Jonas Motiejunas, who ran in the 400 meter dash in the 2000 Olympic Games, is honing his competitive edge with an Executive MBA in Management of Technology.

As a former Olympic track runner, Jonas Motiejunas knows just how important rigorous training is to enhancing performance. Translating that philosophy to the corporate world, Motiejunas is honing his competitive edge through Georgia Tech's Executive MBA in Management of Technology.

Motiejunas, who ran in the 400 meter dash in the 2000 Olympic Games as part of the Lithuanian team, now works as a corporate training and sales manager for Fulton Paper Company. His long-range goal is to rise to an executive position in which he's responsible for strategic decisions.

Since starting the Executive MBA in Management of Technology program in August 2008, Motiejunas has increasingly played a role in the decision making process at Fulton Paper, a leading distribution and supply-chain solutions provider in the Southeast.

Increasing His Leadership at Company

"They're pulling me more and more into the planning process, and I think that's a direct result of my MBA education," Motiejunas says. "Given the current state of the economy, the decisions we make now are extremely important to the future of the company. We're moving toward greater efficiency."

Recognizing his leadership potential, Fulton Paper encouraged him to earn an MBA, and he greatly appreciates the company's support.

Motiejunas, who earned his BS in management from Georgia Tech in 1999 as well as two NCAA National Championships in the 4x400 relay, decided to return to the Institute for his MBA because of the strong alumni network. Georgia Tech alumni connections helped him get his first two jobs, at Conversion Technologies and then Fulton Paper.

Enhancing His Strategic Competitive Advantage

Out of the various MBA options available at Georgia Tech, the Executive MBA in Management of Technology appealed most to Motiejunas because of its focus on driving innovation and technology for strategic competitive advantage. "A specialized MBA will help me differentiate myself in the marketplace. In addition to enhanced business knowledge, learning to manage innovation and understanding technical professionals puts me on the cutting edge in my company," he says.

Motiejunas appreciates the diversity of his classmates' professional backgrounds and the years of experience they bring to the classroom as they ready themselves for upper-management roles.

"I've been able to run a lot of things happening at work by other professionals in the program as well as my excellent professors," Motiejunas says. "It's really helped me make some key decisions. A couple of my class projects have even focused on organizational changes happening at Fulton Paper, further benefiting my company."

Advancing His Career without Leaving Job

Motiejunas will graduate from the 17-month Executive MBA in Management of Technology Program in December 2009. Classes on select weekends have enabled him to continue working while advancing his career.

"Because of the program's team-based approach, I've been able to really bond with my classmates," he says. "I think some of the connections I've made will be ones I develop long into the future."

© 2012 Georgia Institute of Technology