Before Zadar, the confirmed leaders were sent four questions: what they look forward to at COTRUGLI Days 2026, where they see the greatest opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence, which skills the leaders of the future will need, and where they see the greatest potential for collaboration during CDayZ. Twelve answers so far. Two were written in English; the other ten were given in Croatian or Serbian and are translated here. More follow as they arrive.
Ask yourself what you would answer. Then come and argue it at a table in Zadar.
Ivor Bakša — Owner, Tripple Innovations
What are you most looking forward to at COTRUGLI Days 2026?
Seeing old colleagues, and what COTRUGLI has prepared for us. It is exciting to see how COTRUGLI and Dražen have approached the new AI era and leadership in that era.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way we live and work. Where do you see the greatest opportunities, and where do you see the greatest challenges?
I see the opportunities in optimising business processes, in openings to expand the business, and in new business opportunities that arise as the complexity of processes and the human factor (blue and white collar) shrinks.
The biggest challenge: “Is the AI or the robot responsible for the delivery, or is the responsibility human?” “What exactly will people do, and what set of knowledge will a person need?”
As technology continues to evolve, which skills do you believe will become most important for the leaders of the future?
Robotics is going through the most interesting development. The leader of the future will have to know how to lead using AI, robots and people.
Where do you see the greatest potential for collaboration during CDayZ?
In developing new forms of business based on AI, together with participants from different business verticals.
Tom Zovko — General Manager, Royal Hotels & Resort
What are you most looking forward to at COTRUGLI Days 2026?
Most of all I look forward to meeting old colleagues and friends again, but equally to meeting new people. I especially look forward to good conversations, to exchanging experiences and perspectives, and to new opportunities to connect and collaborate. It is the people and the relationships we build that so often make an event truly valuable.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way we live and work. Where do you see the greatest opportunities, and where do you see the greatest challenges?
The greatest opportunity I see is in using artificial intelligence to raise productivity, speed up innovation and make better business decisions. AI lets us hand part of the routine work to technology and so free up more room for creativity, strategic thinking and what gives people the greatest value.
At the same time, the greatest challenge I see is that the development of technology has to be matched by the development of responsibility. Organisations will have to find the right balance between technological possibilities, human judgement, ethics and trust. It will not be enough to know how to use AI. What will matter is knowing when to use it, how to use it and why.
As technology continues to evolve, which skills do you believe will become most important for the leaders of the future?
Technological literacy will become an important precondition, but I believe the greatest value will lie in distinctly human skills. The ability to think clearly, ask the right questions, understand people, build trust and make decisions in complex situations will be key.
The leaders of the future will have to understand technology and its business potential, and at the same time know how to empower people through it. Real leadership will not be measured only by the ability to adopt new technologies, but by the ability to turn them into lasting value for the organisation, its employees and society.
Where do you see the greatest potential for collaboration during CDayZ?
The greatest potential I see is in connecting people of different experiences, industries and perspectives. The most valuable ideas often arise exactly where different views and experiences meet.
I see CDayZ as a space for open conversation, for sharing knowledge and for building new business and personal connections. I look forward to meeting people with whom we may have no obvious link today — through conversation we can recognise shared interests and the potential for future collaboration.
Zvonimir Šimić — CEO, Optika Anda
What are you most looking forward to at COTRUGLI Days 2026?
Most of all I look forward to exchanging concrete experiences with people who lead and grow successful companies. It is from such conversations that the best ideas, new partnerships and different views of one’s own business so often come.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way we live and work. Where do you see the greatest opportunities, and where do you see the greatest challenges?
The greatest opportunity I see is in making business more efficient and decisions better. The greatest challenge will be to use what artificial intelligence makes possible while keeping the human touch, trust and high ethical standards.
As technology continues to evolve, which skills do you believe will become most important for the leaders of the future?
The leaders of the future will have to keep learning and adapt quickly to change, while keeping their own leadership style and personal authenticity. At a time when AI increasingly shapes the way we communicate and decide, integrity, charisma and entrepreneurial resolve will be key.
Where do you see the greatest potential for collaboration during CDayZ?
