Did you promise yourself that you’d start working out in January but couldn’t keep it up for more than a month? Swore that during the next semester, you’d complete your assignments on time because this year felt like a nightmare? Once again, are you optimistically looking forward to the start of a new year when everything will definitely be different, only to see it become a repeat of last year? Congratulations—you’re among the 92% of people who fail to keep their New Year’s resolutions. How can you join the elite 8%? Elite?! Not exactly. Turning resolutions into achieved goals doesn’t require as much as you think. What and how much it takes is exactly what this article is about.

Why Do New Year’s Resolutions Fail?

One of the main reasons you don’t achieve your resolutions is that your goals are either too ambitious or too vague. For example, “study more” or “be healthier.” Everyone interprets “more” differently, so when goals are undefined or too broad, motivation quickly fades at the first obstacle. Another reason is that resolutions are often tied to emotional highs and short-lived enthusiasm, which quickly dissipates. There’s no magic formula—achieving even one resolution requires daily effort and time. So, how can you win the marathon to achieve your goals?

Clear Formulation Turns Resolutions Into Goals

• To turn your resolutions into achievable goals, you need to formulate them correctly. Effective goals should be:
• Specific. For example, replace “read more” with “read 10 pages a day.”
• Measurable. Track your progress regularly to see how you’re advancing. Tools like journals, calendars, or apps like Habitica, TickTick, and Strides can help. Achievable. Be realistic when setting goals, considering your time and resources.
• Relevant. When your goals align with your personal values, they become powerful motivators. For example, “I’ll dedicate more time to exercising because I want to feel good and be energetic.”
• Time-bound. Set deadlines for when and what you’ll achieve. For instance, “By January 31, I will have read two books.” Summarizing these points, your resolution-turned-goal might look like this: “I will study a new language for 15 minutes daily using the Duolingo app until February 28.”

Motivate Yourself Through Actions, Not Just Words

• Maintaining motivation is like fueling a fire—it keeps your goal burning brightly. Here are some tips to nurture your inner drive:
• Track your progress. Seeing your progress visually provides determination, pride, and inspiration. Use calendars, boards, journals, or the apps mentioned above. Share with a friend.
• Tell someone close about your goals and ask for support. Better yet, work towards your goals together.
• Reward yourself. Create a system where you reward yourself for small achievements. For example, if you meet your weekly goal, treat yourself to an enjoyable activity.
• Break goals into smaller steps. If your goal feels overwhelming, break it into smaller, manageable milestones. Small steps are easier to tackle, and reaching one milestone will lead to the next, ultimately helping you achieve your goal.

What If You Face Setbacks?

• Pursuing goals, like life itself, has its ups and downs, and mistakes are inevitable. Here’s how to keep going when you feel like giving up:
• Accept mistakes. Mistakes are learning experiences. When they happen, reflect on what went wrong and apply those lessons in the future.
• Take a break. Feeling burned out or tired? Take a few days off without guilt. Clear your mind, recharge, and return with renewed energy and determination.
• Remind yourself of your goal. Place reminders of your goal in visible spots at home—this could be a photo, an inspiring quote, or something similar.
• Use planning tools. If you like structured and organized planning, try apps like Trello or Notion, or jot everything down in writing.

To achieve your New Year’s goals, it’s essential to try various strategies and find what works best for you through experience. One thing is certain—consistency and small, steady steps forward are the magic wheels that will let you proudly declare, “I did it!”

“I’ll enroll, study, get my diploma, and that’s it—my career begins!” Admit it—this thought might have crossed your mind when choosing what and where to study. But is knowledge and a diploma enough for a successful career? Every year, hundreds of students receive diplomas and enter the job market, so how can you stand out?

Soft skills are essential ingredients for success in the 21st century, both professionally and personally. These skills help you stand out, solve problems, achieve better results, and, of course, build self-confidence. So, what are they, and how can you develop them?

Communication

Why is it important?

• Clear and empathetic communication is the foundation of effective teamwork, alignment with clients, and collaboration with managers. The ability to express your thoughts and understand others helps avoid misunderstandings and conflicts.
• Today, communication is not limited to face-to-face conversations; it also includes polite, clear interactions through emails, social media, and phone calls. Regardless of your business field or position, communication with people is unavoidable.

