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Where Analysis Meets Action: Alumni Interview with Iva Martonosi

20 November, 2025

From policy work at the Czech National Bank to corporate finance at Morgan Stanley—and even to founding one of Prague’s most popular study cafés—CERGE-EI alumna Iva Martonosi has built a career that brings together analytical thinking, practical problem-solving, and a desire to make a positive impact. Read the full interview with her on the CERGE-EI Blog.

She once saw her path as divided between two tendencies: the precision and structure of economics, and the speed and creativity she found in entrepreneurship. Over time, she realized that what connects these experiences is a drive to improve the environment around her—whether by contributing to economic stability, creating a space that supports students, or delivering clear results in a corporate setting. Corporate finance, she says, became the place where both sides came together naturally.

Her six years at the Czech National Bank taught her the value of working with talented colleagues and contributing to decisions that influence the entire economy. Two lessons stayed with her: the importance of adjusting communication to the audience, and the understanding that even good changes often involve short-term difficulty. Recognizing and explaining this “initial cost of pain,” she says, is essential to gaining support for long-term improvements.

“Agile isn’t a nice-to-have in a large institution—it’s what allows a big ship to turn quickly.”

In her current role at Morgan Stanley, she sees agile management as a practical necessity in a large global institution. Breaking big goals into manageable steps helps teams stay aligned, prioritize effectively, and deliver value consistently—“the engine,” as she puts it, “that lets a big ship turn quickly.”

“Experimental Economics taught me the power of constructive doubt.”

Looking back at her time at CERGE-EI, she highlights how macroeconomics and statistics shaped her early analytical work. But the course that influenced her most was Experimental Economics: “It taught me to question data, look for bias, and think critically about how information is produced.” This mindset, she says, has been essential in every role she has held.

Today, she sees the CERGE-EI alumni community as a strong and reliable network. Its small size and high academic standards create a level of mutual trust that helps alumni support one another and guide current students as they take their first steps into demanding analytical careers.

Read the full interview on the blog.