Career Story: Siniša Antolić, Clinical Hospital Sveti Duh

May 03, 2018

MLS European Business Law alumnus

What stages in your life have had the greatest impact on you and why?

A few stages have had quite an impact on me and my life, one of them was when I moved to Canada where I spent five years living and working in Vancouver and Edmonton. I was privileged to meet wonderful people from all walks of life that enriched me in every way. In Vancouver I finished several English language courses and had a lot of fun meeting people from different countries. In Edmonton I worked in a research company as an organic chemist researcher, where I truly enriched my professional experience with a completely different career path that has helped me in my later career.

Did you originally want to pursue a different career? If so, what made you change your plans?

Actually yes, in my teenage years my plan was to become a dentist, however later I decided to study pharmacy and that was mainly due to very interesting subjects that ranged from mathematics, physics, biology, anatomy to organic and analytical chemistry. Besides, being a pharmacist gave me the opportunity to choose whether to work in a pharmacy or in the pharmaceutical industry, or even choose a research career at the University as an research and teaching assistant.

What has changed in your career as a result of your MLS EBL degree? How did the program support you in reaching your career goals? What concrete career opportunities have opened up for you?

My MLS in European Business Law has opened a completely new career path for me. As a result of this, I recently found a new job where I can apply not only my pharmaceutical knowledge but also the knowledge in European Business Law.

What was your biggest professional/personal success?

At the time of completing my Master of Science degree in Organic Chemistry, I was the youngest person to achieve this, and as such I have been listed in the book “Who is Who in Croatian Medicine”.

What are your goals for the coming year? Your goals in general? Is there still something you absolutely want to do?

I still want to achieve many things, among them is to pass on my knowledge and expertise to younger generation of pharmacy students, so I am at the moment in the discussion with the Dean of the University of Pharmacy in Zagreb to start teaching there within the scope of subject of Health Economics.

What do you consider a “great luxury”?

For me a “great luxury” is having the time to pursue my hobbies, and they are learning about the history of art, archaeology and geopolitics.

What was the last book/movie you really enjoyed?

A book that I really enjoyed and that I have read a few times already, last time quite recently, is a book called “The Glass Bead Game”  (“Das Glasperlenspiel”) by Hermann Hesse.

A movie I have seen recently and that have had an impact on me is a movie called “The Post” with Meryl Streep. I really like Meryl Streep and she is my favorite actress.

How would you characterize your philosophy of leadership? Has it been influenced by a leadership role-model?

I would characterize my leadership style as strategic, team-oriented and cross-cultural. I quite admire Bart Becht, the former CEO of Reckitt Benckiser, a company he headed from its creation in 1999 through to his retirement in 2011.

How do you recharge your batteries when you are not pursuing your demanding career?

I recharge my batteries by playing sports. I like bicycling, swimming and hiking.

If you could change places with anyone for a day, who would it be?

If I could change places with anyone for a day, it would be a Croatian president, so I can do some good changes for my country.

Why would you recommend the MLS EBL of the WU Executive Academy? What did you like the most?

I would definitely recommend the MLS: the program was excellent, I have learned a lot, professors were extraordinary, and colleagues inspiring. I quite enjoyed the whole program as European Business Law is a new field for me. I have enriched my experience and broaden my horizon.