How to develop it?

• Practice active listening—try to hear not just words but also emotions. For example, during conversations, ask questions that show you’ve truly listened.
• Learn to tailor your message to your audience: are you speaking/writing to a friend or a manager?
• Actively participate during lectures—it’s a great way to improve verbal communication skills.
• Practice writing clear and concise messages (e.g., emails). Don’t hesitate to ask for feedback on your texts and how to improve them.
• Study non-verbal communication—observe body language, eye contact, and tone of voice. These aspects reveal a lot about the other person.

Teamwork

Why is it important?

• One person’s weakness can be another’s strength, which means a team can accomplish tasks that would be impossible or difficult for an individual.
• Diverse perspectives and ideas within a team generate more solutions and help find unique approaches and innovative decisions.
• Teamwork teaches you to trust others’ abilities, accept their decisions, and let go of the need to control everything.
• It helps you learn to express your opinions clearly and respect others’, which is valuable for finding compromises in conflicts and even in personal relationships.
• In a team, you have the opportunity to learn from others, especially if they have different skills or experiences.

How to develop it?

• Participate in group projects and learn to share responsibilities. Don’t try to do everything yourself—trust others’ skills.
• Practice empathy and openness—listen to others’ ideas and suggestions.
• Get involved in volunteer activities at the college: the Student Association, “Profadienis,” various competitions, and other events.
• Spend time getting to know your team members—a stronger bond helps you better understand their strengths and weaknesses.
• Resolve disagreements openly and amicably—listen, understand, seek compromises, and don’t take everything personally.

Critical Thinking

Why is it important?

• Critical thinking helps evaluate information objectively. In the 21st-century world, filled with misinformation and AI tools, this skill is indispensable.
• It encourages deeper analysis of complex situations, identification of problems, and making informed decisions at work and in everyday life.

How to develop it?

• Ask yourself questions: “Why is this important?” “Are there alternative solutions?”
• Spend more time assessing the situation before making a decision.
• Analyze real-world problems or cases related to your studies or work. Ask questions like “What other possibilities exist?” “What could I do differently?”
• Dedicate time to reading and analyzing news or articles. Look for diverse opinions and sources, and evaluate facts critically.
• Actively participate in discussions during lectures where you need to justify your opinion and respond to arguments.
• Reflect after making significant decisions: what worked well, and what could have been done differently?

Emotional Intelligence

Why is it important?

• Recognizing your own and others’ emotions helps build strong relationships, manage conflicts effectively, and better understand colleagues.
• Emotional intelligence also aids in managing stress, staying motivated, and adapting to changes.

How to develop it?

• Practice self-awareness—notice how you react to stress or conflicts.
• Develop empathy by trying to see situations from others’ perspectives.
• Practice observing your emotions: when you feel frustrated or irritated, take time to name and understand the reasons behind these feelings.
• Learn to ask empathetic questions to understand how others feel (e.g., “Why do you think you feel this way?”).
• Manage stress through mindfulness or meditation—it helps you respond consciously rather than impulsively to emotions.
• Compliment others and express gratitude—it fosters a positive atmosphere.

Creativity

Why is it important?

• Creativity isn’t just for artists. This ability, inherent in everyone, helps generate new ideas, solve problems, and adapt to unexpected situations. Employers are looking for people who can come up with innovative solutions to traditional challenges.
• Creativity is also the foundation of innovation and competitive advantage.

How to develop it?

• Try new activities that push you out of your comfort zone, such as cooking, music, or even cold-water swimming.
• When faced with a problem, write down as many ideas as possible, even if they seem illogical or funny—creativity often arises from freedom to experiment.
• Read about innovations and new approaches to problems in your field—it might inspire fresh ideas.
• Play creative games, complete creative tasks, or participate in brainstorming sessions that encourage you to seek unexpected solutions.

What comes to mind when you think about studying? A new profession, gaining knowledge, or applying theory in practice? While these are all important aspects, there’s one skill often overlooked: learning how to learn effectively. By exploring different study techniques and discovering what works best for you, you can elevate your academic journey and prepare for real-world challenges that demand focus, consistent effort, and productivity—without burnout. In this blog post, we introduce powerful study methods that will help you retain knowledge better and apply it confidently. Ready to take your studies to the next level?

