My greatest teacher was my enterprising mother. During the 1990s, she built, created, and provided for the entire family, including supporting me through my studies in Belgrade. It was her idea for me to start my own business. I trusted her and took the first step. Back then, I didn’t know why or what exactly I was striving for.

It was only later that I realized that if I had spent my career working in a state institution, I would have felt suffocated. In a professional sense, spending a day without taking action feels like the equivalent of not living at all.

If any young women are reading this—trust yourself and take the first step. The rest will follow, and you will learn along the way. Just start!

I believe the ingredients for success are universal, and in the future, one person will likely hold multiple roles simultaneously. With that in mind, I would emphasize the importance of persistence, flexibility, a willingness to learn, openness to change, acceptance of mistakes, readiness to step into the unknown, the ability to give, and belief in both your own values and the values of others.

On a personal level, my defining trait is my love for helping people—children and adults alike. I can easily put myself in their situation, understand their role or challenge, and guide them based on their individual way of thinking and who they are at that moment.

I naturally offer support, encouragement, and celebrate each step forward toward success

They are the most important factor! People come with their struggles, frustrations, or simply a lack of knowledge, seeking change. The information they need is readily available and can easily be found online.

However, receiving the right information in the right way at the right time, having someone to guide them and monitor their progress—that is what I provide.

So, I am always ready to offer respect, understanding, support, and professional assistance.

I have been dedicated to developing people for over twenty years. My experience shows that the following are essential:

• Clear communication
• Well-defined goals
• Clearly assigned roles
• Open and two-way communication
• Equality in interactions

All of these are achieved not just through experience, trial and error, but also through professional business courses designed for entrepreneurs.

The era of absolute authority, where employees remain silent and harbor resentment, is over. That’s why I chose to be an entrepreneur—to lead by example and share knowledge.

I’ve noticed that some people are afraid to grow, but it’s impossible to remain the same throughout a career. You change, and so do circumstances. I understand the fear of the unknown because I often experience it myself. However, life is a continuous process of learning—discovering both ourselves and others through time, experiences, and high-quality training.

One subject that should definitely be taught in schools from the first grade is communication—because it is everything!

Through both education and experience, I have deeply understood and accepted that we, as individuals, are different, and that rigid thinking leads nowhere. Communication can always happen in some form, to some degree, or not at all—and that’s okay. No resentment, no bitterness. Of course, when I was twenty and just starting out, I didn’t think this way.

I teach people how to communicate in a foreign language—how to express themselves, their values, and their skills. This opens doors for them—into new worlds, better opportunities, and different countries and cultures. After all, we are all searching for our happiness under the same sky.

That is why, both as a businesswoman and as a teacher, I place immense importance on communication.

Challenges are excellent teachers, and some of the lessons they have taught me include:

• Success is not about never falling, but about always getting back up and moving forward.
• Making mistakes is human, but learning from them is essential.
• Never start a thought with, “If only I had…”
• Understanding both my vulnerabilities and the incredible people around me.
• Realizing, time and time again, how strong I actually am.
• Challenges are a sign that we are truly alive.

After thousands of miles traveled, I would highlight the following:

• Start and believe—in yourself, in the process, in people, in support, and in a positive outcome.
• Don’t sit and wait for someone else to plan your future, especially if they’re not your role model.
• Embrace change—it is the only way to find satisfaction, both for yourself and those around you. Life is change, and living it fully is a beautiful experience. The worst thing you can do is merely exist.