1At the beginning of March, 2020, you took over the position of director of "Thalassotherapy" in Crikvenica. The challenges of the new job were even bigger because of then-declared coronavirus epidemic. How did you deal with that?
I took over as principal in early March this year, along with declaring an epidemic of COVID-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. At the same time, Thalassotherapy has become a hospital for temporary accommodation and care of patients with a milder form of the disease caused by the COVID 19 virus. No beginning is easy, but such a beginning cannot even be dreamed of. I think that life situations should be experienced as opportunities and challenges, and new situations are an opportunity to change the way we work and act.
2What part of your job would you point out as a favorite?
Prior to Thalassotherapy Crikvenica, I worked for 13 years in the State Audit Office in Rijeka, as a certified state auditor. This is a great business challenge and responsibility, I hope I will justify the trust and we will be able to continue a good business policy with an emphasis on development in order to raise the quality of service. Given the situation, we try to adapt to it, reduce possible risks, keeping in mind the health and safety of our employees, patients and visitors. Of course, our goal is to maintain stable business, and for the realization of investment plans we have great support and help from our founder, Primorsko-goranska County.
For me, there aren't many tasks that I'm not really looking forward to, I don't like those tasks that take more energy and time and that need to be solved regardless of the fact that they do not contribute to business results. One of my challenges is to reconcile the well-being and needs of employees with the needs of business.
3After completing your graduate studies, you have also completed a postgraduate specialist study “Public Sector Management” at EFRI. How do you think studying at EFRI has influenced your career and approach to work?
I think that with the completion of specialist studies, in addition to lifelong learning, which in recent years has become ubiquitous in all jobs, I have invested in personal development. The approach to specialist study differs significantly from student days and the focus on taking exams. I can say that I have connected theory with practice which is essential for the development and creation of new knowledge and skills. During the preparation of the final paper, satisfaction with the conclusions reached on the topic of "Property management in local government units" can be thanked to the mentor Davor Vašiček, Ph.D. on cooperation and guidance.
4How do you see the ALUMNI EFRI community in which you are and in which direction do you think it should develop?
By joining the ALUMNI EFRI community, I would like to help young students, with my own experience, in finding a professional path, but also the opportunities that life offers you to make that path interesting, sometimes winding and steep and sometimes flat and wide. It is never early enough to begin development, which never ends, and requires commitment and perseverance from each of us. The community should strive to help as much as possible in bringing closer the understanding of the importance of theory in practice and real life.
5What is your advice to other alumni, present and future?
By investing in ourselves, we build a satisfied person and create better conditions for our own future. Persistence and perseverance with a little luck will surely bring results