The Pomodoro Technique
This popular study method was developed by Francesco Cirillo, who used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer to boost productivity. The technique is simple: study intensively for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. After four rounds, take a longer break. This approach helps maintain focus and prevents burnout by giving the mind regular intervals for rest.

The Feynman Technique
This method, created by physicist Richard Feynman, emphasizes deep understanding over memorization. It consists of four steps:

1. Choose a topic, name it clearly, and write down everything you know about it.
2. Explain it like you’re teaching a child: Simplify the explanation so even a child could understand it.
3. Identify knowledge gaps: Areas that are hard to explain indicate a lack of understanding. Go back to your notes or other sources to fill these gaps.
4. Simplify and organize the information: Once you understand the topic, create a clear structure that reflects the subject comprehensively.

Finally, teach others: Explaining the topic to someone else helps you identify any remaining gaps in your understanding.

Active Recall
Active recall involves retrieving information from memory rather than passively reviewing it. Formulate questions on the topic you’re studying and test yourself repeatedly until you remember the answers. Flashcards, either physical or digital (like Anki), are highly effective for this method, making learning interactive and active.

Interleaving
Alternate between different subjects or skills in a single study session to stimulate various learning styles, deepen retention, and encourage creative application.

Mind Mapping
This visual learning method helps you organize and understand complex information. Place the main topic at the center of the map, add branches for subtopics, and illustrate them with images, symbols, or colors.

The Protégé Effect
As philosopher Seneca said, “By teaching, we learn.” Prepare for exams by organizing material as if you were teaching someone else. This method helps embed information into memory, making it a powerful study technique.

Kaizen Method
Kaizen, a Japanese philosophy meaning “improvement,” promotes learning through consistent daily practice. Devoting just 1% of your time daily to improvement can lead to remarkable long-term results, fostering mindfulness and perseverance.

Advice for Students Experiment with these study techniques to find what works best for you. Still need guidance? Discover effective learning tips from the professors at Vilnius Business College!

What does the Student Council at Vilnius Business College do? Do they just meet to chat or organize something? Is it just a small group that doesn’t let others in, or can you propose your own ideas? Why even join it if you’re busy with work and studies? Three active members from the Business Management and Marketing program by the Team Academy method share their experiences about VBC Students‘ Council. Find out how they joined it, what the challenges did they face, and what did they learn!

K. Taurosaite: “Here, everyone feels more relaxed, making it easy to connect.”

“When my groupmate invited me to participate in the Students‘ Council (SC) (https://www.kolegija.lt/sa/), I wondered what I had gotten myself into, asking why I needed extra work. But the activities quickly picked up, and I got involved. Now, I’m happy to be here. I even look forward to lectures more because I know other students better,” says Karolina Taurosaitė, a third-year student.

R. Taurosaite at students’ camp Oscars, 2024, photo – VBC SC 

The SC has become a place for her to test her skills in marketing, especially in creating visuals. Karolina wanted hands-on experience to see if this kind of work suited her. Most of the photos and visual content you see on the SC’s social media channels are her creations. “At first, I was afraid it wouldn’t be well received, but now I’m not worried. I see my work improving,” she says.

Karolina is pleased that the SC provides an environment of active people in an informal setting, where it’s much easier to meet new students from other study programmes. According to her, these contacts become valuable if, while launching a business idea, you need someone from another field. “Everyone feels more relaxed here, which makes communication easier. I even made close friends. It’s a great place to try new things, and you might unexpectedly discover what you want to do in life,” adds K. Taurosaite.

I. Rutkute: “In the Students‘ Council, I found what I want to do after my studies”

“Even before enrolling in college, I knew I wanted to get involved in SC activities, whatever they may be. I thought it would look good on my CV, and I’d gain practical experience in applying the knowledge I learned at college,” says second-year student Ieva Rutkute.

I. Rutkute e at students’ camp Oscars, 2024, photo – VBC SC 

She followed through on that decision. After joining the SC, Ieva was unexpectedly given a task with something she absolutely did not want to do – to write about the Halloween event. “I didn’t like writing at all. I had bad experience in the past. My first attempt was rough, but naturally, I kept being assigned to write for social media, emails, and event descriptions. This changed my perspective on writing. Now I enjoy it so much that after college, I’m thinking about going into journalism,” Ieva shared her unexpected story.

