MISLIŠTE Mirta Fraisman Čobanov

Guest Mirta Freismann ČobanovHosted by Sandro KraljevićMay 3, 2026

Mirta Freismann Čobanov

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

Mirta Freismann Čobanov's career began in finance, a path chosen for its perceived stability and her aptitude for mathematics. Yet, a childhood fascination with the human mind, once dismissed by her parents as impractical, kept pulling her in a different direction. Her story traces the difficult, often indirect route of reconciling analytical rigor with a profound interest in human psychology, a journey that led her to found Partus Academy and author a book on emotionally intelligent leadership. She offers a clear view on how the most successful and fulfilled individuals are often those who learn to integrate their disparate interests, turning what might seem like a detour into their greatest strength. Readers will consider how their own unfulfilled curiosities might hold the key to their most impactful work.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

Mirta's high school graduation paper was on 'Psychological Disorders,' but her parents steered her toward economics, claiming 'there's no bread in psychology.' The advice we get about "sensible" careers often overlooks the deep, early signals of where our true contributions lie.

Her bookshelves, once filled with finance texts, gradually became dominated by psychology books, prompting her husband to ask, 'Isn't that a sign?' Pay attention to the quiet, persistent signals in your personal life – like what you choose to read – as they often reveal the path you're meant to take.

Rather than immediately leaving her bank job, Mirta first asked to shift from a financial analyst role to a trainer position internally. Before making a drastic career change, find ways to test your new interests by shifting roles or responsibilities within your current organization.

After opening Partus Academy, Mirta's drive was to combine her two loves: mathematics and psychology, especially within a business context. The most powerful professional identities often emerge not from choosing one path over another, but from finding a novel way to combine seemingly unrelated skills.

Mirta describes her persistent drive to understand 'how the human brain works' and why people react differently as an 'obsession.' Truly impactful work often stems from a persistent, almost obsessive curiosity about fundamental human questions, rather than a purely strategic career plan.

A core question that drove her work was: 'How to succeed without trampling others?' and 'How to succeed for the community?' Defining success not just by personal achievement but by its ethical impact and contribution to the community provides a powerful, enduring compass for one's work.

Daniel Goleman's book 'Emotional Intelligence' was the 'aha!' moment that tied all her observations and experiences together. Sometimes, a widely accepted framework can act as the intellectual anchor that brings years of personal experience and scattered observations into a coherent, actionable model.

Explore further

ScenariosBusiness challenges CardsEducational cards TimelineTopic evolution