Strategy & Innovation Management in the Age of AI

Strategy & Innovation Management in the Age of AI - Major on the Master in Management Program

About the Major

Strategy and Innovation Management is a specialization for students, who not only want to “manage a company”, but also genuinely transform it in the age of AI and digital transformation – by developing new products, services and state-of-the-art management practices. Students learn how to develop a company’s strategy in a rapidly changing business environment and how to build an organizational culture, that supports innovation and sustainable competitive advantage.

The teaching staff includes lecturers with international experience as well as managers and leaders, who manage companies on a daily basis and share their hands-on experience in managing and transforming organizations in the age of AI. The specialization is supported by business partners – leading companies in their industries and organizations that help finance, develop and scale new ventures – startups.

Selected classes also teach how to use artificial intelligence in business practice. Students explore practical applications of AI – from data analysis and predicting customer behavior, through process automation, to creating new business models. They learn how to effectively implement AI-based solutions and tools in a company, how to assess their profitability, and in which situations to rely on the advantage of human intelligence and expertise.

An important element of this specialization is also the development of critical thinking – one of the key competencies of the future, essential for making sound strategic decisions in a complex and uncertain business environment.

Courses are based on practical case studies, including those taught with the Harvard Business School method, as well as workshop projects. Students learn how to create new products and services and how to implement them in their companies.

Please be advised that the major will launch only if a minimum amount of 17 students sign up for the major.

A Word From the Major's Leader

Dr. Łukasz Kowalik

As the head of the Strategy and Innovation Management specialization, I bring together experience from academia, corporate management in a U.S. company and working with startups as a mentor and investor. In class, we focus on real strategic challenges that companies face today – especially those linked to AI, digital transformation and innovation. Together, we learn how to combine bold strategic choices with social responsibility, a culture of innovation and a practical approach to grow a business.

Partners of the Major

Program Highlights

Business Acumen in the age of AI and digital transformation

Strong focus on the ability to identify trends and business opportunities and turn them into actionable strategies in the age of AI. This is a practical, holistic approach to innovation management - from generating ideas, through obtaining financing, to implementation and scaling in a changing environment.

Experienced Lecturers and Business Experts

The programme is co-created by business partners: leading companies from different industries and of various sizes, as well as organisations that support the financing and scaling of startups. As a result, students have direct contact with real market challenges and ways of addressing them.

Experiential Learning and Networking

We place particular emphasis on real case studies from partner companies and on working with the Harvard Business School method. This is an opportunity to learn best practices from experienced managers and experts, as well as to strengthen students’ personal brands and expand their business networks.

Career Opportunities

Strategy and Innovation Management in the age of digital transformation and AI is designed for students who want to build the strategic position of their future company on innovative products, services, processes and management practices. Students gain in-depth knowledge of innovation strategies in existing firms as well as in new ventures, including startups. They also learn how to support company growth using the latest artificial intelligence tools. Graduates will be able to take on strategic roles related to new products and services or focus on developing their own ventures. The specialization also addresses issues related to sustainable development and the social responsibility of innovative enterprises.

After completing this specialization, you can work, among others, as:

New Business Development Manager / Strategy Development Manager
New Project / Product / Service Lead
Innovation and New Business Models Development Specialist
Change and Transformation Manager or Consultant
Founder and CEO of your own venture (startup)
In-house Startup Lead
Digital Transformation Manager
Innovation Portfolio Manager – responsible for selecting and developing key innovation initiatives within the company

Diploma

Graduates receive a Master in Management diploma. Additionally they get a diploma's supplement stating which major the student finished. Students are encouraged to participate in international exchange programs offered by the university so as to master the skills that are necessary to work in a multicultural environment.

Selected Lecturers on the Major

Błażej Soniewicki

True innovation is not just a brilliant idea – it is an entire process and systematic work that turns visions into profitable projects for companies and their stakeholders. For over 20 years I have been working on the development of global brands such as Mars, Google and Netflix, and I also cooperate with many startups within accelerators. In recent years, conscious use of AI has opened up particularly exciting opportunities in this area, providing access to data, enabling in-depth analysis of information and accelerating implementation processes. At Strategy and Innovation Management I share my experience, teaching students how to combine creativity, artificial intelligence and pragmatic action in order to build the future of business.