Actively participating in event organization and idea generation, she has learned how to work in a team and understands the importance of meeting deadlines. Asked what she would say to students considering joining the SC, she responds: “I think it’s intimidating for everyone at first. But soon, everyone finds their place and what they want to do. Joining isn’t as scary as it seems.”

N. Ramaska: “I learned how to work in a team”

Third-year student Nojus Ramaska recalls how curiosity helped him overcome doubts during his first days in the SC: “I remember that on the very first night, the SC president B. Kuprys and I created the event schedule for the entire year. I realized that the right group of people is unstoppable!”

N. Ramaska (right side) in Higher Education Fair, Kaunas, 2024, photo – Vilnius Business College archive 

Today, he is the president’s right-hand man, assisting with various tasks: finding partners, organizing events, solving problems, and more. After two years of active involvement, he has gained new acquaintances and learned the importance of teamwork and how each team member’s contribution matters. “These are my last academic years, and I want them to be the best, with the best events. Afterward, I’ll have to find someone to replace me,” Nojus joked.

According to him, the SC is open to students of all grades because they often need additional help. “If you have an idea you want to bring to life, we’ll help you make it happen. And if you feel lost and aren’t sure what to do in life or in the SA, here you can try everything and find what you enjoy,” N. Ramaška is convinced.

Join the activities of the Student Council at Vilnius Business College!

Email studentai@kolegija.lt

Join in https://www.facebook.com/groups/1543609236206300

Follow IG @vvk.students

Creating and developing a business with a team while still in college?! Sounds too good to be true? Business Management and Marketing studies by the Team Academy method teach students to practically create their own business from the first year. But does it really work? Four 2024 Team Academy graduates answer: “Yes!”. Find out how they did it!

Mantas Vilciauskas: “Studies accelerated my business”

Mantas Vilciauskas entered Vilnius Business College already implementing his business idea, but he learned about how business works, its processes, and peculiarities in more depth during his studies. “Our coach Ausra Gaivenienė helped me a lot, she put extraordinary effort into guiding us, constantly showing the right direction, and with her vast experience introduced us to the business world. I grew significantly over the three years,” says the graduate.

Mantas’s business is the sale of wood pellets, solid fuel, briquettes, and firewood, which people use for heating their homes (Facebook page “kurenk.lt”). His thesis was related to his business, focusing on how to bring a new brand to the market. “Thesis allowed me to delve deeper into theoretical aspects and apply the knowledge in business. I can already see the impact on my business, as our brand is visible in the market and recognized by customers,” rejoiced the Vilnius Business College alumnus.

Mantas advises other Team Academy students to enjoy the study process, make as many useful connections as possible, and work in a team because, according to him, solo journeys are much more challenging.

Saule Malinauskaite: “I don’t want to work for others like a robot”

Saule Malinauskaite, who traded medical studies in Sweden for life in Lithuania and studies by Team Academy method, dedicated her final years to her family business. She sees the studies as an excellent school of independence. “You have to come up with a lot on your own, step out of your comfort zone, learn to get along with the team. The studies were full of potential, which I didn’t fully appreciate in the first year. Writing my thesis was also challenging because I only studied Lithuanian for three years, and then I went to school in Sweden. Everything is manageable if you just start doing it,” said the graduate.

Currently, Saule has started implementing a new business idea in the food industry, prompted by an unpleasant work experience. “I realized I could do better and started taking action. I conducted market analysis, found the necessary contacts, and purchased equipment. I don’t want to work for others like a robot in a corner, without the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone. I still have a lot to do, but I want to try,” Saule Malinauskaite shared determinedly, deciding not to fully disclose her specific business idea.

She advises other Team Academy students to have the courage to try new things and take advantage of all the opportunities provided because the study time passes very quickly.

Simonas Vaskunas: “The idea of passive income became a working business”

Simonas Vaskunas, along with a friend, initially saw website creation as their primary business idea. Aiming for a passive income, they created an online shop which… became their main business. “I saw that in reality everything is different. The most important thing is not to think and overthink but to do. Along the way, you see what is needed, whether it will succeed or not,” shared Simonas.

