Adam Zahradnik left the Czech Republic in 2012 to study at the College of Business Administration on a Paul Robitschek Scholarship. Through connections he made at the college, he returned home in January with an internship at Hewlett Packard.

Through Dr. Demet Batur, assistant professor of supply chain management, he was introduced to Rob Winans at a CBA advisory board meeting. Winans, a 1997 marketing graduate and director of enterprise group and global chain transformation at Hewlett Packard, was impressed by him.

“During the advisory board meeting, Adam asked excellent questions and was very knowledgeable,” Winans said. “He had a natural curiosity and drive that made him stand out. After talking more with him and learning he wanted to go back home, HP seemed like a great fit.”

The opportunity helped Zahradnik build upon a career goal to work internationally while pursuing a master’s degree in international business at the University of Economics in Prague.

“Through Rob’s recommendations and his international network, the HP manager in Prague contacted me about the open position,” Zahradnik said. “We agreed on terms and I started as a business system expert for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.”

The connection between Zahradnik and Winans demonstrates both how UNL alumni impact student lives, and how the growth and reputation of the emerging supply chain management program at CBA have taken root.

Winans, who also holds an executive certificate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, supports HP’s core business units with teams in the United States and Europe supported by operational centers in India, China, Mexico, Poland and Romania.

The Paul Robitschek Scholarship provides travel, tuition, room and board, books and fees for students from the Czech Republic to study at UNL for two academic semesters. Published: February 5, 2015