Prof. Mariola Ciszewska-Mlinarič

With the accelerating pace of competition, innovation and blurring industry borders, the successful companies are those that are able to develop innovative strategies and maintain strategic flexibility in turbulent environment. The course Strategy & Innovation Lab: Company-based Project provides insights into practical business challenges, giving participants an opportunity to gain hands-on experience and work on strategy and innovation related issues for a real-life company. In recent years we did projects for Nowy Styl, Webankieta, Gala, Granna.

Prof. Mariola Ciszewska-Mlinarič, PhD, is associate professor of strategic management and international business strategy, Dean of College of Management, Director of Research Center For Innovative Growth Strategies, lecturer at doctoral, EMBA, postgraduate and graduate studies. She specializes in the theory and practice of strategy and the internationalization of enterprises. She is active consultant in the area of strategic advisory including the enterprise growth strategies and the implementation of performance management systems. In 2017, she received a medal of the National Education Commission, awarded by the Minister of National Education for special merits in education and upbringing. Mariola is a member of several scientific organizations, including Academy of International Business, Strategic Management Society and the European International Business Academy. Experienced manager in large research projects financed by the National Science Center.

Prof. ALK Franjo Mlinarič, Ph.D.

At the end of the day we all need to speak Finance to understand the impact of strategic decisions on sustainable value creation. The M&A course is an opportunity to gain real-life experience in value based management and to grasp the key challenges of high-growth companies.

Franjo is an experienced faculty and consultant with international practice in the private and public sector, co-founder of a BI start-up and a private Institute iRDM, associate editor of Lex Localis and since 2019 the head of a top FT ranked Master program in finance and accounting. Additionally, he is heading two prestigious post-graduate programs “Sustainable finance and ESG” and “Professional supervisory boards” at Kozminski University.

He loves to combine scientiﬁc rigor with consulting experience in international environment, and is passionate about promoting and implementing sustainable business ideas. He gathered most of his experience in the SW Balkan area being a leading economic advisor for various key national projects (motorways, telecommunications, airport infrastructure, incineration installations and automotive industry) and author of major economic impact studies.

He is a seasoned court expert in matters related to valuation, restructuring, business damages and structured financial products. He also holds two state certificates: chartered financier and certified supervisory board member. His research is focuses on sustainable value creation and ESG transition model as well as on economic impact of public investment. He co-authored many books and articles, which earned him an associate professorship at NU in Slovenia and assistant professor position at Kozminski University.

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Dr. Łukasz Kowalik

We are living in a time of unprecedented technological and social changes, new chances, and new responsibilities in front of the business. These changes need managers who will ask new questions, craft innovative strategies, create new products and services, inspire employees, and evolve companies. It starts with curiosity, business acumen, network, and courage to challenge the status quo. This is what I would like students to learn during the Strategy of Innovation course.

Łukasz Kowalik – expert in innovation, change management and go-to-market strategy. Venture Partner at Simpact.VC supporting go-to-market strategies and programs of portfolio companies. Lead mentor at Startupbridge.eu. Earlier for over 18 years manager at Intel Corporation responsible for marketing communication and sales partner programs in CEE and EMEA region.

Assistant Professor and Lead of Strategy and Innovation Major at Kozminski University.

Prof. Piotr Wójcik

The capacity to think strategically is a fundamental quality of the global manager in the 21st century. In courses I teach (Strategic Management for Growth, Business Model Innovation) I seek to instill in students critical thinking about the firm and its environment, how to structure the business problem, how to ask non-obvious questions in the process and find out-of-the box solutions. These are universal skills that will be of value in any business context.

Piotr is an Assistant Professor of Strategic and International Management and Vice-Dean for Master in Management program at Kozminski University. Received Scholarship for Young Researchers, awarded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Co-founder and CEO of a company delivering IT solutions for sustainability. After working in the public and private sector he joined Kozminski University. The research projects he leads, or is a team member of, include strategy- and international business-related topics. He published articles among others in Journal of Business Research, Baltic Journal of Management, Journal of Organizational Change Management.