Images: Matej Lesi
The ChalLEANge 2025 conference, held on 13 November at CineStar, Z Center Zagreb, once again proved why it carries the title of the most important business event of the year in the field of Croatian production.
Organised by the company Culmena, this year’s edition gathered more than 600 participants and 50 top-level speakers: leaders, directors, board members, entrepreneurs and innovators who shape the business landscape of Croatia and the region every day.
Throughout more than 25 hours of parallel programming across five halls, Lean & Green, Digital, Money, Leadership and Competition, the discussions focused on the most relevant topics shaping the future of business.
New Panels, Fresh Perspectives
This year’s ChalLEANge brought a series of new panels that attracted great attention.
On the panel ‘3.2.1. We Have Lift-Off’, an inspiring discussion was launched on how crucial procedures are for saving human lives. And who better to speak on this topic than the gathered team of experts: the director of Sv. Duh Hospital and speakers from Pastor TVA and Zagreb International Airport.
Toyota’s panel ‘Samurais of Business’ revealed how Japanese values shape global success and why companies that follow them come out on top. Joining Toyota were speakers from Culmena and JGL, with respect, precision and patience as the key themes and ideas building the foundation of the discussion.
The panel ‘I Would Be the Wolf of Wall Street’ was literally standing-room only. From opportunities for ‘wolves’ in the market to real and practical advice on how to ‘hunt’ profit and survive in the financial jungle, the excellent mix of panelists covered everything one needs to know before seriously stepping into the world of big numbers, cryptocurrencies, stocks, and meaningful investments and real estate.
“This year we are especially proud of the panels and speakers, but also of our exhibitors. In fact, we had so much interest in exhibition space that we had to use literally every available centimetre, and we already have exhibitors lined up for 2026!” said Anja Štefanić, COO of Culmena.
Partners Who Shape the Experience
ChalLEANge 2025 could not have run this successfully without numerous partners and sponsors who chose to support the conference in various ways.
The gold sponsors were Barcaffè, Pastor TVA, INNOM savjetovanje, Fasek and BIEPE.
Sponsors included Petrokov, Končar, Hrvatska Kovnica novca, Mlinar, Borotalco and Chilly, ORKA, Lean Scheduling Europe and Centar za vozila Hrvatske, Tinktura, Smash, Marles and Ringeis.
Toyota and LiderDent opted to host their own dedicated panels.
Friends of the conference were Boombox, Lasta, Violeta, Cockta, Lacalut, Kim Natura, Rowspirit by Martin Sinković, Jana, Sanytol, Iroha, Lactourea, FABU spot, ETC Adriatic, Brigljević Distillery and Kliker Enigmatika, and these very brands filled the goodie bags for all participants with their products. In their thank-you speech, the organisers also expressed gratitude to the break sponsors Mlinar and Barcaffè, as well as ANTE., the partner agency for the conference’s Marketing and PR.
A Conclusion That Lasts
“I am extremely glad to see how ChalLEANge continues to grow significantly year after year, and that it gathers precisely those who do not wait for change but lead it,” added Štefanić.
ChalLEANge 2025 once again proved that it is not just a conference but a space where knowledge, experience and the energy of people who are changing the way business is done come together.
Organisers from Culmena have already announced a major innovation for ChalLEANge 2026: ‘NEW HOPES OF BUSINESS’ as part of the programme.
We can’t wait!
