UNIC: Share some of your daily habits that keep you inspired and motivated with us.
Jadranka: I start my day with a positive thought and attitude. I begin my working day with information about the previous cinema day and the achieved results. I find inspiration and motivation in everyday business analyses, by connecting the facts that affect cinema attendance with the results.
UNIC: What is great leadership in your opinion?
Jadranka: I believe that the key to a successful operation management of a company is competence in business activities and business processes and knowing well each person in the team. Above all, leading by example, showing that every job within the organisation is important for the cinema as a whole.
UNIC: What were the key lessons that you learned while climbing the career ladder?
Jadranka: On the path to success, it is very important to learn new lessons and apply them consistently along the way. The most valuable lesson I learned is that perseverance must not turn into stubbornness, that it is crucial to move the boundaries of knowledge, to invest and learn every day and to be able to say I don't know and I don't understand. This is crucial to gain new knowledge and understanding.
UNIC: Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently?
Jadranka: After the experience of the pandemic and the fight against it in the last two and a half years, during which our business has been hit the hardest, I would definitely try to act more locally. Countries with strong domestic cinematography were able to mitigate the impact of the pandemic at a time when big Hollywood films were repeatedly postponed.
UNIC: Looking back at your career journey so far, what are you most proud of?
Jadranka: I am proud that I have been in the movie industry for 15 years now, and that I actually feel like I did at the beginning, desiring new knowledge and projects.
UNIC: What have been the biggest challenges for you as a woman leader in the cinema industry?
Jadranka: The biggest challenge for me, as a woman in the movie industry, is positioning our company as a market leader in the region by offering high level service in our high-tech cinemas.
UNIC: With such a demanding career, how do you keep the balance between work and your personal life?
Jadranka: The beauty of our work is really present every day, with every film we show, with every visitor who comes to our cinemas. I maintain a balance between my private and business life by watching films. I’m joking, of course! I do watch films, but the real balance comes from the fact that you love the job you do.
UNIC: You were a mentor in the fourth edition of the UNIC Women's Cinema Leadership Programme. How was that experience for you?
Jadranka: That's right! I was a mentor in the fourth edition of UNIC Women's Cinema Leadership Programme. The experience was wonderful, so much good energy in one place. I am really pleased to have been able to pass on some of my knowledge to a younger colleague. The most beautiful part of this programme are the workshops and the gatherings of all mentors and mentees. Each of us is special and different and yet we are united in that we love the cinema and films.
UNIC: What advice would you give to current mentors and mentees?
Jadranka: The advice I would give to mentors and mentees is to be yourself, be different, be specific, transfer your knowledge on this beautiful journey of mentoring, learn from your mentees. Every experience is a step higher and all acquired knowledge leads to success both for you as a person and for your company. Knowledge is a tool to be cherished. Every contact opens new perspectives on our business and industry.