The Executive director of the Science and technology park, Valentina Radulović, has acquired her knowledge and skills both in Montenegro and abroad. Her continuous work and expertise have led her to the most influential positions in the corporate world and now in the public sector. Her desire to make an impact, especially on young people, drives her towards new successes through numerous opportunities and challenges. For Valentina, the most important and beautiful role is that of a mother, and she enjoys every moment spent with her three daughters. Throughout her remarkable journey, she has learned how crucial discipline is and that with effort, we achieve results and progress.

• How does your journey begin?

I mostly like to say that I am a mathematician by education and by birth. I think that my scholarly, as well as my innate analytical mind, has helped me a lot in life and still helps me today. I graduated from the faculty of mathematics in Podgorica, then I completed my master’s degree in information systems at a branch of the University of Sheffield, after which I began building my career. I would say that I am a true example of someone who followed their parents’ advice: first finish your studies, then postgraduate studies, then get a job, and then get married. That was exactly my path. • How important was the role that other people and luck played in your life and career?

– I believe that luck plays a big role in our lives. Not in the sense that you wait for luck to come to you, but that at some point, the pieces of the puzzle fall into place and you recognize that moment. For me, luck was that during my fourth year of studies, I had a professor who was also the director of a corporation. He recognized my potential and gave me the opportunity to work in that corporation. At that time, it was the most prestigious company and a symbol of success for all of us mathematicians and engineers. To this day, I remember conversations with three executive directors of that corporate group. Back then, I didn’t realize the magnitude and significance of those conversations, but looking at it from this perspective, I now understand how important it was, especially considering that I was given the opportunity to choose in which division of the corporation I wanted to work. Now, when I imagine this scenario for my own children, I think it’s almost impossible. I spent a full 17 years in that company. Working there shaped me both personally, as I was very young, and professionally. Continuous investment in education and training, along with high expectations from me, definitely resulted in a work ethic at an enviable level. The most important thing I learned was how to communicate with people, to separate what is good from what is not, to distinguish results from things that are not results, and always aim for the result. Now, I can say that the result is important, but the path to that result is equally important, and we must learn to enjoy that journey toward achievement. By nature, I am ambitious and motivated to solve set tasks. Now, when I look back, I realize that I most often came to work with a smile and satisfaction, and that’s the true measure of whether you’re in the right place.        

• Now that your name is often mentioned in the media, how do your children perceive you?

– Essentially, on one hand, it is still not easy for them to explain what I do now. On the other hand, they are very proud and really happy to have such a mom. I believe that by my example, I positively influence their goals, as they are naturally ambitious. I want them not only to be better than me but to be the best they can be, to do what they love and what fulfills them because that way they will be the best for themselves, and then for everyone else. • After 17 years, you decided to leave the corporation. How do you make such an important decision?

– I didn’t make the decision to change the course of my career impulsively. I am a rational and composed person, and I always think carefully about the decisions I make. I didn’t allow myself to immediately act on the thought of changing jobs, but I gave myself time to see if it was just a momentary feeling. Also, our decisions are not only influenced by the work environment and the job itself but also by various external factors that may not be related to work. After several months, I made a big decision that would also become a turning point in my career life. This was a difficult decision, as until then, I couldn’t imagine myself in another job. Despite being the director of technology and IT at that time, with excellent working conditions and all the benefits that position brings, I still wasn’t satisfied. There was no room for growth, and for me, that was a sign that I should move on. For such a step, I can say, a lot of courage was needed. I am a mother, a wife, a daughter, and a sister. My income was more than significant for our family. Moreover, up until then, I had been fully dedicated to the job I was doing and hadn’t explored what else I could do. My great support was my husband, who understood my decision and took a stance that helped me to embark on the next ventures. • How important have your daughters been in your growth, maturity, and success?        

– I truly enjoy the time I spend with my children. Not just now, I’ve always enjoyed it. They represent a special gift for me that is priceless. If you ask me what love is for me, it’s children! I can’t compare it to anything else, and that is what drives me. When I think of them and when I’m with them, those are moments I can’t compare to anything else. With my youngest daughter, I would say that I spend time more consciously. I think it’s because we need to be at an adequate mental level to truly value those moments. Besides being the greatest love, they are also my greatest mystery, and I don’t know what to expect from them in the future, and that excites me.

I believe that the role of parents is significant. On the other hand, it is essential to teach children that they are the ones responsible for the things that happen to them and will happen to them in life. I have my expectations for their journey, but I am aware that it should not limit them, although I think that even if I wanted to, I couldn’t limit them.

If someone asked me what my most beloved life role is, I would say it’s the role of a mother. • Why did you decide to take the step toward entrepreneurship?        

– My great friend and godmother Jasna Pejović was someone who had already left the corporation and started her own business, and it somehow naturally came to be that I joined her and we started working together. I must say that I’m not sure I would have dared to venture into entrepreneurship on my own. We believed in what we were doing, and I had someone by my side with whom I share the same family and life values. Through our actions, but also our belief in what we do, we attract the right people and new opportunities. Now we have a coding school for children, a licensed educational institution for adults, we have our startup with which we’ve traveled the world, won numerous awards, and the best is yet to come.

• The opportunity to become the executive director of the Science and technology park is unique, isn’t it? I would say that I got the opportunity to become the director of the Science and technology park at the right time, where now, even from the perspective of public administration, I have the chance to support and encourage what is essentially the most important — to guide our young people onto the right path and try to influence their way of thinking. It is a process that will take time, but it is crucial for us to be persistent. Our goal is to work on developing an innovation culture among them. This means they need to be creative, think entrepreneurially, allow them to make mistakes, and try again so they can truly realize their ideas.

This approach is exactly what motivated me to work with young and creative people, and I am confident that now we have the opportunity for change through innovations. The Science and technology park is a place where I come with enthusiasm and dedication, and I see it as a kind of “government startup.” We are doing something that no one in Montenegro has done before, and that’s what drives me. We develop, test, learn from mistakes, and improve — all in the spirit of innovation. We expect the community to understand and give us a chance even when we make mistakes, and to work together because only through synergy, collaboration, and co-creation can we achieve results.

I always follow the principle, both at work and in the family, that everything should be demonstrated by example. This is the way to build a team and put team values and goals ahead of our own. This is what teamwork really is. What particularly makes me happy is that I have excellent cooperation with the internal team and unconditional support from our founders, as well as the entire innovation community. These are people I trust and who trust me. • Do you collaborate with researchers? The founders of the Science and technology park are the Government of Montenegro and the University of Montenegro. Therefore, our mission is to be an extension of the University. Our role is to bridge the gap between the business and academic communities. We have excellent researchers at the Montenegrin University who, with their outstanding scientific work, achieve significant accomplishments. Unfortunately, these often end up on paper as proof of something. Now, we need to recognize their achievements and connect them with the business community that needs these achievements to commercialize them. This would directly affect the demand for increased employment in those projects, the creation of new jobs, and thus have an impact on the economy of Montenegro.        

Autor: Isidora Đurović ДАН – Valentina Radulović: In my team, there are people I trust, and who trust me (dan.co.me)