Tina Fišić
Episode · #537
POSLOVNA ŽENA Tina Fišić
Guest Tina FišićHosted by Tomislav KukecMay 3, 2026
Tina Fišić
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation
Tina Fišić’s career began in applied arts, designing for her father’s lighting sign company, yet she became the sole Google Women Techmakers Ambassador in Croatia. At 36, she has navigated a varied professional landscape, moving through design, journalism, and even politics before finding her footing in the data-rich world of IT. Her story isn't about a single-minded pursuit but a series of deliberate shifts, each building on the last. She shares how she cultivated a global network, the specific traits that distinguish effective IT professionals, and why she is now stepping away from her high-profile role to pursue new challenges. Listen for a rare perspective on building influence through unconventional means and the discipline of empowering others.
Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
Tina became a Google Women Techmakers Ambassador after organizing an Arduino Day conference with a dedicated session for women in technology. Her initiative caught Google's attention, leading to an invitation to lead their efforts in that space. When you build the community you wish existed, the opportunities often come to you.
02
Google's 'standards for women in IT,' as Tina explains them, are simple: 'Don't let a woman be a wolf to another woman.' This means actively sharing knowledge, promoting colleagues, and providing honest feedback – even telling someone they need to learn more before aiming for a higher position. The strongest networks are built on both support and truth.
03
Working with clients from London to Silicon Valley, Tina attributes her success not to formal degrees but to internet courses, strong English, networking, and the fact that 'in IT, you can't bluff.' Software either works or it doesn't; user experience is good or it needs redesign. In technical fields, direct competence is the only currency that matters.
04
After seven years as a Google Ambassador, Tina decided to step down following the birth of her child, acknowledging the significant time commitment the role demands. She isn't just leaving; she is actively recruiting new ambassadors, offering to pre-interview candidates for Europe's recruiter. Stepping back from a high-profile role isn’t a retreat; it's an act of creating opportunity for others.
05
The ideal Google Ambassador, Tina explains, possesses strong organizational skills, communication, and honesty, but crucially, 'doesn't try to brand herself, but to brand the brand.' Their role is to push the project and other people forward from behind the scenes, not to seek personal media attention. Genuine influence comes from elevating the collective, not the individual.
06
Tina Fišić's initial career plan was to be 'a designer of everything,' influenced by her father's lighting sign company. This early exposure to design and a desire for broad skill acquisition, not just a specific art form, laid a foundation for her later adaptability across diverse sectors. The businesses that scale are often the ones you've been preparing for since childhood.
07
As a student, Tina earned extra money by creating Facebook pages for small businesses and apartments, charging for setup, logo design, and basic promotion. This 'childish' early venture, driven by a clear market need, became her first real contact with the tech world. The most scalable ideas often start as simple solutions to obvious problems.
08
Tina's career path wandered through design, journalism, and even a stint as a political spokesperson before she re-entered digital marketing, eventually working with HTML and CSS. It was around age 30 that she 'fell in love with numbers' and data analysis. The most fulfilling professional paths often emerge through exploration, not strict adherence to an initial plan.