Q & A: Ms. Gordana Djurdjevic, Director of Slovo

Q & A: Ms. Gordana Djurdjevic, Director of Slovo

1. Tell us in short about the company Slovo.

Slovo has diversified its production program in the domain of architectural, promotional and industrial labeling. It is also known as a house of creative design. The company produces high precision tools of high hardness alloy steels of 60 HRC, as well as tools for labeling steel, brass, wood, rubber, leather, cardboards and other materials (letters and numbers, hammers, special steel and brass signs, steel types for packaging machines).Name and decor plates, printed plates, etched name plates and plates with an engraved name are also on the list of Slovo’s products.

2. How does it feel to be a business woman in Serbia? How improtant is the Association of Business Women?

To be a successful business woman in Serbia nowadays is both very satisfying and difficult. Personally, I’ve been a part of the Association of Business Women since 2008 where I have found continual support both for my personal growth and the growth of my company. The Association is the biggest national organization of female entrepreneurs that offers all the relevant information, educational trainings, and networking on one side, but also numerous opportunities to create friendships based on solidarity and ethics. In that sense, it is very important to be a part of such Association since it has a pioneer role in our country to rise the awareness of the significance of women whose entrepreneurial spirit is crucial to the overall economic development of our society.

To be a successful business woman in Serbia nowadays is both very satisfying and difficult. Personally, I’ve been a part of the Association of Business Women since 2008 where I have found continual support both for my personal growth and the growth of my company. The Association is the biggest national organization of female entrepreneurs that offers all the relevant information, educational trainings, and networking on one side, but also numerous opportunities to create friendships based on solidarity and ethics. In that sense, it is very important to be a part of such Association since it has a pioneer role in our country to rise the awareness of the significance of women whose entrepreneurial spirit is crucial to the overall economic development of our society.

The main objective of this component of the program is to support and strengthen technological start-up ecosystem in Serbia.

This component provides finance for start ups, together with investors who already have a successful record of investing in IT start-ups, and wish to invest initial (seed) capital in Serbia, in micro and small enterprises with innovations or products with significant market potential.

All domestic and foreign investors and micro or small enterprises will be able to take part in public calls for financing, while decisions on allocation of the stimulus will be made by expert board, established by the Government. Financial incentives granted by the Republic of Serbia cannot exceed 50% of the total approved budget of the project and can be up to 25.000 Euros, while the investor has to provide the remaining investment.

In addition to financial support for start ups, a comprehensive program of training, mentoring, coaching and networking will be put in place, with the aim to bring together and connect IT entrepreneurs, transfer the knowledge related to start-up entrepreneurship, provide mentoring and project preparation for entering the investment program, presentation of the development teams and projects to investors, etc.

3. Tell us a bit about the motivation that drives you to continue your business.

Primarily, it is a desire to be active and independent in my profession that is a unique combination of my personal interests and the opportunity to sustain my business that secures my existence. It enables me to live in accordance with the personal vision of a responsible person. Last but not the least, the motivation lays in doing good and useful things for the people I love as well as the once I do not know.

Source: SIEPA