Thank you to the 1,400 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 questions!
I hope reading
7 Questions with Tijana Lalovic
helps you in your leadership.
Cheers,
Jonno White
7 Questions with Tijana Lalovic
Name: Tijana Lalovic
Current title: Director
Current organisation: Beyond Conflict
I am a Senior HR Professional with almost 20 years combined experience in Australia, the Middle East and Europe. I hold a Bachelor Degree and a Masters Degree in Human Resources and have proven experience in delivering successful human resources management. I have had the pleasure of working on various large-scale community-based projects and initiatives funded by the European Union, focusing on creating frameworks to motivate employees working in various community support roles.
I am a compassionate, Nationally Accredited Mediator, who works with Individuals and Organisations to resolve conflicts and disputes in a fair, just and reasonable manner.
I am passionate about Dispute Resolution within Culturally diverse backgrounds and Ethnic communities.
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1. What have you found most challenging as a CEO or executive of a large enterprise?
Being a female leader. I am fierce and sometimes this can be misunderstood, if I am not careful about my approach.
2. How did you become a CEO or executive of a large enterprise? Can you please briefly tell the story?
I am blessed with a father who always and continuously pushed me to my limit and a mother who was there to guide and support me when I failed. Naturally, I have ambitions and have never been able to accept ‘no’ as an answer. You can achieve whatever you want, you just have to find a way – I genuinely, from the bottom of my heart believe that.
3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?
I always start my days with a training session – sometimes this means that I wake up at 03:55 to be at training by 04:30. I work full time, I run two businesses and have 3 children. I am on the go, most days. Structuring my day is very important, no matter what I have three rules for my day: 1. Always train first thing, 2. Always take lunch bread and 3. Always go to bed at the same time as my husband.
4. What's the most recent significant leadership lesson you've learned?
Doing things ‘right’ and being ‘right’ isn’t always enough, especially if the working relationship breaks down as a result.
5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?
How Remarkable Women Lead by Joanna Barsh. This book was inspirational and practical. The feminine leadership traits, such as: empathy, humanity, persuasiveness, entrepreneurial spirit and resilience really resonated with me. What I, in my younger years viewed as my weaknesses as a leader were actually my female leadership traits. I don’t have to lead like a ‘man’ to be a good leader – I have to lead like a good leader to be a good leader.
6. How do you build leadership capacity in a large enterprise?
Know your leadership personality, continue to educate yourself and learn.
7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a CEO or executive of a large enterprise so far?
I genuinely care about my employees and have individuals in my teams who I have worked with across various organisations. There is something special in being part of someone’s career journey over a period of time. Watching employees grow into professionals and experts in their field is pretty amazing.