LCC Alumni Story: German Vladislav, from Kazakhstan, Class of 2019, major in International Business Administration

Life After LCC is a monthly interview and story series featuring alumni of LCC International University. The series is part of 35 Years – 35 Stories, celebrating the university's 35th anniversary.

Where are you now? Tell us about your current role, studies, or projects.

Today, I run my own company based in Lithuania. We help businesses use modern software tools and new technologies to improve how they manage sales, marketing, and internal processes. In simple terms, we work with companies that want to become more organized and efficient. We implement systems like HubSpot CRM and other digital tools that help teams work better, automate routine tasks, and make smarter decisions based on data. Most of our clients are international, so my work today is very global, something that connects directly back to my time at LCC.

Which experiences at LCC helped prepare you for where you are today?

LCC has been a huge part of my personal and professional development. It is honestly hard to overestimate its impact.

If I had to highlight a few specific things:

The international experience was a big part. Through work-and-travel and exchange programs, I spent four months in Germany, four months in the United States, and four months in Greece. Living and working in different countries at a young age shaped my worldview, independence, and confidence.

The people I met at LCC are still a big part of my life. Some of my closest friends are from that time. Many professional connections I have today also started there.

My current business partner is someone I met during my time at LCC. Even though he studied there for only one semester, we stayed in touch for ten years, and today we are building a company together.

The network effect of those four years is still active in my life.

When did you realize what you wanted to pursue professionally, and how did LCC influence that decision?

Before coming to LCC, I already knew that I wanted to build my own business one day. At that time, I was thinking about a marketing agency. LCC was not my first university. At some point, I realized I wanted a formal business education, and that is why I applied to LCC. Looking back, I see my path as one long, consistent direction that slowly became clearer over time. LCC did not create the idea from zero, but it shaped it, strengthened it, and refined it. Studying business exposed me to marketing, finance, economics, management, and other areas. It helped me understand what I am truly interested in and what I am not. Some subjects showed me what I enjoy and where my strengths are. Others helped me understand what is important to know, even if it is not my favorite field.

How did LCC help you grow as a leader? Tell us about your leadership experience.

At LCC, I began to understand that leadership starts with leading yourself. Discipline, responsibility, and initiative come first. As you grow personally and professionally, people begin to trust you. They want to work with you. That is when leadership naturally becomes a responsibility. LCC introduced me to the concept of servant leadership, the idea that a leader serves the people he leads. Leadership is not about managing others. It is about helping people move to a better place. It is both a responsibility and an opportunity. That understanding has stayed with me and influences how I work with my team and partners today.

How did LCC help you build relationships and networks that still matter to you today?

The network and relationships from LCC are probably the most valuable long-term impact. My business partner is someone I met at LCC. Some of my closest friends are from that time. Many of the people I interact with professionally today are connected to LCC in one way or another.

Favorite memories

There are many.

Campus events where different countries were represented. Time spent in the dorms with friends. Late conversations and spontaneous ideas. One memory that stands out is from my freshman year during a large celebration — I believe it was connected to LCC's 25th anniversary. We had a big parade walking through Klaipėda as a community. On the same day, Lithuania's national basketball team got second place in the European Championship, and the whole city felt like it was celebrating. As a first-year student, being part of that atmosphere — the energy, the community, the sense of something bigger — was unforgettable.

Advice

Enjoy your time there.

Build relationships — they will last much longer than you expect.

Try different things. Take opportunities. Travel if you can.

Be brave when you feel that inner push to go for something.

At the same time, do not overthink everything. Do not stress too much.

Those years will likely become some of the best memories of your life, so be present and fully live them.