The greatest potential I see is in connecting leaders and companies going through similar challenges of growth, internationalisation and organisational transformation. Optika Anda is right now growing from a successful Croatian company into a regional group, so I believe we can learn a lot from the experiences of others — and share our own.
Miroslava Jocić — CEO, Secut
What are you most looking forward to at COTRUGLI Days 2026?
Most of all I look forward to meeting energetic, young, educated people who are curious and always ready to learn. The COTRUGLI community is very diverse and at the same time intellectually strong, and that combination is what I find especially inspiring. I expect to hear many new ideas during CDayZ, to get to know trends from different industries and — as always when good people gather — to learn something new and useful.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way we live and work. Where do you see the greatest opportunities, and where do you see the greatest challenges?
Artificial intelligence has already significantly accelerated the way we live and work, and I believe its influence will only grow. The opportunities are enormous — from the time we save, through the quality of the output we can get, to acquiring new knowledge and skills much faster. The greatest challenge, however, I see in who uses artificial intelligence and how. I still believe it is people who have creativity, critical thinking and the ability to understand context. AI is an extremely powerful tool, but if it is used by someone who does not know the field and lacks the knowledge to judge the quality of the answer, that can be very risky. That is why I think knowledge and the ability to think critically will become more important, not less.
As technology continues to evolve, which skills do you believe will become most important for the leaders of the future?
As technology develops, a great many new technical skills will develop with it, but I believe the real difference will be made by the skills that are most human. Leaders who do not develop empathy, emotional and social intelligence, the ability to communicate, to understand people and to build trust will find it hard to last, however well they know the technology. Technology will change, tools will come and go, but human values will always be prized. The ability to join technological literacy with humanity will be one of the most important traits of the leaders of the future.
Where do you see the greatest potential for collaboration during CDayZ?
It may sound paradoxical after so much talk about artificial intelligence, but the greatest potential of CDayZ I see precisely in people. In their coming together, in the exchange of experiences and ideas, in new business and personal connections and, potentially, in building an even stronger community. Technology can speed up a great deal, but good ideas, collaborations and great things still begin with a conversation between people. People are everything — and I think COTRUGLI recognised that long ago.
Vukašin Stanisavljević — CEO, Vege d.o.o.
What are you most looking forward to at COTRUGLI Days 2026?
Meeting colleagues from the region, conversation and the exchange of experiences.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way we live and work. Where do you see the greatest opportunities, and where do you see the greatest challenges?
Making everyday life easier, which will give people more free time to do the other things that make them happy and help them grow. The challenge will be exactly how that free time is used — today, unfortunately, much of it goes on the wrong things.
As technology continues to evolve, which skills do you believe will become most important for the leaders of the future?
Morality, empathy and creativity.
Where do you see the greatest potential for collaboration during CDayZ?
Probably within the group working on a particular case, because that is where there will be the most interaction.
Nevenka Bilandžić — Human Resources Manager, Salvus
What are you most looking forward to at COTRUGLI Days 2026?
I look forward to exchanging experiences, to networking, to sharing knowledge and to good company.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way we live and work. Where do you see the greatest opportunities, and where do you see the greatest challenges?
Opportunities are everywhere — more efficient processes, faster analyses, quick access to information — but the challenges I see are in content generated without critical thinking, content that ignores context, that does not think ethically. The education of the new generations is a challenge too. They get instant information; everything comes to them now and at once. That will certainly have repercussions on the cognitive development of future generations.
As technology continues to evolve, which skills do you believe will become most important for the leaders of the future?
The right direction I see in putting the human being, ethical and humane principles first, with a focus on the good of the community and of humanity. Profitability is an imperative — but at what price?
Where do you see the greatest potential for collaboration during CDayZ?
My greatest contribution I see in sharing knowledge and the experience I gained as my career continued after the EMBA programme. Today I sit on the management board of a pharmaceutical company and command every aspect of the business with confidence — that is the value of the COTRUGLI programme.
Josipa Petrović — Sales & Retail Operations Director, Studenac market
What are you most looking forward to at COTRUGLI Days 2026?
