PSIHOLOGIJA USPJEHA Nina Anđal

Guest Nina AnđalHosted by Tanja PuretaMay 3, 2026

Nina Anđal

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

Most careers are rarely a straight line, but few zig-zag quite as deliberately as Nina Anđal's. Trained as a lawyer, she found her professional interest pulling her into public relations, then human resources, often in large, well-known corporations. This unusual path offers a clear perspective on what it means to work in 'support functions' — the legal, communications, or HR departments often seen as a cost center rather than a direct contributor to revenue. Anđal, now HR Manager at Interspar Adria, argues that this perception is shifting, with a growing recognition that human potential is central to business success. She shares how her openness to new opportunities shaped a professional life that defies easy categorization, always finding value and interest in diverse roles. This conversation will prompt you to rethink how you view your own career trajectory, the strategic value of 'support' roles, and the power of authenticity in building an organization's reputation.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

Nina started her career as a lawyer, but her interest led her to public relations and human resources, often through opportunities that simply arose. A career isn't a straight line from a degree; it's a tapestry woven from curiosity and an openness to new challenges.

Throughout her career, Nina has worked in 'support functions' — legal, PR, HR — which are often perceived as a cost rather than a direct revenue generator. Your challenge in a support role is to consistently demonstrate how your work adds tangible value and contributes to the organization's overall success.

Moving from the highly structured corporate communications of Coca-Cola to building the entire function from scratch at Lura was a significant challenge. The real work isn't just executing within guidelines, but defining the guidelines themselves when none exist.

At Lura, Nina focused on three core goals: building reputation, managing media relations, and establishing social responsibility when it was still a nascent concept in Croatia. Success in a new role comes from identifying a few critical, company-aligned objectives and relentlessly focusing on them.

Corporate communication, Nina argues, must be authentic and reflect the true corporate culture. If you try to 'spin' a company's image, it won't succeed long-term, because the external message will always be undermined by internal reality.

While some still view HR as 'personnel administration,' Nina sees a growing awareness, even in smaller companies, that human potential is central to business success. The shift from HR as a clerical task to a strategic imperative is happening, but it requires HR leaders to actively claim their seat at the table.

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