MISLIŠTE Marino Bevanda

Guest Marino BevandaHosted by Sandro KraljevićMay 3, 2026

Marino Bevanda

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

Marino Bevanda’s path to leading large hospitality operations began not with a business plan, but with a childhood dream of becoming a chef. He pursued it through culinary school, international kitchens, and river cruise ships, eventually reaching assistant head chef. Then, in his early twenties, he took on the role of F&B Director for an investment company, overseeing 160 people and driving exceptional financial results. His story offers a clear view into the transition from deep operational expertise to strategic leadership. Bevanda shares the precise metrics that defined his success in a demanding, seasonal industry, and the distinct challenges of managing a large, diverse team when you are often the youngest person in the room. This conversation explores the often-overlooked skills required to lead with impact, especially when navigating the skepticism that can come with youth.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

Marino’s journey started not with a strategic plan, but with a childhood dream of being a chef, leading him through culinary school and international kitchens before he ever stepped into management. The most effective leaders often build their strategic acumen on a deep, hands-on understanding of the core operations they eventually oversee.

As an F&B director, Marino’s team achieved a 13-15x purchase-to-sale coefficient, a significant improvement over the industry average of 6x. In high-volume, seasonal hospitality, the real measure of success isn't just gross revenue, but the rigorous optimization of core operational ratios that drive profitability.

Leading a team of 160 people in his early twenties, many of whom were older or his peers, Marino found it crucial to keep his ego in check and demonstrate knowledge and results. Authority alone doesn't command respect from an experienced team; competence and a clear, open approach do.

After reaching Assistant Head Chef on river cruises, Marino chose to pursue a new university program in hospitality management, the first of its kind in Croatia. Sometimes, the path to career expansion involves a deliberate step back into formal education, especially when specialized programs can bridge operational expertise with strategic leadership skills.

Marino describes his motivation as a constant drive to 'be the best' in every role, setting clear goals and moving to the next only after the current ones are mastered. Ambition isn't a vague desire; it's a disciplined, sequential pursuit of excellence where each success becomes the foundation for the next.

Marino candidly shares that he faced prejudice due to his youth when he first took on leadership roles. The best response to skepticism about a young leader's age isn't to argue, but to consistently deliver results that speak for themselves and build trust over time.

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