Each Master of Business and Science (MBS) student has a unique journey through our program. This month, we’re sharing the story of alum Justin Kovacevich. Kovacevich graduated with an MBS degree in January 2021 with a concentration in Engineering Management. Kovacevich earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Industrial & Systems Engineering from Rutgers University, during which he was accepted into the BS/MBS "4+1" program.
He has interned at Bristol-Myers Squibb and Toyota Logistics Services and held roles at Campbell Soup Company as a Distribution Logistics Analyst, L’Oréal USA as a Project Engineer in Packaging, and Shiseido Americas, where he advanced from Production Technical Engineer III to Senior Manager of Plant and Technical Engineering. Currently, he serves as External Manufacturing Site Manager at Kenvue.
What initially drew you to the MBS degree? What factors influenced your decision to enroll?
Kovacevich initially became interested in the MBS degree because it combined business and management courses with science courses. Its flexible curriculum also allowed him to choose from a variety of technical electives.
As a Rutgers undergraduate student, he recognized the value of our BS/MBS "4+1" program, which allows eligible students to apply undergraduate academic credit towards their MBS degree and save time when completing it. Eligible students can apply up to 12 undergraduate academic credits towards their MBS degree, provided they meet certain criteria, which can be found on our “4+1” webpage.
Which aspects of the MBS degree did you find most valuable in preparing for your career? Were there any standout moments, people, or courses?
“Almost all MBS courses incorporated at least one group project, which is important because very little work in industry is conducted as a single individual,” said Kovacevich.
Kovacevich’s coursework required him to collaborate with students from varied backgrounds and stages of life, each with different areas of expertise and work experience. Working on assignments with a diverse pool of students was great practice for cross-functional projects in the professional world, he said.
“Business Intelligence with Visual Analytics” and “Data Analytics in Engineering Systems” also taught him different methods for analyzing data and how to present it clearly.
“This has been critical in my professional career when sharing recommendations with upper management focused on the conclusions, key takeaways, and business impacts driven by data analysis.”
Kovacevich also highlighted “Topics in Management: Online Training CCPD - Lean Six Sigma Green Belt,” which allowed him to obtain a professional certification sought after by many employers.
“‘Principles of Finance and Accounting for Science and Technology Management’ taught me financial language, concepts, and tools that I’ve used throughout my career as an engineering project manager in analyses of capital investments,” said Kovacevich.
Kovacevich also highlighted the impact of “Market Assessment and Analysis,” even though his professional roles have had minimal involvement with product marketing. He found the course thought-provoking, specifically the Hedgehog Concept. This course also introduced him to the book This is Marketing by Seth Godin, which taught him valuable lessons about knowing one’s audience.
“I’ve found that these same marketing ideologies can be applied to a myriad of situations, whether it’s selling an actual product, ‘selling’ a recommendation to senior leadership, or ‘selling’ yourself to a potential employer.”
What would you say is your most significant professional accomplishment to date? “Becoming a people manager at Shiseido and leading a team of five direct report engineers responsible for line trials, capital investments, equipment installations, new product labor costing, and process improvement projects,” said Kovacevich.
How do you approach leadership in your professional environment, and how has your education prepared you for that?
The MBS course Principles of Communication & Leadership Development allowed Kovacevich to reflect on what type of leader he wanted to become.
“The semester-long final project of writing a personal Leadership Development Plan gave me the opportunity to capture these thoughts and step outside of my comfort zone by connecting with new contacts in my industry to learn their perspectives on leadership.”
He offered a list of principles that guide his leadership approach:
- Lead by example and follow through on your commitments with action.
- Foster a positive environment where the team enjoys working together to drive business success by understanding what motivates each individual.
- Maximize the potential of the team by developing the skills they need to be self-sufficient, while maintaining availability as a resource to provide support along the way. Lean into their strengths to support the business while also creating opportunities for them to improve their weaknesses.
- Build a team that is dependable, not just out of blind loyalty or fear of authority, but because they respect your values and believe that your vision and guidance will lead to success.
- Trust people that you assign tasks to and allow them to deliver, don’t micromanage.
- Treat everyone as equals and with respect.
- Be willing to admit mistakes, correct them, and make changes to prevent them from recurring in the future.
- Be comfortable with not being an expert on every topic, be open to new ideas, and be willing to hear what others have to say.
- Participate first-hand in process to better understand the challenges and opportunities.
- Find a balance between protecting your team while also allowing members to fail, own it, and learn from their mistakes.
- Get to know each team member as an individual. Be willing to flex your style and try different teaching methods to best fit their needs and achieve their personal goals.
What advice would you give to current or prospective MBS students?
“Keep your eyes and ears open to learning about industries and roles that are different from your current position,” said Kovacevich. “You never know what you may end up finding interesting and could lead you down a career path you didn’t expect or maybe didn’t even know existed.”
“Listen to the experiences shared by your colleagues and classmates, and don’t be afraid to reach out for a conversation to discuss further,” he added. “Similarly, be open to sharing your own experiences and connecting coursework to your profession.”
“Take a course or attend a colloquium that is outside of your normal field of work.” Many MBS alumni have commented on the value they found in our colloquium. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone! Check out our events page to see our offerings.
Kovacevich also recommended regularly reflecting on and summarizing recent accomplishments. He advised that students assess skill growth needs, evaluate if their role supports progress, and plan short-term steps toward their long-term career goals.
Kovacevich offered one final piece of advice for students. “Advocate for yourself and take the initiative to steer your career in the direction you want to go.”
For more stories like this, see our previous MBS alumni spotlights:
- Juca Lacsina, MBS'17
- Chidera Okafor, MBS'17
- Matthew Brennan, MBS’17
- Trevor Johnson, MBS’20