“Education is something without you can`t do anything in your life. It gives you basic knowledge to start your career, and also teaches us to know where to search for information and how to use it. The higher you get, the better solid ground for future career development you’ll have.”

Mr. Bojan Jelenić, Design Director Russia&CIS, Turkey and Balkans at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), Moscow, Russsia

EduEvo: At the very beginning, can you please present yourself and tell us more about you as a person.

Mr. Bojan Jelenić: My name is Bojan Jelenic, born in Novi Sad where I have grown up and finished my education at Technical University department of Architecture, after graduation I left to Moscow where I have start my career as Architect on various projects, after which I have moved to Hospitality industry where I held current position as Design director for Russia, CIS, Balkans and Turkey within Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG).

EduEvo: How did you start your career?

Mr. Bojan Jelenić: When I left to Russia in 2007 this was still a very prosperous country where many of my colleagues have worked and construction business was in growth path. In those years I remember China was just opening to foreigners in construction, and UAE was a second market where people go to search job. So I may say that I select Russia as a country which was most similar in cultural and language terms with high opportunity to make a good career in future.

After working several years as Architect on different projects and in different management level, and having references for International hotels, I have start my career in one Hotel operator company as Project manager for their branded hotels.

EduEvo: In what way did this company help you achieve the success you have now?

Mr. Bojan Jelenić: The entrance to Hospitality industry was new for me as a trained architect, since my new job required to understand many operational standards and particular normative for hotels that as architect you do not meet often on your projects. Therefore it requires about 6 months to learn basics of the business which I’m expending every year since then with new learnings through my job. 

EduEvo: What education means to you? Is it important for you?

Mr. Bojan Jelenić: Education is something without you can`t do anything in your life. It gives you basic knowledge to start your career, and also teaches us to know where to search for information and how to use it. The higher you get, the better solid ground for future career development you’ll have

EduEvo: What are your plans for the future?

Mr. Bojan Jelenić: My plans are to continue to grow in my field of expertise in Hospitality industry and become better every year in what I do

EduEvo: What kind of advice would you give the youngsters being at the very beginning of their professional career?

Mr. Bojan Jelenić: The best advice is to be persistent in goals you chase, never back up and continue to learn and fight for what you setup as realistic goal to achieve. Think about learning as investment into only what no one can take from you – your knowledge!

I would highly recommend EduEvolution for this interview opportunity and for chance to cooperate in future on different levels.