Photo – personal archive by S. Vaskunas

Their online shop www.bonideco.com selling various furniture and pet products, has been operating for over two years. Simonas says that in creating the business, he mostly used the knowledge about filling various documents and gained the courage to speak publicly. He advises other Team Academy students to start a business by forming small teams, to communicate more not only within their group but also with students throughout the college.

Sandra Butkute: “SUP boards gave me a job”

Sandra Butkute found a job by becoming interested in SUP boards and starting to work at a company renting them. SUP boards fascinated her so much that she learned to swim, to paddle and rose from a regular employee to a marketing manager.

Photo – personal archive by S. Butkute

“I was active during my studies, implementing various projects. Because of this the company entrusted me with organizing events. Gradually, I rose in my position. My thesis was about evaluating and improving the marketing of this company. I applied the knowledge practically: we changed our business strategy, started offering new services, and creating new advertisements,” shared the graduate about applying knowledge in business.

After graduating, she continues to work at the mentioned company and wishes other Team Academy students the courage to take on challenges and constantly test themselves in various situations.

Discover your business potential at Vilnius Business College with Team Academy!

Since the “Chat GPT” was developed in November 2022, this invention has profoundly impacted the field of education. Students have enjoying, while teachers have scratched their heads, as artificial intelligence fundamentally alters the perception of learning. Whether viewed as the best plagiarism tool, a threat to humanity, or the finest invention of the 21st century, AI has received various evaluations. Following the initial wave of astonishment and approaching the scientific-practical student conference on AI organized by Vilnius Business College, we sought the opinions of our students and teachers on AI: its usage, purposes, challenges, and its implications.

Kristijonas Jankūnas, a first-year logistics business student

“I try not to use AI because I want to use my own mind. I’m skeptical about AI because it makes everything too easy, requiring no effort from the individual. However, I believe it will be necessary in the future. If AI is used for design, logos, it’s a useful tool, but I don’t use it for generating texts. If I need to find information, search for concepts, etc., Google is better suited for that. It’s better to search, read more, and study independently. I see greater benefits in that.”

Ernestas Jancevič, a first-year student in business management and marketing under the “Team academy” method

“AI evokes mixed feelings: I’m glad it exists because it greatly facilitates the completion of tasks related to studies, but it also worries me because as AI improves, we humans become less independent. I personally use AI extensively, especially for lectures related to projects. It’s my assistant when I lack ideas or don’t know which slide to insert, etc.

I believe it’s not necessary to simply copy everything provided by this tool. It’s important to do things according to oneself.

If I’m pressed for time and know I can complete a task using AI, it depends on my motivation and the lecture itself, whether I’ll heavily rely on AI.

And if AI were to disappear, I wouldn’t have any difficulties because this tool emerged recently, and until then, I did everything myself. I would just need to spend more time thinking.”

Victor Eso Orok, a first-year student in business management and marketing

“I think AI is a good tool, but not one hundred percent. I mostly use it to clarify certain words, making it easier and quicker to understand the text I’m reading. If I need to use those words in a written text, I replace them with my own. If it doesn’t work, then I resort to AI assistance. By the way, if there’s someone nearby I can ask, I always prefer human assistance.

Sometimes, when I think about AI, I become anxious because I fear becoming dependent on this tool, unable to find necessary information without it. If AI replaces humans, then it would be truly frightening. That’s why the usefulness of AI is ambiguous.”

Irena Seniut, head of the Foreign Languages Department

“Students certainly use AI, but when studying languages and learning to write, AI hinders rather than helps. First, you need to know what constitutes a good text, written in English or any other language, what its characteristics are. Only then can you use AI because it’s capable of finding phrases, sentences, etc., that need to be corrected in your or the AI-generated text.

During lectures, we conduct an experiment: students and AI complete the same task, and then we compare and analyze the texts. Students quickly notice differences, recognize the AI-written text, and understand that it’s artificial. Often, they realize they write more clearly, beautifully, and interestingly.

For someone who writes well, AI is a good assistant because it helps save time, improve routine tasks, etc. Studying, it’s useful for comparing, analyzing, seeking criticism. However, it’s important to be careful and verify the facts provided by this tool because it creates non-existent references, authors, articles, etc. In such cases, it’s quicker and easier to find information independently.

