Leading with Authenticity, Turning Points, and the Meaning Behind Success
“A leader who helps others grow through uncertainty brings real value.”
True leadership requires courage, introspection, and a willingness to grow, even through life’s most challenging moments. Dr. Anton Habjanič shares how professional and personal turning points have shaped him into a leader who measures success by alignment with his values and the impact he has on others.
Reflecting on his professional journey, Dr. Anton Habjanič clearly identifies the periods that shaped him before, during, and after the COTRUGLI EMBA program.
“Before COTRUGLI, my formal background was in electrical engineering, and my professional goal was to build knowledge in economics, finance, and management to successfully lead a company,” Anton recalls. “At the time, I was the director of the TehnoCenter at the University of Maribor, and I felt I lacked the key skills that would make leading the organization easier.”
During his studies at COTRUGLI Business School, his perspective on business expanded. The program gave him insights into all business functions, strategic thinking, and leadership. “Through COTRUGLI, I began to develop a broader perspective. I gained an understanding of business strategies, financial analysis, and leadership competencies. I also met colleagues in high-level positions, which further broadened my horizons and boosted my confidence.”
However, completing the program coincided with challenging life circumstances: the pandemic, the loss of his father, and a divorce. “These events deeply affected me and forced me to redefine my priorities, steering my career toward meaning, authenticity, and leading with maturity rather than external measures of success.”
Leadership That Starts Within
Today, Anton leads on two parallel tracks – external and internal. “The external aspect involves consulting and collaborating with organizations on cultural transformation, developing values, and fostering sustainability. The internal aspect is about maintaining personal alignment, listening to intuition, balancing work and rest, and cultivating authentic leadership.”
His achievements today include strengthening leadership through values, applying intuitive decision-making with clients, and building emotional resilience through life’s crises. “The biggest challenge for me is maintaining clarity amidst complexity, delegating without losing connection, and growing without falling back into the old pattern of being a leader who feels they must have all the answers.”
COTRUGLI for the Future: Leading with Emotion, Agility, and Purpose
As an experienced leader and coach, Anton has a clear vision of what will be crucial for future MBAs. “I see room for developing topics like agile leadership, building autonomous teams, and creating progressive organizations. Emotional intelligence and personal regulation are also critical to stay grounded in unpredictable times. And, of course, intuitive decision-making or how to develop an internal compass for leadership rather than relying solely on analytical tools.”
He particularly emphasizes the importance of transformational mentorship and purpose-driven, sustainable leadership: “A leader who helps others grow through uncertainty brings real value. And staying connected to purpose and ethical decision-making is key to long-term success.”
Mentorship: A Space for Growth, Not Ready-Made Solutions
Although Anton hasn’t formally been a mentor within the COTRUGLI community yet, he sees it as a natural next step in his journey. “I definitely see myself in a mentorship role. I have the experience, tools, and values I want to pass on to others. For me, mentorship means providing space, listening, and challenging, not offering ready-made solutions, but being a guide in someone’s development.”
Turning Points and the People Who Shaped the Journey
“The death of my father was a turning point that forced me to confront the question of meaning. Divorce and the changes that followed created space for inner growth,” Anton shares candidly.
Professionally, his most formative experience was leading the TehnoCenter: “It was a school of responsibility, working with people, and understanding the realities of business.”
Mentors and inspirations in his development included Dr. John Demartini and Sadhguru, as well as his family: “My son and daughter, my ex-wife, my parents, my sister, friends, and colleagues, they’ve all been mirrors and teachers along my journey.”
If he could advise his younger self, Anton would say: “Success on paper doesn’t measure true alignment. Stay true to yourself and don’t fear vulnerability – authenticity is a strength, not a weakness. Learn to listen to your intuition; it knows the way even when everything seems unclear. You don’t have to know everything right away; growth happens step by step. And perhaps most importantly, investing in inner work is just as vital as professional knowledge.”
Success as a State of Alignment
For Anton, the definition of a successful leader has evolved over the years. “Today, I don’t measure success by numbers or titles but by how much a person lives in alignment with themselves, with integrity and purpose. A successful leader enables others to grow, makes decisions based on values, maintains clarity in uncertainty, and leads by example. It’s a leader who shows that even in business, you can lead with heart, experience, and responsibility for the future.”
