MISLIŠTE Tena Sakar Vukić

Guest Tena Sakar VukićHosted by Sandro KraljevićMay 3, 2026

Tena Sakar Vukić

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

Tena Sakar Vukić has built a social media presence reaching over a quarter-million people, not by chasing trends, but by openly confronting a personal truth: her experience with bipolar disorder. She is a digital content creator and entrepreneur, and the owner of TIKTAK, but her work extends far beyond typical business collaborations. She speaks candidly about her eight hospitalizations for mental illness, turning what many would hide into a platform for advocacy and education. In this conversation, Sakar Vukić explains how her condition became the foundation of her business, and why she believes Croatia needs a dedicated institute for mental health. The conversation reveals how vulnerability can become a source of strength, and how a personal struggle, when shared thoughtfully, can build a powerful, engaged community. Readers will consider how deeply personal experiences can shape an entrepreneurial path, and why direct, 'hardcore' conversations about mental health are often more valuable than generic self-help advice.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

Tena's business wasn't built around a market gap; it was built around her own diagnosis of bipolar disorder. The most resonant businesses often emerge from personal struggles, not strategic roadmaps.

“I am not bipolar disorder. I am Tena, and I have a mental illness, bipolar disorder, which is only a part of my life,” Sakar Vukić states. Separating one's identity from a condition is crucial for both personal well-being and professional effectiveness.

She uses transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to reduce psychopharmaceutical use, specifically because she found some medications, though sometimes necessary, “can hinder creativity.” Managing a serious condition in a creative field requires exploring unconventional treatments that preserve the very faculties your work relies on.

Despite her public openness about a severe mental illness, Sakar Vukić states she experiences “no discrimination or stigmatization from the business world.” The perceived barriers to operating openly with a mental health condition may be less rigid than commonly assumed, especially when an individual has learned to manage their illness effectively.

Sakar Vukić always directs people to professionals for expert advice, noting, “I never give professional advice; I give human advice.” When building a community around sensitive topics, clarity about the boundaries of one's role—as an experienced individual, not a clinician—is essential for maintaining trust and responsibility.

She contrasts general “self-help methods” with the need for “hardcore” discussions about severe mental states. Not all mental health conversations are created equal; the most impactful ones don't shy away from the difficult realities of serious conditions, moving beyond surface-level techniques.

Comparing mental health awareness in Croatia to Germany or Sweden, she suggests it's “better to be a person with a mental illness in Croatia” based on feedback from close contacts. Societal progress on mental health awareness isn't linear or uniform across developed nations; local cultural shifts can sometimes outpace those in countries perceived as more advanced.

Sakar Vukić notes that when she started dealing with bipolar disorder in 2006, “there wasn't much opportunity to talk about it,” whereas today, younger generations “don't see it as the end of the world” and “are not ashamed to ask for help.” The generational shift in openness about mental health is a powerful force, suggesting that the stigma is eroding faster among younger demographics than in previous eras.

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ScenariosBusiness challenges CardsEducational cards TimelineTopic evolution