Using AI depends on the ability to formulate proper queries, which not all students are good at.

As a teacher, my biggest challenge is assessment because I want to evaluate a student’s personal ability, not the contribution of AI.”

Ignotas Mendelis, a first-year student in business management and marketing under the “Team academy” method

“I use AI almost every day for various activities: studies, work, daily life. AI is a source of ideas for me. Later, I use the chosen idea according to myself and do the rest of the work myself.

I think it all depends on how we use AI. If we take everything AI provides us directly without thinking and continue to think for ourselves, I don’t think that’s a bad thing or that it could be harmful.”

Dr. Violeta Jadzgevičienė, head of the IT Department, comments

“Students in the IT field extensively use AI, and it all depends on the student. It’s a good tool if you don’t know how to solve a particular task, and AI offers various options. If the student critically evaluates the information provided by AI, searches for sources supporting this information, then that’s great. Of course, as a teacher, sometimes when I look at the result a student provides using AI, I’m slightly disappointed because I see not the student’s but AI’s contribution. Then my biggest challenge arises – how to assess? Another challenge is plagiarism and authorship because a student submits work as their own, although they completed it using AI.

I think in the future, automatic knowledge assessment using tests will disappear. We’ll need a conversation with the student for them to explain their work, to prove they understand.

So I can’t say AI is harmful. You just need to get used to it. It’s also important to understand that AI generates a response based on available information. It doesn’t say “I don’t know.” If it doesn’t know the answer, it creates it from what it has. And that’s not necessarily the correct answer. So AI as a tool isn’t perfect.”

The scientific-practical student conference “Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities” will take place on May 30th from 10 am to 3 pm at Saltoniškių 2. Participation in the conference is also possible remotely.

More information –  https://www.kolegija.lt/en/conference/

Design thinking is one of the contemporary disciplines that students at Vilnius Business College are learning. What exactly is this discipline, and how does it aim in students career paths and personal development? We spoke with Vilija Džiovėnaitė, a lecturer at Vilnius Business College, who explained that design thinking is not just about visuals and why it’s very used by startups as well as large companies.

What Is Design Thinking?

Design thinking is a methodology that helps us create changes based on insights from customers, users, or company employees. This methodology encompasses two key aspects: change (we identify and solve a problem using various practices) and the fact that the change is based on the needs of our clients facing a specific issue.

One of the startups of design thinking model is the company “Ideo,” which shifted the perspective that design can solve problems.

Design Thinking: More Than Just Visuals?

In English, design thinking implies action. Identifying a problem, we design, arrange, and construct solutions with students, hence creating a design that can be described as a design of solutions. The methodology itself offers a wide array of tools, so a group of people must think and select which tools are best suited to solve a problem.

How Are Your Lectures Conducted?

Our lectures are not the traditional type where the lecturer speaks and students take notes. They are practice-based sessions. Students come up with a problem relevant to all, define it, and then learn to find solutions using the design thinking methodology, which consists of five stages. While students receive theoretical knowledge about these stages, most of the lecture time is devoted to practice.

Many tools are based on creativity, so during lectures, students develop their creativity through playing, coloring, building, etc. Through such creative construction, discussions, deep dives, and solution searches occur.

How Can Students Apply Design Thinking in Their Future Professional Activities?

The world is constantly changing, and design thinking speaks to change that we can implement very quickly. The traditional business model, where the business itself identifies a problem and obtains a solution from others, no longer works, making design thinking increasingly popular as an effective tool. Its effectiveness comes from continuous collaboration with the client at every stage. By identifying a problem and step-by-step searching for solutions, we continuously involve clients or company employees and receive feedback, finding a solution that truly works instead of being imposed by someone else.

Design thinking is successfully applied in any business that needs ideas and inherently seeks change, from management to business development, from human resources to business risk, etc. Much depends on the specific area of business.

Both startups and large companies seeking changes within the organization or business adopt design thinking as a methodology.

What Else Do Students Learn from Design Thinking Lectures?

Such 21st-century skills as creativity and teamwork are developed, as it’s a team-based practice that teaches listening, voicing one’s opinion, and utilizing various technologies and mobile apps, thus fostering creative technology use competency.

