During a storied, high-flying career with some of the world’s most respected names in consulting, business and tourism, Borec was used to working alongside – and thereby learning from – some of the world’s most talented corporate professionals. Unfazed and unflappable, it takes a lot to surprise the laidback Slovenian-born executive.
Yet as his studies progressed, the former tax director at eBay was surprised to find himself learning from some of the world’s most experienced figures when it comes to negotiating with criminals and terrorists. Furthermore, he found that the lessons he learned were both invaluable and applicable in his daily dealings not only in business, but with friends and family.
As Borec tells us: “We got a chance to learn from the world’s most renowned hostage negotiators turned business advisors, like Gary Noesner, Kirk Kinell, and Scott Tillema. It was an unforgettable experience, and I would love to repeat it and focus more on negotiations in the future.”
Being confronted with the unexpected, and re-evaluating one’s potential is a theme running throughout Borec’s journey to study the IEMBA at the University of St Gallen – one of Europe’s great business universities.
After years working for business giants such as Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers, eBay and MTS Globe Group, he decided that to progress his career, he needed a challenge – and one that would fit in with his active lifestyle.
Finding the right fit
Says Borec of his choice to attend the University of St Gallen to complete his Executive MBA: “The idea first started boiling away when I was at eBay and led the tax component of multiple high-priority projects. I regularly saw leadership first hand and started to recognise the traits of good leaders and tried to learn from them as much I could.
“So, I started researching what programs I could attend. First, I looked at various leadership courses, but I figured out they provided only a brief overview of leadership – which is great and needed, but I finished a few of them in the past and wanted something more substantial this time.
“I narrowed my search to three top universities and ultimately chose St Gallen, and I’m very pleased with my decision. I didn’t want to attend weekend-only courses, as I love spending my weekends outdoors, hiking the Alps, and prefer modules going on for a whole week or even two consecutive weeks.
“St Gallen offers this module-focused learning approach, and I believe I gained more out of it this way as we truly lived and breathed the course content during those weeks.”
Scaling new heights
From the start of his time studying at St Gallen, Borec was surprised at the breadth of subjects taught, and how different elements of knowledge fit together.
Borec says of his studies: “I like the variety. We study various topics, and some of the modules couldn’t be more opposite to the other. Surprisingly, however, they all somehow connect as studies progress, and the acquired knowledge assembles like a puzzle.
“There is an Entrepreneurship module which I loved. It was about stepping into the mindset of an entrepreneur, and getting a taste of the resilience and grit that it takes to build and drive a company. We learned a lot about the specifics of the startup world, about pitches, and got to hear some great behind-the-scenes investors’ stories.”
Borec is equally enthusiastic about the quality of teaching at the university, telling us: “The professors are very progressive, business-oriented, and eager to challenge us all the time. They are an excellent selection of educators, and I feel bad for not having the time and space to mention each and every one of them.
“I would highlight Professor Karolin Frankenberger, our Academic Director. She leads a fantastic team of lecturers. All our teaching staff are competent, friendly and easy for students to approach.”
Photo: Tom Borec
Growth, both professional and personal
Tom Borec’s ongoing time at St Gallen is one that he believes has not only benefited him on his professional journey, but also personally. “The influence on my personal life surprises me as I hadn’t expected it would have such depth,” he says. “It improved my relationship with my wife and made our marriage better. It helps with my friends and family and in everyday interactions.
“The lessons I’ve learned about active listening, big picture thinking, and negotiations are put to good use! I never expected any of this when enrolling in the IEMBA. I knew I’d get the knowledge and practical tools that would enhance my career and help me do my job better, but the shift of mindset in my personal life surprised me.
“Through my studies at the University of St Gallen, I became more open toward new views; I became curious, eager to learn new skills. I am very keen to learn about topics that are out of my immediate knowledge base. I have learned to listen actively and to gain as much as possible out of each interaction.
“St Gallen has helped me gain knowledge and confidence in topics that are way out of my primary working area. My time in the IEMBA has taught me to look at the big picture in all interactions and think about the fundamental objective in each.
“Currently, I am writing my thesis on ‘What Startups can learn from Navy SEALs’. This actually illustrates the mind shift and growth that IEMBA has provided me with.
“Initially, I was 100 percent sure I would write about taxes in my thesis. It is what I do; this is where I excel. However, as I encountered the many exciting topics that comprise the IEMBA, I decided to ditch my safe and perfectly fine tax-related thesis outline, and started researching startups and Navy SEALs instead.”
More than the average business school, the University of St Gallen encourages Borec in his learning every day, and looking forward, he sees a bright future where he can pursue a career that truly challenges him.
He smiles as he tells us: “I look forward to what the future holds. Before the University of St Gallen, my work world was purely tax-related; now the world is my oyster.”
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