As part of HILL International's 50th anniversary celebrations, we are regularly introducing partners with a special story or a special connection to HILL.
Mina Jokic is one of them: the current HILL International partner in Serbia is the second generation to run the company very successfully. In this interview, she talks about her first steps in the family business and her current challenges as a manager.
What were your first HILL experiences and what keeps you busy in the business today?
Being part of the HILL International Network from my early age on, my perspectives and roles have changed over the years. From a curios child, eager to understand HR consultancy business and contribute in line with my age and capacity, over stepping in the HILL International business in Serbia at an internally delicate moment to managing a successful operation in Serbia for over a decade.
And what is keeping me busy today, well I could say a very complex economic situation which requires innovative approaches to doing business and of course our dear clients and candidates who have put trust in us, in HILL, in our methods to facilitate their search for talents or perspective employers.
What were your biggest challenges since the 90s, what are they today?
As pioneers of HR consultancies and the first ones to enter the Serbian market in 1990, our role primarily was to educate, the at that time the very closed market, about the necessity and benefits of professional HR support especially in the domain of Search and Selection for candidates.
While today, we are facing completely different challenges such as the shortage of candidates across different sectors and levels of experience due to the years long wave of migration of skilled labour abroad.
Management and leadership have changed - what have you noticed most in the last few decades?
For years now, we are witnessing, an era of removing strict boundaries and hard organizational structures. Authorities are set simply from expertise and knowledge a person is demonstrating, while old hierarchical structures are a thing of the past. Organically leadership overtook more important roles over a strict management processes.
Modern companies are moving to more agile organizational structures which offer a wider range of responsibilities, but also opportunities for cooperation, learning and development and more flexible and faster reactions to changes. In line with those trends as well as digitalization processes - job titles and descriptions are changing, they include different skill sets and responsibilities from the ones from previous decades.
What was or is the most extraordinary thing you experienced with HILL?
It is definitely a contagious team spirit on both local and international level. With a coherent team of committed colleagues, all challenges and successful moments feel easier to dive in with togetherness.
It is always inspirational to be part of our meetings and get-togethers where we exchange experiences and know-how, while setting high standards for HR consultancy business.
Would you like to get to know our long-established team in Serbia?
We look forward to hearing from you! Our Team - Inspiring People
