Branislav Serafimoski

For Branislav Serafimoski, partner and director at Unija Smart Accounting Macedonia, leadership is not just about climbing the corporate ladder but about continuous growth, adaptation, and understanding people. “Before COTRUGLI, I was very focused on daily operational tasks, on what was closest to my job. After the program, I started seeing the bigger picture. COTRUGLI taught me to understand how interconnected all business factors are and how important it is to have a 360-degree view of the business world. The program is multidisciplinary and provides the breadth to understand finance, management, marketing, and, most importantly, the people behind it all,” Branislav explains.

He adds that the experiences and connections he gained during the program changed his perspective on work: “At COTRUGLI, you truly connect with people from a wide range of industries. That’s a huge advantage because when you meet people from other sectors, it becomes easier to understand your clients and the market as a whole. You learn not to view everything through the lens of your own profession. I come from the world of finance, but I realized that not everyone thinks the same way. People measure success, results, and priorities differently, and understanding that is crucial for any leader.”

From Management to Leadership

Shortly after completing the COTRUGLI program, Branislav became a partner in the company. This marked a shift from an operational to a strategic role. “Alongside my role as director, I became a partner in the firm. That meant I had to change my approach. I was no longer managing people directly because now there was an entire structure beneath me: business managers, team leaders, and others. Today, I focus much more on leadership than on management. My focus is on motivating people, encouraging them to think about their own goals and align them with the company’s objectives. Success only makes sense if we grow together as a team and as an organization.”

He notes that working in the service industry brings unique challenges: “Our work revolves around people, and that’s both the most beautiful and the most demanding part of leadership. You need to understand different personalities, generations, and values. Their motivations and approaches to work vary, and a leader must know how to connect with each of them.”

Emotional Intelligence – The Key to Modern Leadership

When discussing future skills, Branislav is unequivocal: “Emotional intelligence is essential. You can have all the technical skills in the world, but if you don’t know how to react under stress, how to calm a situation, or how to motivate a team during tough times, you don’t have the true strength of a leader. A leader must be self-aware, aware of their surroundings, and aware of the people they work with. Only such a leader can guide a team toward greater goals and teach others how to overcome challenges.”

Mentorship as a Two-Way Process

Branislav emphasizes that mentorship is one of the most valuable aspects of leadership: “In our company, we have a structured mentorship program. Experienced managers help those who are new to leadership roles. I’ve learned a lot from my mentor, who was an outstanding example of a true leader, not just a manager. Thanks to people like that, I now want to pass on my knowledge to others. If you’re successful but don’t give back to the community, it has no real value. A true leader creates other leaders.”

When asked if he still needs a mentor, he answers without hesitation: “Of course. Learning never stops. I may be at the top of my company today, but that doesn’t mean there’s no room for growth. There’s always someone who knows more or has a different perspective. That’s why I believe alumni communities, like COTRUGLI’s, can be fantastic sources of mutual learning, development, and collaboration.”

Lessons and Advice for Young Leaders

As the most important lesson from his career, Branislav highlights the courage to embrace challenges and the ability to manage stress. “I would always tell myself: take risks. That’s how you grow. But at the same time, don’t let stress overwhelm you. It’s all just work; nothing is the end of the world. You have to know there are things you can’t control and let them go. I still remind myself of that today. It’s easy to say but hard to apply, especially in the fast-paced environment we work in. That’s why it’s important to take a break now and then, step back, have a coffee by yourself, and reflect. When you take that one step back, everything becomes clearer.”

He also speaks about the overload of information and constant availability: “In the past, you could go on a trip and be unreachable for five days, and no one would worry. Today, if you’re offline for half an hour, people start to panic. This constant availability comes at a cost, and a leader must know where to draw the line. You have to find a balance between work and life because only then can you have true focus and energy.”

Vision as a Guide Through Change

At the end of the conversation, Branislav reflects on what it means to be a successful leader today: “For me, a successful leader is someone who inspires others to achieve their goals and aligns them with the organization’s objectives. A leader who doesn’t just focus on this year or the next quarter but has a clear vision of where the company should be in five or ten years. The world is changing faster than ever – technologies, digital transformation, markets, everything. That’s why a leader must see further, motivate people to adapt, and guide them to where they want to go together.”

For Branislav, this is the essence of leadership in the modern age – being a visionary who builds people, not just results.