Head of the non-for-profit organization in Iceland, final responsible for Talent Management and Organizational Development. Experienced Assistant Teacher with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit organization management industry.
Studying a double major degree in International Studies in Education and Mathematical Education at the University of Iceland.
My name is Mladen. I am Serbian but I live in Iceland and I am currently the national president of AIESEC in Iceland. I am slowly finishing a double major degree in the field of Education and Mathematics. I like to tell people that I am a life long learner and a teacher.
My interest in teaching started early in primary school where I was tutoring my friends. I mainly explained mathematics but I did language teaching and other physical sciences. In non-formal education, I stepped when I was 15. With a couple of friends, we organized conversational workshops for people that wanted to learn/practice English.
Since then I joined various projects and organizations with the aim to inspire others and discover myself. My longest involvement is with AIESEC. I found a crowd of people that empower me to be the better version of myself. I was elected president of AIESEC last year and I couldn't be more proud of my entity and how we are developing in these weird times in history.
2. When and why did you join AIESEC?
I joined in 2017. I wanted to volunteer in Iceland and I have not been doing much at that time since I freshly moved to Iceland. I could say that after a couple of months, I felt warm energy and kindness from AIESECers that was a deciding factor for me to continue developing myself through the organization.
3. Why do you think it is important for people to develop leadership skills early on?
Throughout my life, I have noticed that young people feel lost and disoriented with options that they have or just with the fact that they still don't know what to do. I am one of those people. I think that developing leadership is connected with how mature we are and ready to make decisions for ourselves. On the other hand, leadership is a key to unlock a better future by choosing who we are today.
4. What have been your biggest learnings from your experience?
There is plenty to choose from. I actually analysed when is the time that I learn and develop the most. It is always when I step out of my comfort zone. With AIESEC, I find many ways to challenge myself and my team. With every role I took, I stepped out of my comfort zone and discovered something about myself, and in the end, learned new things.
5. What advice would you give to people who just enter college?
I would say to take time to find your crowd and don't be afraid to go out of your comfort zone. It is scary but, to make your comfort zone larger, you must step out of that circle. It is worth it.
6. How has AIESEC adapted during Covid?
7. Which is your favourite book and why?
The leader who had no title by Robin Sharma. I read this book when I was in High School. It is inspiring and it gives clarity to one's purpose and how to live your values. I like it because it helped me when I was lost in deciding what to study. I felt pressured to choose as soon as possible and I had no clue what I wanted.
2. When and why did you join AIESEC?
I joined in 2017. I wanted to volunteer in Iceland and I have not been doing much at that time since I freshly moved to Iceland. I could say that after a couple of months, I felt warm energy and kindness from AIESECers that was a deciding factor for me to continue developing myself through the organization.
It was the combination of professional and personal growth during the last 3 years that made me progress and explore ways to empower others through my work. I didn't feel like a leader before joining AIESEC and building that courage and confidence was something that I will always be grateful for.
3. Why do you think it is important for people to develop leadership skills early on?
Throughout my life, I have noticed that young people feel lost and disoriented with options that they have or just with the fact that they still don't know what to do. I am one of those people. I think that developing leadership is connected with how mature we are and ready to make decisions for ourselves. On the other hand, leadership is a key to unlock a better future by choosing who we are today.
4. What have been your biggest learnings from your experience?
There is plenty to choose from. I actually analysed when is the time that I learn and develop the most. It is always when I step out of my comfort zone. With AIESEC, I find many ways to challenge myself and my team. With every role I took, I stepped out of my comfort zone and discovered something about myself, and in the end, learned new things.
5. What advice would you give to people who just enter college?
I would say to take time to find your crowd and don't be afraid to go out of your comfort zone. It is scary but, to make your comfort zone larger, you must step out of that circle. It is worth it.
6. How has AIESEC adapted during Covid?
I don't think we fully adopted. There are changes happening every month. AIESEC in Iceland is giving its best to deliver a quality and unique experience to members. That is the most important thing for us and adopting to covid makes it unique already. We strive to develop leadership no matter what. I hope that the next generations are going to be creative, as much as we are, to drive the entity towards a better future.
7. Which is your favourite book and why?
The leader who had no title by Robin Sharma. I read this book when I was in High School. It is inspiring and it gives clarity to one's purpose and how to live your values. I like it because it helped me when I was lost in deciding what to study. I felt pressured to choose as soon as possible and I had no clue what I wanted.
The book was a medicine for my head. I knew I wanted to empower people to be better and the book tells how, with the everyday encounters with others, one can be a leader.
- Interviewed by - Nishad Kinhikar
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