POSLOVNI ĐIR Leana Radić

Guest Leana RadićHosted by Bojana KoharevićMay 3, 2026

Leana Radić

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

In cities like Split, the chronic shortage of kindergarten places is a constant challenge for families. But for Leana Radić, a seasoned educator, this wasn't just a problem; it was an opportunity to rethink early childhood care. Driven by a desire to work with smaller groups and offer more individualized attention than large institutions could, she founded 'Čudesni dvorac' (Wonderful Castle), a childcare service that blends the best of educational principles with the intimacy of home. Leana's path forced her to evolve from a dedicated teacher into an entrepreneur, navigating the complexities of regulations, logistics, and finances, all while maintaining her core mission. The conversation explores how she balanced these two demanding roles, especially after launching her business in 2019, just months before the pandemic hit. Readers will walk away considering how deeply held personal values can drive market solutions, and the unexpected grit required to translate a passion for care into a sustainable business.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

Leana Radić's core driver wasn't just the lack of kindergarten spots, but her desire to work with "small groups of children to whom I could dedicate myself more individually" – something "impossible in kindergartens where the number of children is twice as large." The market gap she filled wasn't just about capacity; it was about the quality of attention that larger institutions couldn't provide.

Her business model adheres to the legal limit of "one caregiver per six children," allowing her to operate with two caregivers for twelve children. This regulatory constraint, rather than a burden, became the foundation of her service, enabling the personalized approach that defines her value proposition.

Leana Radić insists her service isn't "just childcare" but actively "creates conditions for proper growth and development," retaining her role as an educator. Differentiating a new service in an established sector means defining it by its unique *function* and *purpose* rather than letting it be pigeonholed by existing categories.

Opening 'Čudesni dvorac' in the summer of 2019, "just before the pandemic," created an immediate, existential crisis that "hit us hard at first." Navigating that early period of fear and uncertainty, she says, proved that "if we managed that, we can manage anything."

Leana Radić describes her shift from educator to entrepreneur as having to "worry about invoices, regulations, and laws" in addition to daily care. The biggest early challenge wasn't the children, but the need for a completely new level of "organization," which took years to establish.

After nearly five years, Leana Radić now considers her business "established" and "running smoothly." Moving from chaotic startup to stable operations is a multi-year effort, especially when balancing a deeply personal mission with the demands of business management.

She highlights the "family atmosphere" in her small group, where children "learn about emotions, how to open up, how to express themselves." The intimate setting of a small group is not merely a logistical advantage; it's a deliberate design choice that fosters deeper emotional and social development than larger environments can offer.

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