When Everything Works Without You, That’s When You Know You’re a True Leader
“A successful leader is the one who has built a system that works without him. When everything functions because you have aligned the processes and the people – that’s when you know you’ve truly succeeded.”
Tvrtko Dolić, COTRUGLI MBA alumnus from the Class of 2014, is a leader with over 25 years of experience in international business. His career path has been marked by steady growth – from local to regional positions, culminating in his current role as Cluster Head at Sobi – Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB, where he oversees teams in Croatia, Slovenia, and Hungary.
But Tvrtko’s story is not defined solely by titles and achievements. It is also about the inner transformation he has undergone – from a doctor stepping into the corporate world to a leader who believes that ultimate success is building a system that runs smoothly even in his absence.
From Medicine to Business
“I come from a very unique industry. I am a doctor by profession. At one point, I realized I wanted to develop in a different business direction. At the time, people around me didn’t have the knowledge I needed. The MBA was my tool – a foundation to understand the world of business, finance, and macroeconomics,” recalls Tvrtko.
Choosing the COTRUGLI MBA program proved to be a turning point. “When I first took on a regional leadership position, an MBA was a prerequisite that recruiters were looking for. The knowledge and skills from the program were decisive – finance, accounting, macroeconomics, but also sales skills and communication.”
Knowledge Applied Immediately
For Tvrtko, the greatest benefit of the program was the knowledge: “And not just theoretical knowledge, but practical. The MBA gave me the foundation to understand what others were talking about, to make informed decisions, and to lead with greater confidence.”
That foundation quickly translated into results. His career gained new momentum – he became part of leadership teams, switched companies and countries, and over the years successfully managed both local and regional teams.
Leadership Built on Trust
Today, he leads a team of 25 people with impressive achievements. Yet Tvrtko is quick to point out that those results are collective, not individual. “These are the results of the entire team. My job is to support them and guide them, but they are the ones delivering the outcomes.”
His leadership style was shaped by the experience and the people he worked with. “When I first became a leader, I was 30 years old and my team members were close to 50. I didn’t come in with the idea of giving orders, but of helping them. That approach earned me respect and long-term success. Leadership is built patiently, step by step, through trust and support.”
The principle he values most today is responsibility paired with agility. “I want people to see the company as their own, to experiment, take risks, and show initiative. Business agility is crucial, and it’s something many companies lack. When things run smoothly even without me, that’s when I know we’ve succeeded as a team.”
Learning from Others and Mentorship
Throughout his career, Tvrtko never had a formal mentor, but he learned from those around him. “Every person taught me something. My biggest role model was my first manager. She had an incredible way with people – she knew how to listen, motivate, and understand. That shaped me.”
Today, he is the one passing knowledge forward. “I work closely with my people, mentor them, and I’ve engaged executive coaches for specific areas. One day, I would love to be a mentor at COTRUGLI – that would mean a lot to me.”
The Power of Community
Tvrtko remembers COTRUGLI not only for the academic content but also for the experiences that went beyond the classroom. “The best memories are the friendships and sense of community. Modules outside Zagreb, the support from colleagues, knowing that you can call someone from the network at any time and get help – that is priceless.”
Looking Back and Ahead
If he could go back 25 years, Tvrtko would tell his younger self to trust the process. “Experience comes with time. Being a young leader is challenging, especially when leading people older than yourself. But if you help instead of command, if you surround yourself with people who love and know their work – that’s when the magic happens.”
In the end, he defines what success means to him: “A successful leader is the one who has built a system that works without him. When everything functions because you have aligned the processes and the people – that’s when you know you’ve truly succeeded.”