Veteran earns ASU degree from Prague while working as IBM project manager
Jitka Michal is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in organizational leadership from the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts via ASU Online. Courtesy photo
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2025 graduates.
When Jitka Michal, a United States Army veteran studying at Arizona State University online from the Czech Republic, connected with a Holocaust survivor for a class project, she walked away with a new perspective on leadership.
Michal says it was a defining experience while earning her Bachelor of Arts in organizational leadership from the School of Applied Professional Studies in the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts via ASU Online. The college awarded her a Dean’s Medal, an honor recognizing students who display exemplary academic achievement and use their skills to positively impact others.
Michal grew up in Prague and spent years in Lincoln Park, Chicago. She calls both places home. A Yellow Ribbon Program participant, Michal balanced her studies from abroad while working full time as a delivery project manager for IBM. During a course called OGL 350 Diversity and Organizations, something clicked — a learning breakthrough.
“I had the invaluable opportunity to interview Mr. Morris Sternberg, a Holocaust survivor who spent his early childhood in hiding in Poland,” Michal said. “It helped me recognize how social connections and a willingness to listen, while being mindful of biases and prejudices, interconnect our identities.”
That conversation brought historical context to her belief that leadership must be grounded in empathy and inclusion. It formed a bridge between theory and practice, lessons she now aims to embody throughout her career.
“Ultimately, the insights I gained from this class were transformative,” she said.
Reflecting on Michal's performance, Teaching Professor Jessica Hirshorn, who taught that course, was impressed by Michal’s dedication.
“Jitka went above and beyond the standard curriculum requirements,” Hirshorn said. “She enriched her classmates’ learning with her global perspective and her experience at IBM and in the U.S. military.”
Michal’s journey to ASU was inspired by a military mentor and the legacy of Pat Tillman, an ASU and NFL football player who enlisted in the Army after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Tillman, who was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004, was the spark for ASU's Pat Tillman Veterans Center.
“I was resolute in my ambition to become a leader capable of instigating positive change,” she said.
Despite being out of school for eight years in order to advance her career, Michal maintained a 4.0 GPA while balancing IBM projects across time zones. Her coursework, particularly in organizational transformation, empowered her to question traditional corporate models that she felt too often ignore the human side of work.
I discovered that it is possible to reinvent organizations to align with positive change.
Jitka MichalU.S. Army veteran and ASU grad
Jitka will continue her education at ASU in CISA’s accelerated master’s degree program in organizational leadership and will focus on the future of work.
“I intend to collaborate with organizations that seek to maximize human potential through strategic reinvention,” she said. “Imagine experiencing greater autonomy, aligning with inner rightness and pursuing what genuinely matters to you. Would all of that not energize you?”
Question: Why did you choose to study organizational leadership?
Answer: My interest in organizational leadership has deepened throughout my career. It all began in the U.S. Army, where I discovered the immense value of effective leadership. I gained a deep appreciation for the fundamental skills of responsibility, decision-making, team collaboration and strategic planning, which have continued to influence my leadership performance significantly.
Following my military service, I worked for several other companies, including IBM. I bolstered leadership skills in each organization, such as critical thinking, team building, problem-solving and empathy. However, I have also realized that every company and its organizational paradigms have drawbacks. Often, these drawbacks fail to fully employ human potential and may result in separating leaders from followers and, ultimately, the organization. I decided to become a student to find solutions to the drawbacks of organizational paradigms.
Q: Why did you choose ASU?
A: ASU's program aligned perfectly with my objectives, and I also had the opportunity to learn from exceptional professors. The university resonated with my military background and aligned perfectly with the degree I wished to pursue. As I embarked on my academic journey, I discovered more about Arizona State University's exceptional reputation, and my interactions with several alumni and professors deepened my enthusiasm for attending.
Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU that changed your perspective?
A: After completing the OGL 365: Reinventing Organizations class, I realized that many organizational paradigms foster distrust among frontline employees and limit self-management practices by focusing exclusively on revenue. This approach often contributes to a sense of disconnection between corporations and their employees. I became acutely aware that this disconnection creates a perception of employees as mere components of a mechanical system, which profoundly affected me.
I began to wonder how many individuals experience a lack of vibrancy or aliveness in their work. I discovered that it is possible to reinvent organizations to align with positive change. Such change not only harnesses the full potential of human resources but also establishes a higher purpose that benefits everyone involved, including stakeholders and communities.
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