Teamwork is particularly important here, as each team member perceives the problem differently, so students learn to listen to diverse opinions. The more varied the team members, the more unique and unpredictable the solution can be. The team also provides motivation when solution searches take longer.

During lectures, some students learn to dare to voice their ideas and opinions, no matter how strange they may be, while the more active ones, conversely, learn not to overshadow others, to listen. This fosters an understanding that everyone in the team, regardless of experience, maturity, age, personal traits, is equal and that all together, through collaboration, will find a solution.

Can Design Thinking Methodology Be Applied to Personal Development?

Absolutely! For instance, if it’s unclear which career direction to take, what goal to set, or how to achieve it, design thinking methodology can be utilized. Since it’s a clearly defined methodology, it’s applied systematically, step by step. Questions are asked, solutions sought, implemented, then returned to questions about what works, why a conceived solution wasn’t applied, what hindered it, what needs to change, etc.

For example, if a person wants to write, they might ask themselves where they could start writing, whom to write for, what to write about, etc. Thus, step by step, a comprehension of what and how to do is formed.

This way, it’s possible to determine whether the set goal is truly one’s own. Even if the set goal is not achieved, it’s discovered why it happened, what doesn’t work. It’s a path of continuous discoveries, self-reflection, and attempts.

As we see, design thinking only works when applied practically.

First photo – personal archive of V. Džiovėnaitė

With 35k followers on TikTok, 113k followers on Instagram, and ideas brewing every morning on how to implement them on her social media profiles, that’s Omotolani Enwereji’s daily routine. She enjoys it, she earns from it, so why does a rapidly emerging young woman need a college degree? Omotolani Enwereji shares her thoughts on why she chose to study at Vilnius Business College and how she became an influencer.

Photo – personal archive of O. Enwereji

Real-life situations prompted her to become an influencer

Omotolani came to Lithuania from Nigeria. She already had experience in cinema filming, modeling abroad, and for the past few years, she has been focusing mainly on her influencer career. “The idea of taking this activity seriously came from my experience in Dubai. While waiting with other models for an influencer who was supposed to promote our event, I examined her account, saw what exactly she had to do, found out how much she earned from it. After this incident, I realized that I could do it too. I am confident in front of the camera, communicative, so I decided to give it a try,” recalls the student.

Over the years, she has managed to significantly grow her accounts on TikTok and Instagram (@heytolani), learn a lot, discover her favorite activity, and overcome numerous psychological challenges. Constantly keeping up with innovations and immediately applying them, brainstorming new ideas, fostering her creativity – that’s just one aspect of her work. According to Omotolani, the unseen side of the job, resembling office work, involves communicating with clients via email, learning how to present herself, sorting out tax matters, writing scripts for videos, and more.

“I used to avoid calling myself an influencer because I felt like I wasn’t worth it. Over time, that feeling disappeared. Clients have taught me to trust myself more. If they like my accounts and what I do on them, why should I feel bad?” Omotolani opened up.

Social media activity changed the direction of the girl’s career. Once actively seeking to become a model and earn from it, she says that today she no longer considers a modeling career as the top priority. According to the student, “it is still one of the activities I am engaged in, but my priority today is business and influencer work.”

To Lithuania – for knowledge and a diploma

Business studies in English and a college degree – that’s why O. Enwereji ended up in Lithuania and at Vilnius Business College. Having received a recommendation from a friend, she chose the college because of its business management and marketing study program, international environment where she wouldn’t feel out of place, and modern facilities. Moreover, the girl has always been interested in business, and at the moment she also has ideas she is trying to implement, so she decided that studies would help her do that. “I seek knowledge and a college degree. It’s much better than just courses because a degree shows my education. It’s also a prestige because society values a college degree,” explained the girl the reason she decided to study.

Photo – personal archive of O. Enwereji

O. Enwereji: “I earn from negative comments”

It took only half a year of studies for Omotolani to convince herself that her decision was right because the information received in lectures already helps with both the implementation of business ideas and the influencer career. According to the student, the new knowledge in psychology, personal branding, and economics has been very helpful. By applying them, she noticed an increased reach on social media.

