This week, we speak to our colleague Milan Cirkovic, Head of IT in Bosnia and Herzegovina, who joined the Bank last year. He loves maths and electrical engineering, creative problem solving and going for long walks in the great outdoors.

2:00 min
Work life
Private life

Who are you, what did you want to be as a child and what do you do now at UniCredit?

Electrical engineer, father of two, outdoor enthusiast and a big gourmand. As a child, I wanted to become a musician, but my love for maths and electrical engineering took over. I worked for large system integrator companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 10 years and joined UniCredit Bank Banja Luka in spring of 2020. With the COVID pandemic, it was a very challenging period to start in a new environment, but I was made to feel welcome from day one.

 

 

What do you enjoy most about your job and what is the proudest moment or greatest achievement of your career?

During my career, I have been fortunate enough to have been involved in a lot of creative activities, problem-solving, optimising, prioritising, and my personal favorite; challenging me to come up with new ideas. The Cloud service project I worked on was one of my top career milestones, where I had the opportunity, as a project manager, to deliver a one-of-a-kind project within our small market. Being a part of the solution, especially during these challenging times on an everyday basis, makes me proud of my teammates and myself.

 

 

And what is the hardest part?

My day-to-day routine can sometimes be overwhelming. On those days, good ideas can easily slip by the wayside. Unexpected events and incidents are becoming an everyday occurrence in IT and affect the Bank’s business continuity. In those situations, I try to reprioritise, stay focused and trust my teammates to raise awareness of priorities on hand. At the end of those difficult days, I try to gather my thoughts, prepare for the challenges of the next day and get some rest so as to restart afresh.

 

 

What advice would you give your younger self or somebody considering this role as a career?

To my younger self or anybody at the beginning of their careers, I would suggest that having a good boss, respectable work environment and an opportunity for your voice to be heard is more important at the start of your career than what you earn or your job title. In short, choose carefully and do your best while enjoying what you do.

How do you balance your professional and personal life?

I try to plan my days off and spend some quality time with my family and friends. I enjoy long walks around the city and like to spend my time near the Vrbas river. I used to practice sports when I was younger, now I try to play basketball with my friends whenever we find the time.  As a father of a teenage girl and a younger boy, we do our best to balance our family time through outdoor activities, movie nights and road trips.

 

 

What do you like to do to relax after a hard day at the office?

After a challenging workday, I like a change of atmosphere. So, I get out of my apartment and usually go for a walk with my family and friends - with maybe some sports thrown in.

 

 

What was the last book or the last movie you loved? And why?

The last book that I read was “Leaders eat last” from Simon Sinek, following different leaders from heads of big business and government to marine corps officers, who don't just sacrifice their place at the table but often their own comfort and even their lives for those in their care. Each of them achieved success by putting aside their own interests and enabling their employees and team members to feel empowered and safe while facing their daily challenges.