What I look forward to most is the atmosphere of COTRUGLI Days, where titles and positions no longer matter — only the questions being asked. The COTRUGLI community has that rare quality that a conversation starts with “what are you working on” instead of “where do you work now”.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way we live and work. Where do you see the greatest opportunities, and where do you see the greatest challenges?
The greatest opportunity I see is that small players can today do what used to take whole teams, and that opens room for entirely new business models. The greatest challenge is not the technology itself, but the speed at which organisations, and the individuals who lead them, change their way of thinking and their speed of action.
As technology continues to evolve, which skills do you believe will become most important for the leaders of the future?
The ability to ask the right questions will become more valuable than having ready answers. AI gives answers; the leader has to know what to ask in the first place.
Alongside that, emotional intelligence and the skill of leading people through uncertainty and hard environments to results become a competitive advantage. The so-called soft skill becomes secondary on its own if it is not accompanied by decisiveness and adaptability as a constant practice.
Where do you see the greatest potential for collaboration during CDayZ?
The greatest potential is at the intersection of industries — those that would otherwise never meet at the same table, and those that have so far worked together in very linear ways and are now opening up to needs and opportunities for many-sided collaboration: exchanging services, solutions, knowledge, products, even people.
Ivana Pupić — HR, MK Group
What are you most looking forward to at COTRUGLI Days 2026?
Most of all I look forward to meeting the people who shape the future of business and leadership in the region. In my career I have had the chance to work with different industries, leaders and organisations, and it is the exchange of experiences, open discussion and new views of challenges that contribute most to professional growth. For me COTRUGLI Days is a unique chance to hear inspiring stories, get to know new trends in leadership, talent development and organisational transformation, and also to make valuable contacts for future collaboration. Given the accelerating change we live through today, events like this become an important space for learning together and creating new ideas.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way we live and work. Where do you see the greatest opportunities, and where do you see the greatest challenges?
I see artificial intelligence as a powerful tool that can significantly improve productivity, decision-making and the user experience. In human resources, AI is already changing how we find talent, analyse employee data, plan career development and create personalised learning experiences.
Still, the greatest challenge is not the technology itself but the way we use it. It will be important to keep the human perspective, ethics and the ability to think critically. Organisations will have to find the balance between automation and the human factor, especially where leadership, people development and decisions that affect employees’ careers and lives are concerned. I believe the greatest advantage will go to the companies that successfully combine technological possibilities with empathy, trust and responsible leadership.
As technology continues to evolve, which skills do you believe will become most important for the leaders of the future?
Technological knowledge will be important, but it will not be decisive. The leaders of the future will have to develop the ability to learn fast, adapt and lead through uncertainty. I believe emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, change management and the ability to build teams that successfully combine human and technological capacities will matter most.
Beyond that, leaders will have to understand data and what technology makes possible, but also inspire people, build trust and create an environment in which employees want to give their full contribution. In a world where knowledge is ever more accessible, it is the ability to connect people, ideas and purpose that will be the greatest competitive advantage.
Where do you see the greatest potential for collaboration during CDayZ?
The greatest potential I see is in connecting leaders from different industries around shared themes such as talent development, the future of work, leadership and organisational transformation. Whatever the sector, almost all companies today share similar challenges: how to attract and keep good people, how to develop leaders ready for the future, and how to build organisations that can adapt to change quickly.
I believe it is exactly the exchange of different perspectives that so often leads to the best solutions. That is why I see CDayZ as a platform for new partnerships, for sharing good practice and for launching initiatives that can have a long-term effect on the business community of the region. I am especially glad of the chance to collaborate on projects that link technology, people development and the sustainable growth of organisations — the more concrete the challenges we manage to address, and the more we exchange the ways we have faced them or are facing them, the better.
Irena Grofelnik — CEO & Owner, SPIRITON
What are you most looking forward to at COTRUGLI Days 2026?
I’m always happy to support COTRUGLI initiatives. I was a student here, I still feel connected to the school, and for me being part of the alumni community also means giving something back.
