When I began to think about undertaking an MBA I was in the middle of a phase of crisis in my working life. However I wanted to catch that moment, rather than focusing on the negative aspects typical of a crisis, to search for new opportunities and, generally speaking, to bring myself into question.

Actually at that time I had a secure job and, under several point of views, quite stimulating and challenging. I was working as researcher in a Research Institute in Rome and few years earlier I had finished my Ph.D. in naval engineering. My career was clearly oriented to the development of research programs in the naval hydrodynamic and marine technologies fields.

In spite of all this something was missing. It seemed to me that the perspective from which I was seeing my work, although scientifically very advanced, was too tight and not oriented to grasping systemic aspects, global and holistic view of the things I was dealing with. Gradually I realized that I was interested in going beyond. Thus my purpose shifted to understand how and which technology transfers and potential businesses were possible for the researches and the methodologies I was developing in my daily work.   But in order to do this I didn't want to wait too much and therefore my priority was to get in contact with a training experience which could facilitate and fill the gap in my managerial and business expertise and competencies. 

A very close friend, aeronautical engineer like me and who used to work in the States for some years, at that time had just finished an MBA in the United Kingdom. He told me about his experience as being something really engaging and worthwhile, inviting me to think about it.  As a matter of fact for me, already having at that time two kids and a third one coming, was neither practically possible a move abroad nor economically sustainable leaving my job.

On the other hand if I had decided for such an option, a Master taught in English would have been a difficulty but an added value as well. 

Another friend told me about the University of Malta – Link Campus, where he was almost completing an MBA Executive. The scheme was interesting; lessons in alternate weekends and the programme taught entirely in English. It seemed to me the perfect answer to my needs. Furthermore the University of Malta, having an ancient and prestigious history, ensured me an international focus towards the Mediterranean and the European Union (at that time Malta was already a candidate State for the EU at the final rush). I spoke of that with my wife from whom I needed to have all the necessary and essential support, both moral and practical. She, looking at my enthusiasm, supported me since the beginning and it's sure that without her help and her sacrifices my endeavour would have been impossible.

What did the MBA provide me? I could say in a few words: not only it gave me operative tools to enhance and develop my managerial and business expertise and competences, but most importantly it has consolidated in me the winning attitude to believe in my strengths and to take as reachable all the challenges that I might find along my professional path. 

After the completion of the MBA I've done several professional activities both in the Research Centre where I used to work in and outside. For all of them the experience gained from the MBA has demonstrated to be decisive.

The most challenging is probably the one that I'm doing now at the European Commission in Brussels where I work since 2008 in the Directorate-General Transport and Energy in the Unit involved in maritime transport policies and maritime safety issues. Specifically my responsibilities are related to the assessments and audits of Classification Societies. These private international enterprises are responsible for the certification of ships' safety levels, both for trading ships (owned by shipping companies) and for those which are still in construction in the shipyards and that have to comply with building standards that could ensure a sufficiently high standard for maritime safety. 

 To conclude I would like to quote a sentence of the book "The Alchemist" of P. Coelho which has particularly impressed me. It says "when you really desire something, the entire Universe conspires in order to realize your desire".

I dare say that I profoundly desired a change in my working path and, of course, I don't know if the Universe had conspired in my favour, but what is sure is that the experience gained through the MBA at the University of Malta – Link Campus has positively contributed to such a change.

Ing. Guido Calcagno

Seconded National Expert
Maritime transport policy: regulatory questions, maritime safety & seafarers European Commission
Directorate-General for Energy and Transport
Mail: guido.calcagno@ec.europa.eu