ECOSEREIN

How did you come up with the idea to start your business, and when did it happen?

I lived in New York for many years, and it was the dark and extremely dirty side of the city that made me aware. There, I realized how disorderly cities and countries can be. The idea came to me after several organized cleaning actions in America when I realized that these cleaning events were treating the consequences, not the causes. The cause, or I should say the problem, is much more complex and serious. Plastic needs to be replaced with other materials, reducing its presence in nature.

Have you always wanted to be involved in your current line of work?

Honestly, I hadn't thought about it until 7-8 years ago. I graduated from the Faculty of Philology in Belgrade, and I never imagined where life would take me. When I decided to change careers, I completed a specialization at the University of Colorado and the University of Cambridge on "Sustainable Business Management" and ventured into eco-entrepreneurship.

What are you proud of in your business?

I am proud that we pay attention to every detail to offer our customers the best quality and a brand they will be proud to use. Our customers know that 100 RSD is allocated from each sale for cleaning and reforestation actions, contributing to the betterment of our planet.

What is the secret to your success? (List three qualities, behaviors, beliefs, or abilities.)

a) Willingness to constantly learn new things and invest heavily in my skills and knowledge. Somewhere I heard a great sentence: "When you have nothing to do, work on yourself; there's always work there." b) I don't take defeats personally but see them as excellent lessons I don't want to repeat in the future. c) I am communicative and open to collaborations and new acquaintances - Your network is your net worth :)

How supportive has your environment been, and who has been your biggest support?

Most of my friends and my family have supported my ideas from the beginning and continue to be with me. Also, my husband deserves a special place on the list as he really tries to always encourage and motivate me, both mentally and physically supporting tasks like sending shipments, counting inventory until 3 in the morning, sticking labels, and barcodes... :) I am truly grateful.

What is your guiding principle?

Never give up on your dreams and desires just because it takes a certain amount of time for them to come true. Time will pass anyway.

Do you have role models that have motivated or continue to motivate you?

My role models are all accomplished and happy women.

What have you had to sacrifice?

Mostly socializing with friends and a financially more relaxed life since I invested my own money from the beginning without anyone's financial help, and to this day, I still invest a lot in the brand.

What propelled you forward, and how did you stay motivated during tough times?

I built Ecoserein out of pure love for nature, so that has always been my motivation. I operated at a loss for a long time, but I love everything the brand represents, so it was not a problem to dream about how it would one day grow and be loved and known as it deserves :)

Why is it better for a woman to be an entrepreneur than to be employed in a company?

Well, I wouldn't say it's better. Every woman should do what she loves, whether it's being a homemaker, employed in a company, or an entrepreneur. I support that. Entrepreneurship has brought me freedom and awakened so many qualities in me that I didn't even know existed.

What advice would you give to new female entrepreneurs or a younger version of yourself?

Work on yourself and your mindset as much as possible, and learn to handle communication skills, negotiation skills, conflict resolution skills, etc.

On a scale of 1-10, how challenging is it to be a female entrepreneur in Serbia?

I recently returned to Serbia, and honestly, I don't have any complaints so far. Probably because I'm dealing with an extremely current topic that currently interests the entire economy and society. I have encountered tremendous support from society, local governments, the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia, the women's entrepreneurship section, various organizations and associations, and even from you :) The point is to inquire and stay informed about events and view this entire entrepreneurial journey with a positive attitude.

When you are a woman in the business world, how common are indecent proposals?

I haven't had any so far, and I hope it stays that way.

Where exactly do you see yourself in 5 years?

Personally, I see myself outside of Belgrade in a beautiful house with a large garden near a river or the sea, with my husband, and I would love to have two children :) As for my business, I envision it in all retail outlets in Serbia and the region, and later, even broader.