IZA OGLEDALA Julijana Matanović i Zlatko Stić

Guest Julijana Matanović i Zlatko StićMay 3, 2026

Julijana Matanović i Zlatko Stić

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

In countries where communities are tightly knit, every public figure carries their full biography into every interaction, every decision. Here, leadership demands a particular kind of authenticity, where the personal and the professional are constantly visible. Zlatko Stić, a school director who transformed a struggling institution into one of Croatia's most sought-after, shares how he navigated decades of systemic inertia and resistance to build a new kind of school. Alongside him, acclaimed writer Julijana Matanović reflects on the intellectual honesty leaders owe to those they serve, especially the courage to admit when new information has changed their perspective. This conversation explores the quiet resolve required to reshape an institution, and the often-overlooked strength in admitting error, particularly when "the right to common sense is suspended."

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

The Prirodoslovna škola Vladimir Prelog was once a vocational school with a poor reputation and declining enrollment. Zlatko Stić, an engineer who never planned to work in education, spent 28 years transforming it into one of Croatia's most sought-after high schools, even needing to introduce entrance exams. The most impactful changes often begin with someone willing to stay and fix what's broken, rather than waiting for an external mandate.

Zlatko Stić admits he was "absolutely not a popular director" in his early years, and states he "wouldn't have passed the first re-election" if employees had voted at the time. Leading truly transformative change often requires a willingness to be unpopular, prioritizing the long-term health of the institution over immediate approval from those resistant to new ways.

Before becoming a school director, Zlatko Stić was importing "I love you" plush hearts to Croatia and running eight market stands as a student. The drive to identify needs and build solutions, even in seemingly unrelated ventures, is a core entrepreneurial skill that can be redirected to transform any institution, including a public school.

Early in his tenure, Zlatko Stić observed that "medicine and nutrition would rule the world," along with STEM fields like chemistry, biology, and physics. To future-proof an institution, you must look beyond its current curriculum or offerings and anticipate future societal needs, then rebuild your core programs around those insights.

Julijana Matanović criticizes leaders who refuse to say, "I said X a year ago because I didn't know Y then, and now I think differently." The most damaging thing a leader can do is suspend "the right to common sense," expecting people to ignore past statements or contradictory information, when admitting a change of mind would build trust.

Writer Julijana Matanović points to Croatian literary giant Šenoa, who would spend "hours and hours in the archives" before writing a single sentence of a historical novel. True authority comes from meticulous preparation and a commitment to speaking only from a place of complete insight, earning the "right to speak" rather than simply claiming it.

The highest compliment Julijana Matanović receives from former students is hearing them say, "how you treated us is how I treat my students now." Lasting influence isn't about specific lessons taught, but about modeling a way of being that others internalize and replicate, making your personal conduct the most powerful curriculum.

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