MBA PROFILES

Alicja Kryczalo Gdansk, Poland Two-Year Notre Dame MBA Program Class of 2010

Alicja Kryczalo is transferring the same drive and determination she poured into her career as a world champion fencer into her MBA studies at Notre Dame. Born in Gdansk, Poland, Alicja chose an academic route in elementary school that emphasized sports classes. Her fencing coach soon recognized her potential and fueled her desire to excel. By the time she was 20, Alicja was competing around the world with her fencing team, winning individual and team honors in the World Championships.

Offered a full scholarship by Notre Dame fencing coach Janusz Bednarski, Alicja became one of the most elite student-athletes in Notre Dame history. After finishing college with a B.A. in Psychology and three NCAA foil titles, she worked for Culver Academies in Culver, Indiana. There she taught Spanish, coached fencing, and conducted research. It wasn’t long before Alicja decided that it would be wise to broaden her business knowledge and pursue an MBA at Notre Dame.

Tool for positive change

Alicja is now integrating her psychology degree, traveling experiences, and knowledge of four languages with a Notre Dame MBA education that presents business as a tool to bring about positive change. "During our orientation, Dean Woo delivered a lecture on the problems of the modern world and our responsibility to formulate solutions. At Notre Dame, we are addressed as future leaders and given all the possible tools to bring good to society,” says Alicja.

Alicja especially enjoyed her Organizational Business course because of the emphasis on management from a human perspective. Alicja says, “Perhaps because of my natural interest in people, I find this class captivating. It matches well my perception of the business world which, in my mind, is heavily based on the relationships between people and the ability to understand others, to cooperate with them, and to empower them.”

Building a bridge

Alicja is interested in international business, particularly in creating a stronger connection between Poland in Eastern Europe and the United States.  In this way, she can benefit the countries she has lived in and in some way be a bridge between her two worlds.

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