But honestly, I’m mostly looking forward to the people — meeting new ones, reconnecting with familiar faces and spending a few days surrounded by smart, successful and curious people.
And I really like the format: less lecturing, more discussion, participation and real exchange.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way we live and work. Where do you see the greatest opportunities, and where do you see the greatest challenges?
The opportunity is enormous. AI can help us work faster, analyse more information and see possibilities we might otherwise miss.
But for me, the biggest challenge is not giving up our own critical thinking, moral judgement and responsibility for decisions.
Real decisions are rarely made in laboratory conditions. They involve people, relationships, emotions, context and variables that constantly change. AI can help us understand them, but it should not make the final decision for us.
I see AI as one voice among many at the decision-making table — a very powerful assistant, but still an assistant.
And we should also remember that AI is shaped by human data, instructions, assumptions and objectives. If those are biased, incomplete or questionable, technology will not magically correct them for us.
The final judgement — and the responsibility for it — still has to remain human.
As technology continues to evolve, which skills do you believe will become most important for the leaders of the future?
First of all, the ability to build real relationships and trust.
We are constantly connected, but I’m not sure we are becoming better at actually connecting with people. Phones, digital media and technology in general have already changed the way we communicate and socialize.
So I believe communication skills, emotional intelligence, social awareness and the ability to really listen and connect will become even more valuable.
Of course, critical thinking, curiosity and good judgement will matter too.
The more digital the world becomes, the more important our human skills will be.
Where do you see the greatest potential for collaboration during CDayZ?
Probably in the conversations we cannot plan in advance.
When people from different industries, countries and backgrounds spend a few days together, ideas start connecting naturally.
Sometimes that leads to a business opportunity or a new project. Sometimes simply to a completely different way of looking at something.
For me, that is the real value of networking — not exchanging business cards, but having conversations with people you would probably never meet otherwise.
Mario Martinek — Owner & General Manager, Bijeli svijet — Bright World
What are you most looking forward to at COTRUGLI Days 2026?
Networking — meeting new people from different industries.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way we live and work. Where do you see the greatest opportunities, and where do you see the greatest challenges?
The greatest opportunities are in automating business processes; the greatest challenges are in the complexity of the different AI models.
As technology continues to evolve, which skills do you believe will become most important for the leaders of the future?
The most important skills will be understanding the business environment and reading between the lines, so as to make the right business decisions amid the vast amount of different information we will be surrounded by.
Where do you see the greatest potential for collaboration during CDayZ?
The exchange of knowledge and experience, and the new perspectives one can gain from the other students.
Petar Đurić — Integrated iSquad Lead Hematology, Roche
What are you most looking forward to at COTRUGLI Days 2026?
Familiar faces gathering, and the exchange of knowledge and perspectives.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way we live and work. Where do you see the greatest opportunities, and where do you see the greatest challenges?
In the short term, the greatest opportunities are in higher productivity and the greatest challenges in regulation and implementation — in the long term, I do not dare to imagine.
As technology continues to evolve, which skills do you believe will become most important for the leaders of the future?
An open mind, curiosity and people-centricity (by which I mean above all empathy and human qualities).
Where do you see the greatest potential for collaboration during CDayZ?
In gathering an interesting group of people — that always produces plenty of new ideas.
Alenka Jajac Knez — Chief Executive Officer, JGL d.d.
What are you most looking forward to at COTRUGLI Days 2026?
I’m most looking forward to inspiring conversations, exchanging ideas, and gaining new perspectives that we can take with us after COTRUGLI Days.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way we live and work. Where do you see the greatest opportunities, and where do you see the greatest challenges?
I see the greatest opportunities in AI making our work easier, increasing productivity, and creating space for innovation. The biggest challenge will be helping people and organizations adapt to the speed of change.
As technology continues to evolve, which skills do you believe will become most important for the leaders of the future?
Alongside technological understanding, adaptability, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and the ability to make decisions in uncertain situations will become increasingly important.
Where do you see the greatest potential for collaboration during CDayZ?
I see the greatest potential in connecting people from different industries, sharing experiences, and turning those conversations into concrete ideas and long-term partnerships.
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