STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO HAPPINESS
Q: Have you always wanted to work in the meeting industry?
Not really. I felt the passion for the meetings industry after I met some people working in it, especially Ms. Gordana Plamenac (now Director of the National Tourism Organisation of Serbia), who made me understand it and realizse that it is a magic triad of expertise, networking and fun.
Q: Why is your destination/country the best in the world?
Meetings: things done with excitement. Leisure: Café culture.
Q: What would be the first thing you would show every visitor to your country?
Belgrade Design District.
Q: What has been your star moment so far and your favourite project with which you would praise yourself?
Actually, all my star moments are related to the births of my kids! They top all the professional ones. My favorite project is EIAT.
Q: What motivates you the most at work?
There are three things: delivering high performance results, expanding my knowledge and expertise, and hand transferring them to younger colleagues.
Q: In what way do you deal with stress?
Running in the woods and exercising in the gym.
Q: When were you last angry / disappointed and why?
Disappointment does not bring anger. I was disappointed when I undoubtedly realised that one of my colleagues was irredeemably superficial, which affected our performance as a team.
Q: What will be new in your business in year 2013?
Going international.
Q: What have you learned last week?
That my youngest and gentlest kid has guts. He took a gold medal on a beginners’ judo tournament, and I could not recognise him there, wondering: is that really my son? A real fighter, but at the end smiling and shaking hands with his opponent.
Q: Where will you spend this year’s holiday and why?
I will spend my next winter holiday on the Kopaonik mountain, since my kids love it. And summer holidays, well, who knows?
Q: If there were no time and financial constraints, where would you go?
A China and Japan tour.
Q: What would be the title of your life autobiography?
Looking back at the first quarter: A step by step guide to happiness.
Co-founder and Programme Director, Centre for Tourism Research and Studies
Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics, University of Belgrade
