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Mirjana Matešić
Episode · #68

DRUŠTVENA STRANA POSLOVANJA Mirjana Matešić

Guest Mirjana MatešićMay 3, 2026
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation

For many businesses, 'corporate responsibility' still means writing a check. But what if the real work isn't about giving away profit, but about meticulously refining how that profit is made in the first place? Mirjana Matešić has spent 15 years at the helm of the Croatian Business Council for Sustainable Development (HRPSOR) championing this shift in perspective. She has not only guided Croatian businesses through the complexities of sustainable development but also co-created the DOP Index, a unique methodology designed to measure a company's holistic impact. Her experience reveals how genuine responsibility moves beyond mere donations to become an integral part of operations, and what it takes for an entire economy to grasp that distinction.

Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
For 15 years, Mirjana Matešić has seen companies equate corporate responsibility with donations. The actual work, she explains, is about correcting internal business practices and managing direct impacts on the environment and society, not just giving away profit. Real responsibility starts with operations, not philanthropy.
02
HRPSOR positions itself as a negotiator, representing business interests to lawmakers on sustainable development policy. The aim is not just to influence regulation, but to communicate the real-world capabilities and practical timelines businesses need to adopt new standards or technologies.
03
Most corporate responsibility awards focus on single projects or initiatives. The DOP Index, however, measures a company's *complete* non-financial impact across seven distinct areas, from its environmental footprint to labor practices and market influence. The ambition is to evaluate the entire business, not just its charitable arm.
04
Companies using the DOP Index for self-assessment face no risk of public exposure for poor results. Only the top-ranked companies are announced, and all other participants are listed alphabetically, allowing businesses to identify areas for improvement internally without external judgment.
05
Climate change, once a niche topic, has finally moved into the mainstream public discourse in Croatia, even appearing in politicians' speeches. This shift, though slow, indicates a readiness for deeper engagement and allows organizations like HRPSOR to center their conferences on the topic.
06
Beyond its role in evaluation, the DOP Index methodology functions as an educational tool. The process of engaging with its nearly 160 questions helps companies and their employees strengthen their understanding and implementation capabilities for sustainable development.
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