Dubravka Fazlić
Episode · #463
MEDIJATOR Dubravka Fazlić
Guest Dubravka FazlićHosted by Srđan ŠimacMay 3, 2026
Dubravka Fazlić
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation
Dubravka Fazlić, an entrepreneur from a manufacturing family, describes her career path not as a straight line, but as life "pushing her" through challenges that shaped her unique expertise. Today, she navigates the space where business acumen meets internal calm, as a consultant and mindfulness coach. Her perspective suggests that leadership isn't just about external strategy, but about developing an acute internal awareness that allows for more considered decisions and less reactive responses. This conversation explores how the seemingly soft skill of mindfulness can become a foundational strength for anyone looking to steer their professional and personal life with greater intention, rather than just reacting to circumstances.
Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
Dubravka's path started not with a rigid plan but with life "pushing her" through challenges, leading her from a manufacturing background to mindfulness. The most authentic professional paths often emerge from navigating unexpected challenges, rather than strictly following a predetermined career blueprint.
02
Mindfulness, translated as "pomnost" or "usredotočena svjesnost," means being present in the moment, aware of internal and external stimuli, without reacting. True presence isn't about controlling your environment or thoughts, but about observing them without judgment, developing a skill of non-reactivity that is inherent to us all.
03
Dubravka emphasizes that "you are not your thoughts, you are not your emotions," but rather the observer of them. Realizing that our thoughts and feelings are distinct from our core self gives us the space to pause, breathe, and choose a considered response instead of an automatic, learned reaction.
04
The common advice "count to ten" or "take a breath" before responding. These everyday phrases are direct, accessible calls to mindfulness, offering a simple mechanism to create distance from immediate impulses and allow for a more deliberate interaction.
05
"We operate on autopilot 95% of the time," which, while efficient for routine tasks, prevents us from "taking the helm of our life's ship." While automation is necessary for daily functions, too much autopilot means relinquishing control over our choices and reactions, missing the opportunity to consciously steer our own course.
06
The habitual tendency to "judge, evaluate, and measure the world against ourselves," often based on first impressions or preconceived notions. True understanding and connection emerge when we suspend this constant internal measurement, allowing ourselves and others the freedom to exist without immediate categorization or expectation.
07
Dubravka quotes the saying, "there are as many worlds as there are people in the room." This simple truth reminds us that our individual perspective is just one among many, fostering empathy and reducing the tendency to assume our reality is universal or superior.
08
"Nobody teaches us about ourselves," despite constant external input on what we "should" be or know. Genuine self-mastery begins not with accumulating more external knowledge, but with an inward focus, understanding our own internal landscape of thoughts, emotions, and reactions.