Jovana Stojmenović Nedeljković currently works as a junior marketing manager at MPC Properties, where she is responsible for the marketing activities of the BEO and MERCATOR shopping centers.
Throughout her eight years at MPC, Jovana has developed professionally in various roles: from overseeing a team handling administrative tasks to serving as an assistant in the marketing team. During this time, Jovana has gained knowledge and skills, which she continues to build upon and expand every day.
– What inspires and drives you in your work?
I am fortunate to do a job I love, and I believe that this fact is the key driving force. I’m here because I want to be here. Marketing is inspiring because it provides the opportunity to create change. I absolutely support the belief of the great marketer Seth Godin, who states in his book that dedicated creative people can change the world. The important thing is to always be focused on the market and the needs, desires, and dreams of end-users, to listen to them, and to improve things, step by step. That is exactly what inspires me.
When it comes to MPC Properties itself, the opportunities for growth and development further empower me to continue learning and, more importantly, to inspire my younger colleagues. I am a true team player and deeply grateful for the environment in which I have grown from a very young person into, as they say, a true professional. I enjoy challenges that repeatedly require new ideas and approaches, and I look forward to every opportunity to contribute to something unique and valuable.
-How do you find balance between your professional and personal life?
I will be honest and say that balancing professional and personal life is often a challenge, especially for mothers of young children (speaking from my own experience). There are days when I have both my laptop and my baby next to me, and we “work” together. Here, I would again refer to the previous question about how important it is to be confident in our choices.
During working hours, I focus on my professional duties and strive to be as productive as possible. Also, the support of my family and the flexibility of my employer play an important role in maintaining this balance. When work demands extra effort, I try to find a way to make up for quality time with my family. I believe that finding balance between professional and personal life is key to long-term satisfaction and success in both areas of life.
-What are your most important life values and how do they influence your business decisions?
For me, the most important life values are integrity, responsibility, empathy, and continuous learning. I believe that honesty and consistency are the foundation for building trust, both in personal and professional relationships, as well as setting personal boundaries that preserve integrity. Taking responsibility for our actions, decisions, and outcomes is crucial for personal and professional growth. In the business world, this means being responsible to the team, clients, and the community. This brings us to empathy, as understanding and respecting others’ perspectives and feelings is key to successful communication and collaboration. Finally, it’s always valuable to hear a different opinion or viewpoint. Continuous learning is a choice. Curiosity allows us to stay competitive and innovative, which is crucial in today’s dynamic business world.
-Which social media platforms do you use?
Intensive use of social media is, for me as a marketer, an essential part of the day. Facebook, although an older platform, is still highly relevant for a broad audience and serves as a good reminder for the birthdays of some friends. I can’t do without Instagram, where I follow new fashion trends and lifestyle, as well as check all campaigns, visuals, and current happenings in the city. I also use LinkedIn, which is essential for networking and sharing professional content, as well as the increasingly popular TikTok, where I follow trends, challenges, and user-generated content. I must admit that some content often makes me laugh, but I also learn new tricks at the same time. Finally, Pinterest, a network that is great for inspiration and planning. I use it for sharing and finding ideas. I also enjoy creating content and often “play around” with different tools. It’s relaxing, fun, and of course, helps me stay updated on industry trends.
THERE ARE DAYS WHEN I HAVE BOTH MY LAPTOP AND MY BABY BESIDE ME, AND WE “WORK” TOGETHER.
-What are the most important lessons you have learned from failure?
The first important lesson is that we must accept that we won’t always make the right decisions – the only way to succeed is to try and keep trying. Even if you make a mistake, you will learn something new and know how not to proceed next time. Instead of fearing another failure, you will have the courage and strength to reach your goals through different paths and in a new way. Defeats and mistakes are an integral part of life. If you can’t avoid them, you can turn them to your advantage. Failure often signals the need to change strategy or approach, which can lead to better and more innovative solutions. I’m not afraid of mistakes.
-Why did you decide to stay and work in Serbia, and was that decision difficult?
U Srbiji sam ostala zbog optimističnog stava, dobre prilike i emocija. Naime, verujem da Srbija ima mnogo talentovanih ljudi, koji zajedno mogu raditi na boljoj budućnosti, i smatram da je naša zajednička odgovornost da iskoristimo taj potencijal za unapređenje i dalji razvoj naše zemlje. Priliku za kontinuirano učenje i mogućnost daljeg usavršavanja dobila sam u svojoj kompaniji, te sam kroz saradnju sa brendovima u okviru našeg portfolija uspela da upoznam različita tržišta i industrije. Naravno, ono najvažnije – ovde je moj dom. Porodica i prijatelji su, po mom mišljenju, važan oslonac i ključni faktor za sreću.