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ICMS Alumnus Key to World Business Forum Sydney Success

ICMS Alumnus Key to World Business Forum Sydney Success

September 24, 2018

Bringing the world’s greatest business leaders, thinkers and academics to Sydney is what drives and inspires International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS) alumnus Malisa Mlinaric in her role as World of Business Ideas (WOBI) General Manager, Australia.

Mlinaric, who graduated from ICMS in 2004 with a degree in Business, Tourism and Hotel Management, was part of the team that launched the inaugural World Business Forum Sydney in 2014, and has continued to be a part of this global sensation ever since.

“Launching the Sydney event was a huge learning curve for me,” Mlinaric said.

“Although it was already established in the Americas and Europe at the time, it took a lot of hard work to build the brand here in Australia. We had Michael Porter speak about strategy, competitiveness and the notion of shared value. We had over 2000 of Australia and New Zealand’s top executives in the room and it was such an exhilarating feeling knowing that the team and I had delivered what was, and still is, often referred to as the best business management event in Australia. Six years on, we are still going strong and now growing in this region.”

Mlinaric attributes her excellent work ethic, fantastic teamwork skills and “out the box thinking” to the solid foundation laid during her time at ICMS, located in Northern Beaches, NSW, Sydney.

The high education institution’s leading industry training program provided her with her first step up the corporate ladder, and in her leadership role at WOBI Sydney, she pays it forward by hosting ICMS students as interns and volunteers at WOBI events. Indeed, Mlinaric said, “half of our Australian team is made up of ICMS graduates or students”.

“There are so many success stories that stem from those that have studied at ICMS. It has an esteemed program that is recognised in my industry and it prepares you for your future career. The majority of ICMS students are dedicated and passionate, and that is why I have no hesitation in hiring ICMS graduates, taking on a student for industry training each year and working with ICMS students as volunteers at our world-class events,” she said.

WOBI is a global hub for business content, Mlinaric explained.

“Our objective is to produce and distribute the best management content to help companies and their executives improve the way they lead and manage their organisations. We strongly believe that knowledge is the main competitive advantage in today’s business world,” she said.

“We create inspirational and thought-provoking events on a global scale with the world’s greatest business leaders, thinkers and academics. Here in Australia alone, we have worked with Michael Porter, Sir Richard Branson, Steve Wozniak, Randi Zuckerberg, Dr Ben Bernanke, Oliver Stone and Mark Webber,” Mlinaric said.

Alongside the organisation’s flagship event, the World Business Forum, WOBI also offers content solutions to bring the brightest minds in the business world to organisations, institutions and industry bodies.

From her ICMS industry training as cashier/host at the ANA Hotel Sydney (now the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney) while studying to her current role, Mlinirac has taken every opportunity to move forward in her career, and sees herself still growing and working with WOBI going into the future.

“Before studying, I looked at all the programs that other hotel management schools were offering in Australia and found that the (ICMS) program was by far the best. Studying at the ‘castle on the hill’ in the lovely beachside suburb of Manly was a bonus,” she said.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to meet the world’s greatest business leaders, thinkers and academics and having access to such inspirational content. What I enjoy the most, however, is meeting with local business people in my day-to-day work. I have met some interesting people, from start-ups to large corporates, who are doing amazing things. Our program each year resonates with a lot of them, so it is great that we can provide so many executives with the world-class content we bring to Sydney, which the Australian marketing otherwise would not receive.”

The upcoming World Business Forum Sydney 2019 will be held on 28 and 29 May 2019 at the ICC Sydney.

For more information on ICMS, click here: https://www.icms.edu.au

For more information on WOBI and the WBF Sydney, click here: https://www.wobi.com/wbf-sydney

Category

News, Alumni