Earning MBA in 10 Months Helps Student Reach His Goals Faster

Vladimir W. Jankov, ’20, Values Knowledgeable Professors and Relevant Course Content

Gardner-Webb University graduate student Vladimir W. Jankov, ’20, and his wife, Iveta, left Slovakia in 1995 for New York to pursue the American Dream. He was 27 years old and although he could speak Russian, Czeck/Slovakian, Polish and a little Spanish, he didn’t know English. He got a dictionary and began studying the language. They lived in New York City for several months, but having come from a small village, city life didn’t suit them.

Then, he met a man who offered him a job in South Carolina. He accepted and moved to the Charleston, S.C., area. His boss was impressed with his work, and Jankov stayed with him until 2001, when he was offered a position at a building maintenance company. By this time, he had learned enough English to tackle another challenge. “I had my first personal computer at the of age of 33,” said Jankov, a student in the Godbold College of Business 10-Month Master of Business Administration (MBA) program.

A resident of Ridgeville, S.C., Jankov still works for the second company as manager of operations. His responsibilities include preparing schedules, supervising employee performance, maintaining quality control, and ensuring customer satisfaction.

After 15 years there, Jankov decided more education would help him on the job and also prepare him for advancement. In 2018, he received an associate’s degree in general business from Trident Technical College. He worked hard and obtained a 3.77 Grade Point Average (GPA), which is an A-. “I walked across the stage and everybody was cheering for me,” Jankov reflected. “That give me so much ignition—so much fuel—that I wanted to do it again.”

About the same time, Jankov completed training to become a reserve deputy for the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office. He joined as a way to give back to the community, where he had been accepted and provided opportunities. Now, he is a first class reserve officer for the Summerville, S.C., Police Department. In 2018, he was named the Reserve Officer of the Year.

In 2019, he received a Certificate of Leadership Development from Trident and also earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Southern Wesleyan University in Central, S.C.—again with a 3.77 GPA. He was enrolled in the MBA program at Southern Wesleyan, but before his classes started, he saw a billboard on I-26 advertising the Gardner-Webb 10-month MBA. The convenience of online classes, the competitive tuition price and the accelerated completion time caught his attention.

He called to get more information and was accepted into GWU’s program. “I have three A’s,” related Jankov, who graduates in December. “During my studies, I have learned a lot of operations and performances of the business platform, which I will be able to use in the future at my primary job. Every class has given me something that I can implement for future performance in positions that I may pursue. I’m learning interpersonal skills, how to work effectively in a team, strategic thinking and critical-decision making, a better understanding of the market, and communication and leadership skills. I value the excellent level of the professors and their knowledge and preparation.”

Completing his course work while working a full-time and a part-time job requires discipline and time management. “It is very important to draft a schedule based on task and goal importance,” Jankov asserted. “I always try do my school tasks right away and do not wait until it is due. I don’t mind pulling longer hours at work or behind the computer or textbooks just to get ahead of the schedule. I am locked on the prize, and I always remember my long-term goals with keeping in mind my personal initiative and responsibilities.”