Kick-Off

November 18, 2024

On November 18, 2024, the cohort came together for the official Kick-Off Meeting held at WU’s LC.2.400 Clubraum. The session provided an introduction to the program’s objectives and was led by Program Directors Dr. Arnold Schuh and Dr. Rainer Matiasek, who guided the group through the months ahead.

This event marked the beginning of a transformative journey focused on business and management issues in CEE. The kickoff also included a warm welcome from our corporate partners, including Henkel, Erste Group Bank AG, and Mondi Group, who support the program’s practice-oriented approach.

X-MAS Party

December 10, 2024

To celebrate the festive season and deepen the bonds within the group, the Master Class CEE team hosted a cozy X-MAS Party on December 10, 2024, right after class. Held in the D1 lounge at WU, the gathering featured snacks, drinks, and a special twist: students were invited to bring small bites from their home countries – from Hungarian salami to Polish pastries – turning the evening into a delicious cultural exchange. It was a joyful occasion that captured the spirit of the Master Class: international, warm, and full of shared experiences.

Field Trip to Zagreb

April 2025

A major highlight was the field trip to Zagreb, where the students visited eight local companies and institutions, gaining first-hand insights into how innovation is practiced across industries in the CEE region.

The excursion provided students with great opportunities. These included the possibility to understand how regional firms adapt to global challenge, to engage directly with local innovators, and to analyze the dynamics of fragmented ecosystems and talent flows

The field trip fostered deep discussions and offered meaningful exposure to cross-border business challenges and opportunities in CEE.

Insight Talks

Januray to June 2025

The Insight Talks series featured a line-up of inspiring guest speakers who shared their experiences and strategies regarding innovation in CEE:

• Insight Talk 1 (January, 2025):
  Leszek Plak, Sales Director at Mondi Group, offered valuable perspectives on sustainability and innovation in packaging.

• Insight Talk 2 (January, 2025):
  A panel featuring Eliška Nejdlová (Henkel) and Karina Grimbs (BILLA CEE/iki, REWE Group) dove into branding, strategic innovation, and sustainability in retail and FMCG sectors.

• Insight Talk 3 (June 2025):
  Andrea Gritsch, Managing Partner at Wolf Theiss, offered an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into legal innovation in CEE. She explored how the firm transforms traditional legal practices through cross-border strategies, LegalTech integration, and a digitally driven approach—highlighting the firm’s evolution into a modern, future-ready legal organization.

These sessions allowed students to connect academic insights with real-world practices and opened the floor for active dialogue with business leaders from across the region.

Final Project and Graduation Ceremony

June 10, 2025

The Master Class culminated in a Graduation Ceremony on June 10, 2025, where students presented the findings of their group research on Innovation in CEE. Their report highlighted several key themes, such as CEE’s shift from a low-cost model toward innovation-driven growt, the uneven performance across the region, the importance of investing in talent retention, research-industry collaboration, and reducing dependency on EU funding. Prominent unicorns and innovators like UiPath, Rimac Technology, and IKI served as case studies to underline the region’s potential.

Certificates were awarded in the presence of corporate representatives and faculty. The program directors expressed their admiration for the students’ commitment and contributions throughout the year.