Strategy in Action: MBA Students at Gdańsk University of Technology Present Capstone Projects
The 17th cohort of the MBA programme at Gdańsk University of Technology delivered their final capstone presentations at a professional pitching session held in Gdańsk – showcasing the applied leadership and business thinking at the heart of executive MBA education in Poland.
The capstone project: a defining milestone in MBA education
The capstone project is one of the most significant milestones of any rigorous MBA programme. It represents the culmination of intensive study, cross-functional collaboration, and strategic thinking – the moment when students translate two years of classroom learning into coherent, actionable, and professionally defended business proposals. For participants in the MBA at Gdańsk University of Technology, the capstone is not a formality. It is the defining test of what the programme has developed: leaders capable of diagnosing complex business challenges, formulating evidence-based strategies, and communicating their findings at a professional level.
The pitching session brought together the full breadth of competencies cultivated across the executive MBA programme in Poland – from financial analysis and operations management to organisational behaviour, marketing strategy, and leadership development. It was, in many respects, where the value of studying for an MBA in Poland became most visible.
The pitching session: professional presentations, real-world stakes
On 8th May 2026, student teams from the 17th cohort presented their capstone projects before a panel of expert judges comprising faculty members and senior business practitioners. Each team delivered a structured pitch, followed by a rigorous Q&A and evaluative feedback session – a format designed to mirror the standards of executive-level presentations in real business settings.
The projects spanned a range of industries and strategic themes, each grounded in primary research and practical business application. Teams were required to identify a meaningful challenge, apply the analytical frameworks developed throughout the MBA programme, and present a viable, implementable solution backed by data and sound reasoning. Five minutes on stage. Months of work behind it.
What students demonstrated in their capstone projects
- Applied strategic analysis of real-world business problems
- Integration of financial modelling and data-driven decision making
- Leadership and change management proposals grounded in theory
- Cross-functional thinking across operations, marketing, and HR
- Executive-level communication and professional presentation skills
- Teamwork, coordination, and peer accountability across project phases
The presenting teams
This year’s session featured six teams, each presenting an independently researched capstone project addressing a distinct business challenge. The breadth of topics – from social enterprise to health technology and hyperlocal commerce – reflected both the diversity of professional backgrounds within Cohort 17 and the programme’s emphasis on real-world relevance.
The winning project
Following the presentations and panel deliberations, the jury selected one team whose project stood out for the quality of its analysis, the clarity of its strategic recommendations, and the strength of its delivery.
★ BEST CAPSTONE PROJECT - MBA COHORT 17
Palec do Budki
Dmytro Mariushy · Agnieszka Kaput · Fabian Purwin · Ewa Suszek
Supervisor: Sebastian Wilczewski
Palec do Budki addressed one of the quieter challenges of modern urban life – the widening gap between the intention to spend time with people and the friction that prevents it. The team proposed a bot-driven RSVP tool enabling spontaneous face-to-face meetups, and backed the idea with structured hypothesis testing across delivery mechanisms. It was rigorous where it needed to be, and clear where it counted.
A venue made possible by the MBA alumni network
The session was hosted at Kemira in Gdańsk – a global chemistry company with significant operations in the region. The venue was made possible through Marta Golubowicz, Managing Director of Kemira Gdańsk and an MBA alumna of the programme, who facilitated access to the space on behalf of the cohort and joined the event as a member of the jury.
This arrangement was a fitting reflection of the strength and depth of the MBA Gdańsk University of Technology alumni network. Graduates of the programme maintain active professional relationships with the school, creating tangible connections between the academic environment and the wider business community. For both current students and those considering MBA admission in Poland, the alumni network represents one of the most enduring assets the programme offers – a community of engaged professionals who continue to open doors for the cohorts that follow them.
Returning to the MBA programme as a juror and partner was a truly rewarding experience. As an MBA graduate, I know how much effort, stress, and commitment stand behind every capstone project and presentation. I genuinely enjoyed listening to the students’ presentations and was impressed by the high quality of their work, creativity, and professionalism. It was inspiring to see so many strong ideas. I’m grateful for the opportunity to stay connected with the programme to support the next generation of leaders
Marta Golubowicz, Managing Director, Kemira Gdańsk · MBA Alumna, Gdańsk University of Technology
The judging panel
Student teams presented before a panel of experienced academics and business professionals. Judges assessed each project on the quality of analysis, feasibility of proposed solutions, clarity of presentation, and depth of strategic thinking – criteria designed to reflect the standards expected in professional environments beyond the MBA programme.
Marta Golubowicz
Managing Director, Kemira Gdańsk · Senior Manager, Customer Service Operations EMEA
An alumna of the Gdańsk Tech MBA programme, Marta leads international teams across EMEA with a focus on operational efficiency and smart process design. She brings both the practitioner’s eye and the lived experience of the programme itself – having sat where the presenters sat, and now occupying the seat that evaluates them
Prof. Mariusz Kaczmarek, Ph.D., D.Sc.
Vice-Rector for Education, Gdańsk University of Technology
A distinguished researcher in biomedical engineering and applied infrared thermography, Professor Kaczmarek shapes the academic environment in which the MBA operates. An internationally recognised innovator (Andronicos G. Kantsios Award, Siemens Award) who brings an engineer’s precision to the evaluation of strategic proposals.
Prof. Dr. Snežana Hristova
Dean, School of Business Economics and Management, University St. Clement of Ohrid, Skopje · Visiting Professor, Gdańsk University of Technology
A Fellow of the Leadership Academy for Development at Stanford University and the Swedish Institute Innovation Leaders Program. Over 20 years of expertise in strategic management, leadership, and international programme development – with a research focus on leadership styles and organisational dynamics.
The panel was supported and the session organised by:
Dr Beata Krawczyk-Bryłka
MBA Programme Director, Gdańsk University of Technology
MBA Programme Director and organiser of Pitching Session. Her coordination work – from assembling a jury to managing a six-team schedule with five-minute precision – made the evening possible.
Interested in joining the MBA programme?
Applications are open for the next cohort of the MBA at Gdańsk University of Technology. Join a programme with a track record of developing business leaders – and a network of graduates who remain actively engaged with the communities they came from.
Apply to the MBA programme → https://mba.pg.edu.pl/registration/
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Contact: mba@pg.edu.pl · +48 58 517 849 332
