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Marta Zlotkowska wanted to work at the intersection of technology and business. She returned to school so she could qualify for leadership positions.

Engineer Marta Zlotkowska is taking the energy industry by storm. With a tailor-made master's degree in business, management and energy, she is acquiring sought-after leadership positions in today's and tomorrow's energy sector.

– After several years as an engineer, I felt the need to broaden my horizons and open up more opportunities in business. This motivated me to take the bold step of going back to school, Marta Zlotkowska said.

The goal was to work at the intersection of business, management and technology. In order to succeed in this, she needed more professional expertise in areas such as management and strategy. 

Zlotkowska therefore decided to start the 18-month programme Executive Master of Management in Energy at BI in 2019.

The 35-year-old is dressed neatly in a black suit with a light brown leather bag when we meet her outside Hydro's headquarters at Vækerø, just outside Oslo. This autumn's shades of colour leave their mark on the enormous campus that houses 400 Hydro employees.

– I wanted this degree to expand my opportunities – beyond just being an engineer – and I wanted to qualify for commercial roles. I am also quite passionate about energy and sustainability, so it was natural to choose a study and a degree where I got the best of both worlds, Zlotkowska said.

 She had two sons at home, ages one and three, during her studies.

– The programme is intensive and fun. There were a lot of late nights and long weekends, but you come out of it so much stronger, and for me it was really worth the investment and priorities I had to make along the way. I would never be where I am today without my education, she said.

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A Good Balance

– Fellow student Marco Gouveia also began studying for a BI energy master's degree in 2019. He wanted to learn more about energy and become a better leader.

Like Zlotkowska, he had a family and had to think carefully about his choice. Before deciding, Gouveia reached out to a former alumnus of the programme to probe the terrain.

– I contacted someone who had completed the programme before, and I spoke with the programme advisors. Everyone was clear that it requires a lot, but that the programme is flexible enough to be combined with work and family. It takes a lot of time, but in return you get unique insight and knowledge of both energy and management. I dare say you don't get the same education elsewhere! he said.

Portuguese Marco Gouveia believes that the Nordic countries, including Norway, have cracked the code for good work-life balance. He says his leadership style is strongly influenced by several years in Norway.

– It is also less hierarchical and has a flatter business culture. I think this provides psychological security that makes it much easier to collaborate and bring about big changes. You are not afraid to speak your mind, and you can talk openly and honestly about opportunities and challenges. I think many other countries have a lot to learn here, including my home country, Portugal, he said.

A sky-rocketing career

Both former BI students have worked both inside and outside Norway. Zlotkowska, who is originally from Poland, has lived in Norway since 2010, but her career started with a bang in Malaysia. The fledgling engineer travelled to Kuala Lumpur at the age of 25 to work for Aker Solutions. Many people raised eyebrows when she arrived at the male-dominated workplace on her first day of work.

– The customer may not have expected to see a young blonde woman of 25 years solve technical challenges. They were very surprised and probably wondered what I was doing there, she recalled with a gentle laugh.

The first few weeks were spent building relationships and trust. Fortunately, it didn't take long for her to be well underway.

– I was the only woman on a team consisting of quite experienced engineers from Aker and Equinor. Malaysia is also a more conservative country than Norway. Fortunately, it went well in the end, and the stay was a great success, she said.

Zlotkowska is originally from Poland. My first encounter with Norway was through a summer job at a coffee shop during my studies. Well over ten years later, she is established here with her family and calls Oslo home.

– I always knew that I wanted to work with energy. It's a big field that doesn't really put any restrictions on where you can work, Zlotkowska said.

No limitations

– Energy, sustainability and transformation are a part of all industries. Many people think that Hydro only makes aluminium, but a lot of resources are put into how to produce carbon-neutral products, Zlotkowska said, who currently works as operations manager at Hydro Rein, a subsidiary of Hydro that develops renewable energy solutions for industry.

Shaped by the Nordic countries

Unlike Zlotkowska, who has always known that she wanted to work with energy, Gouveia's interest in the subject was rekindled when he moved to Iceland in 2007. The country has a unique energy mix, which includes geothermal energy. He arrived at this mythical island in January of 2007, which he experienced as a major transition from sunny Funchal in Madeira, his hometown.

– Iceland was dark and cold and made me put things into perspective, to say the least. Everyone I met and worked with was very nice and welcoming and I quickly got settled in and started, he said.

Little by little, he began to appreciate the working environment and culture in the Nordic countries.

The stay in Iceland, however, was shorter than planned. The financial crisis of 2008 sent the country into a steep economic downturn. Gouveia returned to Portugal, but after a few years he returned to the Nordic countries. This time to Norway and Aker Solutions, where he stayed for nine years.

Today he works as a project manager specialising in energy in large projects for Equinor. According to Gouveia, the goal is to reach net-zero emissions at the company by 2050, creating value through the opportunities provided by the energy transition.

– My style of leadership is probably strongly shaped by so many years in Norway. I like the Nordic countries very much. I am also now established with my family here, and the children speak Norwegian. With a master's degree from BI, I have professional expertise and a unique network that has opened many doors, Gouveia said.

– Nature provides a nice setting for relaxation and reflection, but also family time, he said. He has three young sons at home, and he tries to get them into Norwegian nature as often as possible. Maybe also so that they don't tear down the house.