Marek Šoltys

Tell us about yourself:

I’m the kind of person who annoys everyone around him because I keep coming up with ways to improve something, do it differently or start something new – and then the others can’t get on with their work :) But I try to rein myself in so that people dislike me only a little, not a lot. I enjoy figuring out how to tackle big and small projects, although I prefer to handle the small ones myself. And while I’m good at coming up with ideas, following through is considerably harder for me. Maybe that’s why I now work as a project manager, where someone else always does the follow-through :)

What do you enjoy most about your work?

That I can take part in really big projects with a global footprint, and that I can help improve how development works in a giant like Sandoz.

What do you consider your greatest achievements so far?

I consider it an achievement that I can live contentedly in this world, that I have no regrets regarding anyone close to me who has passed away, and that I have found a wife who is a true partner I can rely on. Then there are pleasant but not so crucial things such as my PhD, a few scientific papers and a few successful projects at work – but those are all team efforts.

Why did you choose industry?

Financial reasons. I wanted to build up some savings abroad before starting a family.

What would you say to those considering a PhD at UCT Prague?

Go for it, but choose your supervisor carefully. The topic doesn’t matter that much, but if you don’t have a good relationship with your supervisor, it usually doesn’t end well. And PhD experience comes in handy even in non-research positions.

What skills do you consider key to successfully managing projects in a company such as Sandoz?

Being able to plan well while being ready for plans to fail, and being able to deal with crises on the fly. Being able to lead a team so that together you can see two or three steps ahead before making a decision. And being able to conclude that something no longer makes sense and stop it before you waste even more energy and money on it.