BIZKULTURA Dragana Radusinovic Tafra

Guest Dragana Radusinović TafraHosted by Goran ŠikićMay 3, 2026

Dragana Radusinović Tafra

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

Dragana Radusinović Tafra spent fifteen years as a business journalist, meticulously tracking the financial currents that shaped Croatia. Now, she explores those same forces through fiction. Her debut novel, "Tajkunova kći" (Tycoon's Daughter), takes readers into the heart of what she calls "crony capitalism," a system where, as she puts it, "in love, war, and crony capitalism, anything is possible." This isn't just a story; it's a fictionalized examination of the intertwining of executive power, state institutions, and key businesses that defines a regional economic reality. Tafra’s protagonist, Jelena, a highly educated woman, finds her academic credentials less useful than a "talent for a criminal mind" when navigating this world. It’s a sharp observation about what truly thrives when the rules are bent. The conversation delves into how deeply personal experiences inform her writing, the surprising resilience of love within a harsh economic backdrop, and what it truly takes for individuals — and businesses — to operate in such a distinct environment. Readers will walk away considering the hidden costs and unexpected skills required to succeed when the system itself is the biggest challenge.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

The author's framing of writing her novel in "gross eight months" as a business project reveals a disciplined approach to creative work. Even deeply personal narratives benefit from a project-management mindset.

Dragana Radusinović Tafra defines "crony capitalism" not as a buzzword, but as a precise "system of intertwining executive power and state institutions with key businesses." This structural definition shows how economic success often depends on political alignment, not just market forces.

Tafra's insistence that "every good story must contain a serious dose of personal experience" explains how her fifteen years as a business journalist shaped the core of her novel. The most compelling narratives, even fictional ones, are built on firsthand observation.

Jelena's top-tier education proves less useful in crony capitalism than what her brother calls her "talent for a criminal mind." This stark contrast highlights a system where a capacity for deception often outweighs academic brilliance.

While rooted in a harsh economic reality, the novel is a love story because, as Tafra says, "love is universal, it's everywhere." Even in the most cynical systems, she argues, human connection can still overcome the pressures of crony capitalism.

Jelena, the protagonist, holds a master's from the London School of Economics, a deliberate choice by Tafra to highlight how "Croatian businesspeople often failed to invest in quality education for their children." True competence, she implies, will be crucial as a new generation takes over the family enterprises.

Jelena's struggle to earn her place in her family's business, despite her exceptional education, reveals how deeply "patriarchy" can still shape opportunities. Even in a modern corporate setting, inherited gender roles often dictate position more than proven competence.

To ensure realism, Tafra crafted her characters as "cocktails of traits from at least ten different people," rather than caricatures of single individuals. This composite approach allows her fiction to reflect complex societal realities without being a direct mirror.

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