s MBA was instrumental to her success in the creative sphere.
Originally from Zagreb, Croatia, Ana’s life took a dramatic turn in 1991 when conflict forced her to flee to Vienna. She found a new home In Vienna and completed her studies at Webster Vienna Private University.
“I graduated with a bachelor’s degree at Webster University. I studied marketing management and I loved it so much that I decided I wanted to stay at Webster University and I wanted to continue pursuing my business education,” Tajder recalls. (00:30)
After completing her MBA in 1999, Ana ventured into the corporate world. Her early career focused on diplomacy, marketing, and advertising. Right from the start of her career, she felt that her MBA helped to set her apart. She explains, “Because of my MBA, I was immediately put in very strategic areas, which also turned out to be my forte later, and my MBA helped me to continue and pursue this strategic thinking and strategic planning.” (06:33)
She felt well prepared for her professional life, thanks to the knowledge and skills she gained during her MBA. She highlights, “I walked in, and I already knew things. It was amazing to walk into this corporate world and to feel ‘I’ve learned this. I know this. This is not foreign to me. I am equipped to deal with this.’” (07:09)
Ana’s experience highlights the distinctively hands-on and industry-focused learning approach at Webster University Vienna.
Webster Vienna’s MBA program offers practical, hands-on learning that contrast more theoretical frameworks typical at many European universities.
“Contrary to what was being taught at the Austrian University, what we received at Webster University was very, very hands-on. We really received practical tools, not only knowledge…that prepared us for the future, for the world, and for a professional environment,” Ana points out. (01:16)
This hands-on approach gave Ana the skills and confidence to excel in multifaceted roles across different sectors. From navigating the complexities of corporate diplomacy, marketing, and advertising to later working in the creative industry, Ana found that the practical skills honed during her MBA were indispensable.
After a decade in the corporate world, Ana shifted towards more creative endeavors. She notes that one of her professors at Webster Vienna Private University first recognized and encouraged her talent as a writer. She reflects, “He was the one who recognized way before I did, or anybody else, that there’s a writing talent in me… he recognized what was to become a career in writing later on.” (04:56)
Later in her career, Ana became an award-winning journalist and the author of multiple books. She also became the host of the podcast called Thank You, Mama, which features interviews with women worldwide about the most important lessons they learned from their mothers. Ana created the podcast to honor her mother, a famous Croatian actress and artist, when she passed away. The podcast gained immense popularity, attracting listeners in over 80 countries and winning three international awards.
Ana says that her Webster MBA equipped her to navigate the complexities of creative work with a business mindset. “I became a one-woman show… I was able to be my own manager, publicist, advertiser, bookkeeper. I was prepared and ready to approach my creative life with this background in business,” she explains. (08:19)
Ana’s seamless move from the corporate world to the creative industry highlights the adaptability and broad applicability of an MBA degree. Her story exemplifies how an MBA can be a powerful tool for creative professionals, equipping them with the strategic thinking, negotiation, and planning skills needed to succeed as a freelancer and business entrepreneur.
Ana’s profound appreciation for the education she received at Webster Vienna inspired her to return as a professor, eager to impart her knowledge to a new generation.
As she puts it, “I realized how much I’ve learned and what an incredible wealth of tools and knowledge I have, and I really wanted to pass this on. I have a treasure chest that I can pass on to a new generation. What would be a better place than Webster?” (09:28)
Ana Tajder’s story is a testament to resilience and versatility. From her beginnings as a student escaping conflict to her evolution into a celebrated author, podcaster, and educator, her path illuminates the real-world value of an MBA. For creatives wondering whether an MBA can enhance their career, Ana’s experiences offer a great example.
The Webster Vienna MBA program’s blend of practical knowledge, strategic thinking, and global perspectives equips students with the tools and knowledge they need for a lifetime of creative and professional achievement.
Learn more about Webster Vienna Private University by visiting its profile page or contacting a student ambassador.
