Geopolitical tensions, economic instability, and technological change are currently unavoidable topics in the business world. But a key question arises: how can one not only survive in such an environment but also find opportunities for growth?
Answers to this question were provided by the participants of the panel “Doing Business in Times of Chaos: Survival or Opportunity?”, held at Yammat FM radio station ahead of the fifth edition of the Future Tense business conference powered by Lürssen.
Panel participants included Mladen Pejković, Senior Executive Director for Transformation and ICT at Atlantic Grupa; academician Bojan Jerbić, Professor Emeritus at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb; Anita Letica, CEO of Philip Morris Zagreb; and Ivana Galić Baksa, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications at United Media and Nova TV. The panel was moderated by Mladen Miletić, Editor-in-Chief of Poslovni dnevnik. In the context of current events, the panelists discussed the challenges faced by companies and society at large, and how the business community can respond to them to create a better and more sustainable future.
Bojan Jerbić, Mladen Miletić, Mladen Pejkovič, Anita Letica, Ivana Galić Baksa
Speaking about Europe’s technological competitiveness and its position in the global market, Mladen Pejković, Senior Executive Director for Transformation and ICT at Atlantic Grupa, highlighted key opportunities for European companies.
“Despite growing concerns brought on by the policies of the new US administration alongside ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, it’s important to view this situation not only as a crisis but as an opportunity to rethink Europe’s strategic approach to competitiveness. With the high number of patents generated annually in the EU, a more attractive framework for investment in entrepreneurial ventures to capitalize on this potential, reindustrialization with robotics to ensure productivity, greater energy independence with a reassessment of the negative stance toward nuclear energy, and the creation of a fair, pan-European, incentive-based framework for the development of strategic technologies – these are just some of the measures ahead in the coming years. I believe that by shifting our mindset, we can emerge from this situation stronger than we would have been after another ten years of the current trends,” concluded Pejković.
One of the key topics was also the role of technology. Ivana Galić Baksa commented:
“Media carry great responsibility in a world of rapid technological change that shapes society and human relationships. In times of uncertainty, those who survive are the ones with a clear purpose, agility, and the courage to communicate authentically and empathetically. It’s crucial to maintain a sense of optimism – viewing change as opportunity rather than threat.”
During the panel discussion, academician Bojan Jerbić reflected on whether we even have the possibility to actively influence the direction of societal development or if we are simply subject to global movements.
“The future is shaped to some extent by both: the unstoppable forces of global events and the power of individual action, which can accumulate and shift the direction of society over time. In other words, if we as individuals actively engage in processes that shape our future, even within limited scopes of influence, we gain the opportunity to understand global trends and better comprehend how the future will unfold – or at least how best to act within our own micro-world.”
Anita Letica, CEO of Philip Morris Zagreb, explained the importance of anticipating change and adapting business strategies in unpredictable environments.
“At Philip Morris, we don’t approach change reactively – we lead it proactively. That approach requires vision, patience, investment, and consistency – and that’s exactly what sets us apart in terms of resilience and readiness for change. For instance, we began investing in smoke-free products and the science behind them more than a decade ago, at a time when no one could have imagined such a shift. And the results of that major transformation are visible even today. The smoke-free product segment now accounts for 40% of total net revenue. However, we are aware that we can achieve an even greater positive societal impact – which heavily depends on building a supportive regulatory environment adapted to new realities,” Letica said.
The panelists also emphasized that a proactive approach is essential in unpredictable times, and that future leaders are expected to develop a “future-ready” mindset, which will be further explored by Dr. Howard Yu at the Future Tense conference powered by Lürssen.
On May 8th, he will be joined on stage by Tamira Snell, Peter Hinssen, Carl Honoré, Dr. Sami Kazi, and leading representatives of the business community.
