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Ivica Zelić
Episode · #510

POSLOVNI ĐIR Ivica Zelić

Guest Ivica ZelićHosted by Vojdana KoharevićMay 3, 2026
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation

The traditional education system, designed for the average, often leaves the most talented students underserved. While those with learning difficulties receive specialized support, the highly motivated and gifted often find themselves disengaged, their potential slowly eroding. Ivica Zelić, director of the Center of Excellence of Split-Dalmatia County, has spent years building a counter-model to this dynamic. His approach isn't just about identifying gifted children; it's about creating an environment where they don't just learn more, but *do* more – even launching million-dollar startups while still in high school. This conversation explores how a public institution can become an engine for real-world innovation, and what it takes to cultivate a generation that sees problems not as obstacles, but as opportunities to build solutions.

Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
The Center of Excellence was founded to shift the conversation in teachers' lounges from 'problem students' to 'positive things' — the highly motivated and gifted. The most impactful initiatives often arise from a clear, almost counter-intuitive rejection of the status quo, focusing energy on what's working rather than what's broken.
02
Scientific research shows that nine out of ten gifted children do not reach their full potential if they aren't identified and nurtured early. The biggest loss for society isn't a lack of talent, but the failure to identify and support it early enough, leading to a silent attrition of potential.
03
A high school student from Mioc, in his fourth year, wanted to start a startup but couldn't be director due to Croatian law requiring a salary. The Center helped him find a colleague to co-found, and within six months, the startup achieved million-dollar revenue. Real-world entrepreneurial drive often outpaces academic timelines and legal frameworks; the role of a mentor is not to prevent that friction, but to help navigate it.
04
A former participant, now a third-year FESB student, is already back at the Center, leading a group and working on a project in the informatics program. The true measure of an educational program's success isn't just external achievement, but its ability to create a self-sustaining cycle where alumni return to nurture the next generation.
05
The Center's programs instill in students the message: 'love your country, love the area you live in, and if you notice a problem… tackle it and try to solve it.' True civic engagement isn't about avoiding problems, but about instilling a proactive mindset to identify local challenges and develop solutions.
06
Children today learn 'in the living room with the radio on, their mother cooking, and constant messages on their phone,' yet still master the material. Traditional notions of focus and optimal learning environments are outdated; modern education must adapt to the multi-threaded, always-on reality of younger generations, not fight it.
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