The program also featured Startup Presentations and the Students Startup Achievement session, dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship, strengthening startup ecosystems, and enhancing collaboration between academia and industry.
The Business Forum, titled “Resilient and Intelligent Organizations in Times of Permanent Disruption”, was moderated by Prof. Dejan Petrović, PhD, and Prof. Slavica Cicvarić Kostić, PhD, from the Faculty of Organizational Sciences. The forum gathered distinguished industry representatives and long-standing partners of the faculty to exchange perspectives on the challenges of modern business, organizational resilience, and the future of work.
The panel featured Ivana Todorović, Director of Human Resources and Organization at Banca Intesa; Marko Cilić, Acting Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Nelt Group; Darko Samardžija, Supply Chain Director at AD IMLEK; Nikola Todorović, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Milsped Group; and Dragan Gajić, Director of Software Engineering at Rivian. Drawing on experiences from different industries, the speakers discussed how organizations are responding to increasingly frequent technological, economic, and geopolitical changes.
One of the central themes was the ability of organizations to survive and thrive in an environment of constant change. Speaking about organizational resilience, Marko Cilić emphasized that change has become a constant rather than an occasional challenge. According to him, companies often expect new tools to solve existing problems, while the greatest potential lies in people and in making better use of existing resources. The panelists agreed that organizational resilience can no longer be viewed solely through the lens of risk management, but rather as the ability to embrace change as a new business reality and build a culture that fosters agility, trust, and adaptability.
A significant part of the discussion focused on the impact of artificial intelligence on business. Reflecting on developments in the technology sector, Dragan Gajić pointed out that even the world’s leading companies still do not have a clear answer regarding the long-term implementation and monetization of AI technologies. Nevertheless, as he stressed, “you can’t miss the train,” emphasizing that organizations must be willing to experiment and learn, even when outcomes remain uncertain. Participants agreed that the ability to adapt quickly to new technologies will be one of the key competitive advantages in the years ahead.
Through practical examples, the panelists demonstrated how crises often reveal the true capabilities of organizations. Darko Samardžija shared insights gained during supply chain disruptions and the pandemic, noting that such circumstances provide the clearest test of organizational strength. He emphasized that “the most important resource of any company is people’s ability to adapt,” highlighting that organizational resilience begins with resilient employees. Experiences from various crises have shown that organizations are often able to overcome limitations and discover innovative solutions when they are forced to move beyond established ways of operating.
Nikola Todorović spoke about the experiences of the logistics sector during the pandemic, geopolitical crises, and shifts in global trade flows. Reflecting on the challenges companies face in an increasingly uncertain international environment, he emphasized that every crisis also presents an opportunity for growth. In his view, every disruption creates a new opportunity, if organizations maintain flexibility and the ability to adapt quickly. He also highlighted the importance of patience, collaborative decision-making, and careful consideration of the long-term consequences of changes shaping the global marketplace.
Special attention was devoted to collaboration between academia and industry. Participants agreed that existing cooperation models should be further strengthened through joint projects, practical education, and more intensive knowledge exchange. It was emphasized that companies increasingly seek professionals who, in addition to technical expertise, possess critical thinking skills, social intelligence, adaptability, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
During the discussion on talent and the future of work, Ivana Todorović stressed the need for companies to adapt to new generations of employees just as much as young professionals are expected to adapt to the workplace. She highlighted the importance of continuous learning, understanding artificial intelligence, and developing social intelligence as one of the key competencies of the future. She also underscored the importance of fostering entrepreneurship, advancing new technologies, and strengthening ties between academia and industry. Speaking about the role of educational institutions, she noted that a basic understanding of artificial intelligence is becoming essential for future generations of professionals, regardless of the field in which they choose to build their careers.
Discussing the competencies of future leaders, Marko Cilić concluded that “today is the slowest pace we will ever experience in the future,” pointing to the accelerating speed of change and the need for continuous development of knowledge and skills. In this context, the panelists agreed that potential, learning ability, and willingness to grow will become increasingly important criteria for recruitment and career advancement.
In the closing session, participants discussed the future of education and ways in which universities and companies can work together to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving labor market.
The Business Forum once again confirmed the importance of dialogue between academia and industry in understanding contemporary challenges and shaping sustainable responses to the changes that define today’s business environment.
