Đorđe Đorđević

Đorđe Đorđević, owner of BRICK PRO and alumnus of the 10th generation of the COTRUGLI MBA program, describes his professional journey as growth that unfolded in parallel with his education and experience at COTRUGLI.

At the beginning of his career, he worked in roles that did not fully match his academic background, often feeling a lack of knowledge in management and finance. The MBA program allowed him to fill those gaps and define his direction more clearly.
 “I can honestly say I grew together with COTRUGLI. My goals essentially remained the same, but through the program I matured and gained a clearer sense of direction,” Đorđe reflects. While he initially envisioned himself in a corporate environment, during his studies, he became increasingly drawn to entrepreneurship – a space of freedom, creative decisions, and independent growth. Today, he explains, he is doing what fulfills him, surrounded by people who inspire him.

For Đorđe, the path of leadership was never something that ended with a diploma. “Leadership is continuous learning through experience. I need to step outside my comfort zone and try something new—whether it’s a different approach to work, a new project, or a new way of thinking,” he explains. After completing his MBA, he sought mentors and role models, but eventually realized that it is difficult to find one mentor who can fully understand every aspect of life. Today, he finds inspiration in people and various areas – work, family, personal growth – drawing from each what is most valuable in the given moment.

Family remains his main source of stability and energy, and Đorđe emphasizes the importance of balancing professional and personal life. Learning, curiosity, and self-development stay at the core of his leadership approach.

Through his COTRUGLI experience, Đorđe realized the importance of the quality of lecturers and the practical application of knowledge. “It’s essential that the content reflects reality and ongoing changes in practice. Knowledge that is ‘alive’ and tailored to real challenges – that’s what truly inspires and drives you.”

Mentorship is also part of his philosophy. Đorđe believes there is always room to learn from those more experienced, but it is equally important to share knowledge with others. He especially highlights his contribution to team development in entrepreneurial settings: “Mentorship is not one-directional – the value comes from a genuine willingness to understand where someone is, what their challenge is, and then searching for solutions together.”

For him, a successful leader is someone who takes responsibility and risk but does not forget others. “I often use the image of a man pushing a stick through deep snow – he goes ten meters ahead, clears the path, and then comes back to his people to show them where to go and how to move forward. A leader should be both an example and a support, professionally and personally.”

Key turning points that shaped him include personal insights from 2015, when he realized that many of his decisions were made under the influence of his surroundings rather than authentically. The MBA program helped him pause, ask the right questions, and understand himself through the perspectives of others, leading to more conscious and responsible decision-making.

When thinking about the advice he would give to his younger self, Đorđe says: “Explore, but don’t wander too long. Travel earlier. Recognize sooner what’s right for you and what’s not, and make key decisions earlier.”

For Đorđe, leadership is the balance between initiative, support, and inner stability. It is a journey that never ends, one that requires continuous learning and openness to new experiences – while also giving back to others what you have learned.