As a businesswoman, the student also appreciates the comments she receives. “Negative comments don’t affect me. Someone always wants to respond positively to negative words, defend, express their opinion, so there is always a discussion after a video or text post on social media. Abundant comments popularize my content, which potential clients see, so I can say that I also earn from negative comments,” explained O. Enwereji.

Adapting in Lithuania goes great

When asked how she is adapting to Lithuania, the student is happy with her study friends and the fact that young people in Lithuania speak English, so it is easy to communicate with them. “I am learning the Lithuanian language, sharing my experience on my accounts, how I manage to live in Lithuania, I constantly learn something new, and study what I like. All of this is very interesting, so I am happy with this experience,” says the student of Vilnius Business College.

What are your initial thoughts when you hear about studying programming for financial technology? Do you find it confusing? Do you think you need to have a deep understanding of finance? Are you wondering about job prospects? If so, read on because these questions often arise due to a lack of reliable and clear information. So, what are the misconceptions surrounding FinTech studies?

1. FinTech Studies – It’s the First Time I’ve Heard of It, and I Don’t Understand

If you’re hearing about the study program called “Programming for Financial Technology” (or FinTech) for the first time, don’t worry – it’s not unusual. This profession didn’t even exist 20 years ago. What is it all about? In simple terms, a FinTech specialist is a programmer who understands how the financial market works and creates products that many people use. This makes financial services, from savings and investments to cryptocurrency and blockchain, more accessible to a wider audience. Essentially, it’s programming in a specific field, combining programming and financial technology knowledge.

By the way, in Lithuania, FinTech studies are still rare, and Vilnius Business College is possibly the only place where you can study programming for financial technology.

2. Do I Need to Be Proficient in Finance to Study?

A FinTech specialist is not a finance expert or economist. You don’t need specific knowledge in these fields. When studying programming for financial technology, you will learn HOW the financial market operates and what financial institutions require. This general information helps you create interesting, sought-after, innovative solutions and products.

During your studies, the main focus is on programming, various programming languages, and modern disciplines like cloud computing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and more. So, whether you have some knowledge of the financial market or none at all, you can confidently study in this program.

3. Studying Programming for Financial Technology

Is Very Difficult If programming is a hobby that you dive into, losing track of time, this study program is no more challenging than any other program at Vilnius Business College, such as Programming and Internet Technologies. The difference lies in the content. The programming for financial technology study program prepares specialists for the specific and niche field of the financial market. Dr. Violeta Jadzgevičienė, Head of the IT Department at Vilnius Business College, explains more about it.

4. Will I Find a Job After Graduation?

The FinTech sector is one of the fastest-growing industries worldwide, as more operations and services are conducted in the digital space. Here are some noteworthy facts:

• Lithuania ranks among the top 10 most attractive countries for the FinTech market globally (Global FinTech Index, 2021).
• Lithuania is a European hub with 263 licensed and unlicensed institutions (EUCLID register, European Banking Authority, 2022).
• In 2022, the number of FinTech specialists in Lithuania increased by 18.6% (The FinTech Landscape in Lithuania review by the Bank of Lithuania).
• In 2022, FinTech companies in Lithuania attracted €67.9 million in investments, accounting for 13% of all investments in Lithuanian companies (The FinTech Landscape in Lithuania review by the Bank of Lithuania).

Due to Lithuania’s strong position in the global FinTech market and high demand for employees, FinTech specialists can easily find jobs worldwide. Ričardas Jaščemskis, a member of the Board of the Lithuanian Game Developers Association, also emphasizes the significant demand for these specialists.

5. A FinTech Specialist’s Work Is Monotonous and Uncreative

The FinTech sector is incredibly dynamic and ever-changing, providing new challenges and encouraging continuous learning and skill adaptation. Due to the constant and rapid market development, FinTech specialists become innovators, actively involved in creating new technologies and solutions. They need to search for various solutions, analyze data, improve user experiences, create business models, and more. Therefore, creativity expressed through programming is a daily companion.

The FinTech industry operates globally, allowing communication with teams from different countries and cultures, providing an interesting and unique experience. Working in such teams allows you to explore various roles, from a programmer to a project manager.

So, if you have a passion for programming and enjoy losing track of time while coding, FinTech studies might be just the right path for you. Don’t let misconceptions hold you back from exploring this exciting field!