Slađana Guzijan, our valued team member from Banja Luka and one of the female voices in the industry, is Project Manager at eHealth division. Progressing in her career at NITES Group for 11 years, Slađana has some important insights and advice how a great employer and employees can keep reinventing themselves in a long-term commitment.
Can you briefly describe what you do and what your working day looks like?
At Nites, I work as a Project Manager, responsible for leading and monitoring realization of the implementation of multiple projects for software systems provided by our company for the healthcare sector in the Republic of Serbia, as well as their ongoing maintenance.
My responsibilities involve a wide range of activities — from planning and setting priorities, to coordinating and synchronizing teams, and communicating with all participants in projects, as well as monitoring progress and ensuring high-quality, on-time delivery of solutions. My daily focus is identification and solvation of potential challenges and blockers with teams’ support and correlations. My goal is to maintain a stable project flow every day.
How long have you been with NITES Group and how did the company “win” you at the very beginning?
I have been with the company for 11 years. NITES Group immediately won me with its rich business portfolio and important projects. At that time, the company was expanding in the IT sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
At the beginning, the trust given to me and the chance to actively make my contribution in implementing large and challenging projects, together with the company’s approach that combines high professionalism and attention to the human factor, NITES left a strong impression on me and made me step into my second decade here.
What was your professional path in the IT industry like?
My professional development in the IT industry was gradual, step by step, through all key roles within cross-functional teams. I began my IT career as a junior functional consultant and project administrator on HRMS telecommunications and ERP projects, with engagements in QA, user support, business analysis and cooperation with UI/UX and backend teams.
As assistant project manager, I gained practical knowledge in project management and methodologies fundamental for further development.
From the beginning, I was looking at the bigger picture from a strategic perspective and SoW, with a focus on scope, goals, implementation process and potential risks, and special emphasis on client satisfaction, quality cooperation with all parties involved and strengthening the role of the team and the company in the project. This is why the role of project manager was a logical continuation of my journey.
What are the biggest challenges in your position – and what helps you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges is achieving timely and stable delivery of complex systems with national-level integrations, the components of which are developed by multiple teams.
When changes occur in this process due to mandatory legal legislation that has a high imperative in healthcare and are accompanied by technical challenges, it is necessary to quickly find a reliable and compatible solution on time, which will not disrupt the overall architecture or slow down the development flows of any team.
With team and management support, and their quick response we overcome such challenges and provide stable delivery.
How would you describe the atmosphere within your team and what do you like most about it?
United individualism gives a special charm to the healthcare team at NITES.
Togetherness, mutual support and humor in stressful moments make the atmosphere positive. What I like most is the openness to support and joining forces to achieve a common goal.
How does NITES help you grow – professionally and personally?/What has enabled you to be a better version of yourself in the work you do?
Accepting all challenges in continuity with successful implementation ultimately brings professional growth, which in return creates a sense of personal growth.
I was lucky to work with people at NITES whose professional integrity comes not only from expertise, but also from the way they lead, decide and communicate. Such an environment sets high standards, but also provides room for growth.
I became a better version of myself thanks to the combination of the opportunities I was given and the effort and dedication that were recognized.
Every step required effort, but it also brought along a sense of personal growth. As I progressed professionally, I also grew as a person – one followed the other. Even today, I believe that I was not shaped only by the results, but also by the process through which I achieved those results and I am very grateful for that.
Is there a new role or challenge that you have taken on in the company that was particularly meaningful to you?
Moving to the healthcare team was a new professional challenge, after the implementation of a system at a telecom operator and the experience that gave me a solid foundation for understanding enterprise systems and working with large clients and teams.
Developing of healthcare systems has provided a new knowledge domain about healthcare, which includes the legislative framework and work on nation-wide projects with complex integrations and a high degree of responsibility.Successful implementations of systems used by pharmacists, healthcare professionals and patients at all levels of healthcare in the Republic of Serbia require precision and have social responsibility. Being a part of that process as a Project Manager is certainly important in my career
Is there a new role or challenge you took on at Why do you love what you do – what “pulls” you forward day after day? company that was particularly meaningful to you?
I am motivated by the success of complex projects, positive feedback from satisfied clients and management, cooperation with partners and the energy of teamwork.
I draw energy from the trust I receive, the purpose I feel, and the support I have – that combination regenerates me and constantly pulls me forward.
What does your work-life balance look like?
There are challenges and it’s not always easy, but over time, experience helps me find a balance between my work and my private life.
What do you think will be the key directions for our company’s development in the coming years?
We have alerady mastered AI projects and I believe that we will increasingly see the application of AI solutions for analytics and personalized medicine, as well as telemedicine platforms. Improving healthcare systems with Machine Learning is one of those directions.
Do you have a professional role model – someone whose path or approach serves as motivation for you?
Generally, growing up and later on, I did not resort to idols because I believe that authenticity is a way to express our essential, intrinsic value and full potential.
Working at NITES gives us all an exceptional opportunity for collaboration and professional growth through interaction with people who stand out for their high professional and professional standards, integrity and leadership qualities – which certainly represents a strong motivation and an inexhaustible source of inspiration.
Why do you think NITES is the right place for someone who wants to grow and work on meaningful things?
If you are ready for dedication and responsibility, I can confirm from personal experience that NITES is certainly the right place where you can grow and work on meaningful, large national projects.