Kęstutis Kazlėnas, a master’s student at Kazimieras Simonavičius University, is turning a lifelong passion for chess into an innovative decision-making methodology with practical applications in business and healthcare management.
Currently studying in the Organisations, Innovation and Management programme at KSU, Kęstutis says he chose the university in order to further develop the methodology he has created on the basis of chess principles.
“I am glad to be able to study what genuinely interests me. My studies complement many years of independent learning and provide a clear direction for how I can continue to grow,” he says.
“Although Kęstutis originally earned a bachelor’s degree in transport engineering, he decided to return to academia after nine years of professional experience. He is currently working on a master’s thesis, under the guidance of Prof. Dr Lidija Kraujalienė, focusing on the development of decision-making tools for managers in the medical sector, and is already considering doctoral studies.”
A fascination with learning from an early age
Curiosity and a strong interest in learning have shaped Kęstutis’s path from childhood. He discovered chess at the age of five and has remained closely connected to the game ever since. Over the years, he has taken part in international tournaments in Lithuania and abroad, and at the age of eighteen he began teaching chess to others.
Through this experience, he gradually recognised that chess offers far more than competition alone. Its logic, structure and strategic depth, he says, provide valuable insights that can be applied in management and decision-making.
“From an early age, I read encyclopaedias, and my curiosity helped me build knowledge and develop analytical thinking, which later became the foundation of my methodology,” Kęstutis explains.
How the methodology developed
The idea for the methodology emerged from many years of teaching chess and observing how people think, learn and make decisions.
With more than 15,000 hours of coaching experience, Kęstutis has spent years analysing thought patterns, decision-making behaviour and the wider applicability of chess beyond the game itself.
“Practice allowed me to observe how people make decisions, analyse their patterns of thinking, and explore how chess can be applied in business and decision-making. I came to understand that chess contains not only the beauty of the game, grounded in thought and logic, but also models that can be applied in business,” he says.
According to Kęstutis, working with chess helped him identify and refine mental frameworks that can be adapted to business development and personal growth. His methodology brings together elements of cognitive psychology, neuroscience, management and communication.
This integrated approach helps people better understand their own decision-making processes, manage impulsiveness and strengthen strategic thinking.
Practical value in leadership and business
Today, Kęstutis works with several different client groups. Some are learning chess itself, while others use chess-based principles to improve organisational performance and decision-making.
“I teach people to play chess and develop their skills, but I also work with those who apply chess principles to improve decision-making processes and increase organisational efficiency,” he says.
One example, he notes, is a client leading an insurance company in the United States, who learned to search for more alternatives before making important decisions.
“I teach my students that even if they believe they have found the best possible move, they should always identify two additional alternatives. In this way, they learn to apply the same rule in business. People who consider alternatives often revise what they initially saw as their single best decision and benefit from doing so.”
He adds that in some cases this approach has helped clients avoid costly mistakes and save significant amounts of money, demonstrating that a methodology rooted in chess can deliver tangible financial and practical value.
International experience and future ambitions
Most of Kęstutis’s clients are based abroad, including in the United States, England and other Western countries, which means that much of his work takes place remotely. At the same time, he also leads in-person training sessions, including in Great Britain, where he has worked with teams of medical professionals.
This international experience, he says, continues to shape and strengthen the methodology, allowing it to be adapted across a range of fields, from medicine to business organisations.
Looking ahead, Kęstutis hopes to patent his methodology and possibly develop a franchise model that would allow others to use it officially. Yet for him, the most important aspect remains the process of continuous improvement.
“What matters most to me is the process – constantly improving and refining the methodology rather than simply reaching the finish line. The methodology evolves in response to practical experience and the needs of clients,” he says.
“What started as an experiment is now creating real value for clients. My studies at KSU help me answer many questions and apply a scientific approach to the development of the methodology.”
On 17 April, Kęstutis Kazlėnas will present the application possibilities of his methodology in the healthcare sector at the Young Scientists’ Conference at KSU.
