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Josipa Maslać Petričević i Velimir Srića
Episode · #306

IZA OGLEDALA Josipa Maslać Petričević i Velimir Srića

Guest Josipa Maslać Petričević i Velimir SrićaMay 3, 2026
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation

For some, the path to leadership begins not with a job, but with an instinct. Josipa Maslać Petričević is one such leader; she founded her first business in her first year of law school, launching a four-decade entrepreneurial career without ever working for another employer. She believes leadership is an inherent trait, recognized early, though skills can always be refined. Professor Velimir Srića, a long-time observer of leadership, offers a more expansive view: while some are indeed born with the inclination, many more cultivate it through sheer effort and experience, sometimes even emerging from unexpected beginnings. This discussion delves into that tension — what is innate, what is learned, and how adversity shapes the leader. You will consider not just the traits of effective leaders, but the often-unseen forces that forge them.

Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
Josipa Maslać Petričević founded her business in her first year of law school, never working for anyone else, and will soon mark 40 years as an entrepreneur. The most direct path to building a company isn't always through formal career steps; sometimes, it's just starting early and committing to build it yourself, from day one.
02
From being class president to joining scouts and firefighters, Josipa Maslać Petričević recounts always having ideas and organizing things, with her father even calling her 'my son.' Leadership isn't merely a corporate role; it's a pattern of behavior that often manifests in childhood, signaling a drive to organize and innovate long before a formal title.
03
Professor Velimir Srića argues that leaders are both born and made, pointing to examples of individuals who showed 'autistic traits' in childhood but later developed into strong leaders. His core message: 'game time makes you a better leader.' Don't dismiss leadership potential based on early social awkwardness; experience and sustained effort can cultivate effective leaders from the most unexpected beginnings.
04
A good leader, Professor Srića says, is 'a perfect combination of imperfect traits,' highlighting authenticity, integrity, and self-confidence without excess. The ideal leader isn't a textbook list of virtues, but an individual who understands and manages their unique blend of strengths and weaknesses. True leadership hinges on self-awareness and genuine character, not on flawless execution.
05
Facing divorce, bankruptcy, and her mother's severe stroke all in one year, Josipa Maslać Petričević describes this period as her 'best life teacher,' instilling a profound sense of humility. Catastrophic personal and business failure can be the most potent catalyst for developing essential leadership qualities like resilience and a deeper understanding of human connection.
06
After her life-altering challenges, Josipa Maslać Petričević adopted the principle, 'In adversity, do not despair; in prosperity, do not become arrogant,' which redefined her interactions with employees and others. The true test of humility isn't self-abasement, but maintaining a steady equilibrium regardless of fortune. This balanced stance—neither despairing in crisis nor arrogant in success—builds enduring trust and genuine connection with a team.
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