Alumna Katarina Frank is building success with GoodFellas barbershop
Katarina Frank, alumna of RIT Croatia’s Class of 2024, has always had a strong drive for independence, growth, and building something of her own. After earning her degree in International Business with a major in Management, she combined her passion for entrepreneurship with her creativity and opened and managed two GoodFellas barbershops in Croatia: one in Vodice and one in Zagreb.
Katarina’s entrepreneurial path began long before her first barbershop opened. She credits her RIT Croatia courses and professors with sparking the confidence to turn ideas into reality.
“One class that left a strong impression on me was Business I and II in my first year,” she explains. “Through the process of developing a fictional start-up, I learned the initial steps of building a business case and how to transform an idea into a concrete plan.” Professors Dr. Iva Čondić Jurkić, Dr. Peter Schmidt, and Dr. Vanja Vejzagić also left a lasting impact, strengthening her analytical and financial skills. Strategic Management, with its simulation project, gave her a holistic view of how business decisions ripple across departments, knowledge she now applies daily.
An idea coming to life
The idea for GoodFellas Barbershop emerged unexpectedly, explaining she was “at the beach with my boyfriend when one of his friends asked, ‘Isn’t there a barbershop around here?’ That simple question sparked the conversation that started everything.”
Katarina recognized the rising popularity of barbering in Zagreb and the potential of Vodice, with its mix of tourists and a vibrant nightlife scene. From there, their journey began: going door to door to find a space, starting renovations, and recruiting barbers. “We had a limited budget, but instead of seeing it as a setback, we approached it with creativity, and out of that process came the unique design of our Vodice barbershop.”
Within nine months, the first GoodFellas opened its doors in Vodice. Even before the official launch, Katarina and her boyfriend decided to take another leap, opening a second location in Zagreb. “It was a bold step, but it turned out to be one of our best decisions.”
Katarina shares that the biggest challenge at the time was managing constant travel between Zagreb and Vodice while both she and her boyfriend worked full-time jobs. “It was exhausting, but through persistence, time management, and teamwork, we managed to make it all happen.” Today, Katarina works full-time on GoodFellas, and the rewards make the sacrifices worthwhile. “The most fulfilling part has been seeing an idea in my head come to life, and knowing that with dedication and creativity, we built something meaningful from a limited budget.”
The value of hands-on experience
The co-op program and constant work during Katarina’s studies played a decisive role in preparing her for entrepreneurship. From customer care at Hrvatski Telekom and HR at Rimac Automobili to auditing at Russell Bedford, each role added a new layer of skills.
“Without these co-op and work experiences, it would have taken me much longer to start something of my own,” Katarina says. “That’s why I am both happy and grateful I had the opportunity to work during my studies; it was also one of the main reasons I chose RIT Croatia in the first place.”
Advice to future entrepreneurs
Katarina doesn’t hide the challenges of starting a business but insists the first step is the most important, saying “Fear is often the biggest barrier, but once you commit, it becomes an incredible journey of self-discovery.”
Her education gave Katarina the foundation to take that leap into entrepreneurship. With two thriving barbershops and a franchise model in the making, she is proof of what can happen when determination meets opportunity.
