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News@Ivey · Nicole Di Carlo

Celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit in Serbia: The Ivey LEADER Project

Jul 17, 2024

L-r: Diana Piquette, Nicole Di Carlo, Sophie Fiala, and Miren Vijayaranjan

L-r: Diana Piquette, Nicole Di Carlo, Sophie Fiala, and Miren Vijayaranjan.

Nicole Di Carlo, MBA ’24, is a project committee member with the Ivey LEADER Project,  a student-led association offering an international economic development program. She recently travelled to Serbia with her colleagues Jonathan Soriano, MBA ’24; Sophie Fiala, HBA ’25; Miren Vijayaranjan, HBA ’24; and alumni volunteer Diana Piquette, EMBA ’19. In her blog below, she shares highlights from the experience – everything from a pitch competition to kayaking on the Danube River.

Ćao (hello) from Serbia 

Team Serbia closed out the 2024 LEADER Project in partnership with the Canadian Serbian Business Association (CANSEE). The LEADER Project has partnered with CANSEE since 2016 to help participants from diverse backgrounds develop business and leadership skills. To date, there are more than 320 alumni from the Serbia program.

Together we brought the program to young local entrepreneurs, students from Belgrade Metropolitan University, and business professionals. I was excited to introduce the case-based teaching method and step into the role of our professors. As a recent MBA graduate and participant in the Western Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program, I was eager to share my insights and experiences in launching a business and teach essential business fundamentals.

Class in session

The two-week program began with an official opening ceremony at our teaching facility, provided by the Serbian Chamber of Commerce. The event was led by Mirjana Dončić-Beaton, Executive Director of the CANSEE Association, our site partner, and supported by Canadian Ambassador Giles Norman and Tamara Dunderović from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia.

From the outset, it was evident that participants enjoyed the classroom discussions, opportunities to collaborate, and insights from various professionals. These discussions continued during the one-on-one coaching sessions where participants received support for the existing or new ventures they were pursuing.

We also had the opportunity to teach on-site at the National Alliance for Local Economic Development (NALED) and ICT Hub offices to showcase Belgrade’s robust ecosystem of companies that foster and champion the entrepreneurial spirit. These teaching experiences highlighted the value of direct exposure to opportunities and success stories, motivating our participants to believe in their ability to create meaningful community impact.

Local pride

We had the privilege of hosting Allen Lising, HBA ’95, and Djordje Filipovic, a former Olympic swimmer-turned-serial entrepreneur. Lising and Filipovic shared details of their entrepreneurial journeys and lives in Serbia, where they are committed to developing businesses that aim to solve local challenges. Both demonstrated their pride in building local businesses and the entrepreneurial drive needed to seek out everyday problems to solve. They also emphasized the importance of bringing existing solutions to local markets and that having a worldwide knowledge of business practices and opportunities can help drive business efforts.  

The heart and art of Belgrade

Downtown, the entrepreneurial spirit thrived as live musicians and artists showcased their work. Our team enjoyed evening walks to the city centre and to the Belgrade Fortress for panoramic views of the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. One of our most memorable evenings was a dinner on the historic street Skadarlija, known for its traditional Serbian kafana (restaurants), with LEADER participants and the CANSEE team. We enjoyed a variety of local dishes while being serenaded by musicians playing traditional instruments.

Over the weekend, we joined our participants on a day trip to Serbia's second-largest city, Novi Sad. One of our participants, a local from Novi Sad, guided us on a walking tour of the historic Petrovaradin Fortress on the Danube River. We even had the chance to kayak on the Danube to get a unique vantage point of the city! These gatherings outside the classroom nurtured positive relationships, laid the groundwork for ongoing collaboration during our coaching sessions, and increased participation in class discussions.

A decade of partnership and prosperity

Our team and participants were privileged to attend CANSEE’s 10th-anniversary celebration hosted at the Canadian Ambassador's residence. Mirjana Dončić-Beaton expressed gratitude to CANSEE association members, representatives of the Government of Serbia, and partners for joining in commemorating a decade of dedicated work.

The festivities started with a panel discussion on empowering leaders in Serbia, which was moderated by Lising. The discussion focused on the concept of lifelong learning and the importance of achieving balance in both professional and personal life. Sladjana Milojević, owner of the Nonna Handmade brand, and an alum of LEADER in Serbia, inspired our group with her success story. Milojević encouraged us to believe that simply trying, combined with hard work and dedication to one's passion, can yield significant rewards.

The event highlighted the significance of building partnerships that foster an ecosystem where everyone can thrive and feel proud to represent Canadian and Serbian communities.

The final pitch

We concluded our program with a pitch competition that brought together our teachings. It was gratifying for our team to see our participants apply the frameworks we taught. I had the opportunity to help judge the competition. The LEADER Project was a great opportunity to share our business knowledge and emphasized that, regardless of age or life experience, everyone has the potential to contribute value, ultimately making a positive impact on the community they serve.

View photos from the trip below.

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