2nd Regional HR Panel: Building Resilience in Challenging Times
On October 1, COTRUGLI Business School hosted the second regional HR panel. The discussion focused on resilience, success in shifting conditions, and key factors for overcoming crises. Panelists included:
- Alisa Evsina, HR Director at NIS
- Gregor Rajšp, HR Director at Pivovarna Laško Union (Heineken International)
- Maja Crnjak, Head of Human Resources at Erste Bank Croatia
- Naida Begović Ibraković, HR Director at Veritas Automotive
Recovery After Disruption
The conversation began with insights on business recovery. Alisa shared that NIS retained all employees and continued operations across the board. Although they expect to recover financial losses within one to two years, rebuilding employees’ sense of security will take longer.
Naida noted that Veritas Automotive resumed production within a few months. However, future stability remains uncertain due to the company’s reliance on order consistency as a supplier.
When polled, 50% of audience members reported that their companies had nearly returned to pre-COVID levels of functionality. Most cited management support and investment in people as critical to resilience and recovery.
Mental Health as a Pillar of Resilience
With fear and uncertainty still present in many workplaces, mental well-being became a central topic. Gregor introduced a health promotion initiative designed to measure personal resilience and track employee well-being.
Maja stressed that organizations must proactively support mental health. Alisa added that when managers instill a sense of safety, employees feel more relaxed and demonstrate greater loyalty.
Rethinking Learning and Development
The crisis led many companies to increase training initiatives. Maja explained that the pandemic forced HR leaders to rethink how development programs are delivered. Companies had to offer relevant content more quickly and through diverse formats.
She also warned that without updating their skills and competencies, employees risk falling behind in an ever-changing business landscape.
Keys to Long-Term Success
Before opening the Q&A session, panelists shared what they believe are their companies’ greatest strengths for future resilience:
- Gregor pointed to the energy and adaptability of people.
- Alisa highlighted the importance of agility, opportunism, and a strong workforce.
- Naida emphasized management support, top-down communication, and the ability to anticipate threats.
- Maja wrapped up by underscoring the role of organizational culture, infrastructure, and efficient business processes.
Our first HR panel was held on April 30, 2020. and the topic was the role of HR in times of crisis – have a look at its summary here!
