Drugi jezik na kojem je dostupan ovaj članak: Bosnian
By: Mihaela Lekić
In the presence of more than 200 people in the Mikser House, the 12th Business Café in Belgrade was held. The topic was Outside the Box, and along the main guests there was live music and fashion show of the Belgrade Workshop.
Guests were Milena Radenković from Makadam Concept Store, which brings together the works of artisans, artists and designers from different parts of Serbia, Ilija and Istok, representatives of the successfully exported brand of wooden glasses Prayeyewear, and the main guest, Miša Lukić, founder of the marketing agency Leo Burnett, and now the CEO of Publicis One for Central and Eastern Europe.
First guest on the stage was young Milena Radenković, founder of boutique Makadam Concept Store in Belgrade, whose desire was to present Serbia to the world in a beautiful and authentic way. She pointed out that the biggest obstacle to entrepreneurs is their own lack of interest, as well as locating the business and creating of structures. Financial literacy is more an exception than the rule: “At the School of Economics students find it easier to manage in entrepreneurship, but we should also work on business development with the students from the academies of fine arts and others, since this has become a part of basic education.”
She said that it would have been a lot easier for her had she started the business with a partner rather than alone: “I started out in the dark, and it was a great endeavor to find all the small artisans and young designers. Artisans are generally reluctant to modernize their products, and young people often don’t see a future in tradition. I want to convince them that both are possible.” Milena presented a handmade scented candle from her store to a guest from the audience, while she herself illuminated the space with her positive attitude.
Istok and Ilija from Pray Eyeware then took the stage. Ilija is an architect by profession, while Istok is a lawyer, and they embarked into entrepreneurship waters quite spontaneously, wanting to solve a problem: “During summer holidays we wanted to buy some glasses and we saw a wooden pair in the window. But it turned out that they were also made of plastic, so we decided to make our own wooden glasses ‘tomorrow’. That ‘tomorrow’ lasted three years.”
Mistakes are an essential part of entrepreneurship, and they say that their mistake was the order of material for 2000 glasses, which eventually they didn’t use. Entrepreneurship is in small steps and flexible plans. The hardest thing is to get from 0 to 1, but after 1 it becomes easier – so rather target the small steps and flexible changes to your concept, and try to hit the market as soon as possible.
They say they would have made more mistakes if they had more money. This was something that Davorin Štetner, president of the Croatian network of business angels Crane talked about at Business Café in Zagreb, who believes that too much money at the wrong time can be disastrous.
The guys opened business in Montenegro and Croatia, their glasses are carried by Novak Đokovic, and visitors of the Business Café also had the chance to see them later in the event on Miša Lukić. Plans for the future include further experimentation with natural materials and export to the rest of the region and the whole of Europe.
The star of the evening was Miša Lukić, founder of the marketing agency Leo Burnett, and now the CEO of Publicis One for Central and Eastern Europe, and the best employer in Serbia for several years.
Kristina Ercegović, initiator of the Business Café moderated the event and asked Miša how to build a company. Answer that followed was the announcement of the perspective that entertained everyone throughout the evening: “If I knew all the things you need to build a company, I would never have started it. Be crazy enough to succeed. An optimist is a man without a lot of information.”
Lukić claims that Serbs are very creative people, and creativity is the key to entrepreneurship. The countries in the region have many problems, and every problem is a potential business, as we can see on examples from Richard Branson and Elon Musk.
For Miša, the recipe for success was: do not have a plan B.
He advises entrepreneurs to think outside the box in difficult times, because ‘when you’re a bird you don’t care if the branch beneath you breaks’. “Do not underestimate anyone, especially yourself – we are not aware that we have wings.”
“I really love what I do. Don’t look at life as a strife. Life and business are play.” He avoids the media for the general public, and about public appearances he says: “About 50% of people will understand what you want to say, and the other 50% who don’t like you will be encouraged. Because, if I managed to succeed, anyone can.”
He likes to solve problems creatively, and he comments on his branch of business: “I didn’t learn marketing from a book. A leader is someone who knows people, not consumers.”
At the end, for the first time at the Business Café, a fashion show was held of the Belgrade Workshop, which dresses Kristina on all Business Café events and her other public appearances in the region.
Along with fresh Jazački cheese from Vojvodina, and Grand coffee, guests received gifts from sponsors and were treated with a musical performance of one of the regular guests from the audience.
On Wednesday, 6 July, Business Café will be held in Slavonski Brod, and on Thursday, 7 July, in Zagreb. Events in Serbia were also announced for after the summer break – 13 September Business Café in Novi Sad, on 14 September in Belgrade, and on 15 September in Niš.
Sponsors of the Business Café in Belgrade are Wiener Städtische Insurance, Grand Kafa, Totally Wellness and Belgrade Workshop.
Partner of Business Café in Belgrade is the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia.
Organizational partner of Business Café in Belgrade is Mikser House.
Friends are PR agency Kontakta, Law Office TSG, OP-ED and Hairdresser Uglješa.
Media sponsors of Business Café in Belgrade are Bizlife and Nova ekonomija, and regional media sponsor is Media Marketing.