PSIHOLOGIJA USPJEHA Ivan Ostojić

Guest Ivan OstojićHosted by Tanja PuretaMay 3, 2026

Ivan Ostojić

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

Ivan Ostojić is preparing for a new role as a board member at Podravka, a significant step after two decades at Wüstenrot Štedionica. His immediate focus isn't on market strategy or financial models, but on the people he will lead: "making excellent people even better." This perspective, honed through years of navigating both calm and turbulent economic conditions, underscores a conviction that strong leadership begins with human capital. In this conversation, Ostojić shares how this approach shaped Wüstenrot into a highly effective sales organization and a profitable credit institution. Readers will reflect on the lasting impact of investing in relationships, empowering teams, and preparing leaders to perform at their best when conditions are toughest.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

Asked about his vision for Podravka, Ivan Ostojić doesn't offer a strategic framework or financial targets. His first priority is "making excellent people even better." The core task of a leader isn't to invent new strategies, but to improve the existing talent within the organization.

The host asks if his leadership orientation was acquired during his twenty years at Wüstenrot. Ostojić responds that leaders are "born, but also created and become." Innate ability finds its true form through sustained practical experience.

Wüstenrot's two-decade history included periods of "sailing on calm seas" and "sailing through storms." Management quality, Ostojić observes, truly comes to the fore not when times are good, but when navigating difficulties and challenges.

The Wüstenrot team maintained high motivation and positive energy, even during the pandemic. Ostojić attributes this to continuous investment in people and sharing responsibility: when you empower colleagues with ownership, they contribute more to the company's success.

Wüstenrot transformed from what Ostojić calls a "housing savings expert" into "one of the most profitable credit institutions" in the Croatian financial market. True growth means redefining your market position and expanding profitability beyond an initial, narrow niche.

Wüstenrot was the first in the market to offer fixed-rate housing loans for more than twenty years. Such products, Ostojić notes, offer a broader social value, as every responsible state benefits from citizens securing stable housing financing.

A decade ago, Wüstenrot was among the first to shift its sales focus from the product to the client and their needs. This customer-first approach, now standard across the financial industry, demonstrates the value of early market differentiation around the customer.

For several years, Wüstenrot has built a significant portfolio by financing housing solutions for Croatian citizens employed abroad. Identifying and serving an unmet need within an overlooked demographic can open a substantial new market.

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