Stories

SDG 8 week is powered by Business Cafe

"Small entrepreneurs are heroes and artists creating something out of nothing." Kristina Ercegovic, founder of the Business Cafe

25.02.2020.

The week of SDG 8, Decent work and economic growth is powered by Business cafe, and we talk to the founder, Ms. Kristina Ercegovic.

How did it all start?

"18 years ag,o I started my entrepreneurial journey. My first business was a specialized mystery shopping agency, dedicated to increasing awareness and the need and importance of customer service.

After 10 years, I sold it. In the meantime, I successfully started Heraklea Customer Service Academy and Mystery shopping days. We conducted many types of research on the topic of customer service. "Service starts with hello" was just one of many successful campaigns. As a result of the campaign, the public became aware of the need to raise consciousness about customer service. Soon after, the measuring and improving customer service became a must for all serious organizations.

For the past ten years, I have been successfully running the Business cafe event for small entrepreneurs." said Kristina.

Could you tell us what is the Business cafe?

"The Business cafe in an event which shows stories of successful entrepreneurs who are then sharing the ups and downs of their entrepreneurial journey. This way people learn, share ideas, network, make deals, get motivated, and inspired. And most importantly see that they are not alone, get a sense of belonging and find peace and the tribe that understands them. The "who" in the "who are entrepreneurs" has changed, climate as well, and many people get motivated to start their own business during the Business Cafe.

What are you currently doing?

"I sold the Business cafe event franchise to 7 countries, and now I conduct "Be your own boss" workshops for years.

I wrote 5 books on the topic of entrepreneurship. Soon the 6th one will be published - Your own boss or slave to your business (Sam svoj gazda ili rob svog posla).

People call me networker and the good ghost of entrepreneurship and tell me that I made more for entrepreneurs than any Croatian government so far.

My goal is to promote entrepreneurship, to keep developing an entrepreneurial mindset, to stop the complaining culture and develop success culture.

Also, my vision is that Croatia becomes one of the best places to live (which it already is) but also to do business here (which is still a long journey to go)."

What are your activities in one of the targets of SDG8, decent work for all; closing the gender pay gap?

"I am engaged in empowering women. So recently I started and now I run portal, workshops, and conferences "Women and Money" in local language www.zeneinovac.com; educating women on financial literacy but also empowering them.

We talk openly and honestly and cover all topics related to money – legal, therapeutical, self-esteem as well as financial issues and ladies openly share all their fears, hopes and stories."

Is there something more to just business?

"Economic growth is important, but not sufficient for happiness. Wellbeing is also necessary, so I believe the basis for growth is entrepreneurship. Small entrepreneurs are heroes and artists creating something out of nothing.

I believe, show and promote my opinion that business is a source of good.

If you can pack your unique talents into products and services and offer them to the market, you can have both profits as well as the impact and joy that comes with it. There is also a sense of fulfillment when you are being focused on what we can GIVE not take, how we can CONTRIBUTE not compete. People need to make money but also to be fulfilled." concluded Ms. Kristina Ercegovic

Join 1MillionStartups to be among other solution makers working towards achieving the #SDG8.
Read more about the 1MillionStartups SDG Weekly campaign.