Contributing to a Lighter and More Beautiful Life on the Balkan Peninsula

When I was 7, we went on a school expedition to the Tara mountain – a lush Yugoslav national park. But this was no ordinary trip – we were here to become Pioneers! During the ceremony, I gave my word to “study diligently… develop brotherhood and unity… and value all people of the world”.  Little did I expect that before I turned 10, conflict would break out… and the country fragmented.

I have since been walking with this question: How is it that after more than 40 years of peace, brotherhood and unity, we could collectively descend into such a dark place, so quickly? What was missing?

Project Light was born as an invitation to journey with this question. It is the highest contribution I can imagine making. And I am encouraged by how many others feel the same. It is a collective question, which necessities a collective response. Project Light was born as a platform to enable this response.

Before founding Project Light, I worked in McKinsey & Company for 14 years, where I led the Culture & Change service line for the ~90 countries of Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In this role I had the opportunity to learn about leadership and culture transformation working with over 200 leading public and private sector organizations around the world.

The ideas and organizations that have shaped me are both more intellectual (McKinsey & Company, London School of Economics, The Economist Group) and more intuitive (coaching, facilitation, spent >20k hours in workshops and >5k hours in silence).