RIT Croatia Alumni Summit held in Dubrovnik
Human potential and soft skills key to successful leadership in the age of technology
Organized by RIT Croatia, this year’s Alumni Summit titled “The Human Advantage: Why Soft Skills Define Great Leaders” was held at the Dubrovnik campus on October 27. The event brought together numerous alumni and current students for an inspiring panel discussion dedicated to the role of soft skills, empathy, and adaptability in the modern business environment.
The panel was moderated by Niko Katušić, President of the RIT Croatia Alumni Community and Key Account Manager at L’Oréal. Participating in the discussion were distinguished alumni who currently lead successful projects and organizations: Ines Nanić (Founder & Curator of Bespoke Celebrations Dubrovnik Event), Danijela Crljen (Director of ACI Marina Veljko Barbieri Slano, Book Author, RIT Croatia Adjunct Professor), Vanja Jelić Stjepović (Founder and owner of Adriatic Travel Collection), and Miho Glavinić (Regional Director for Studenac Market).
The discussion focused on how to maintain and foster authentic human qualities that make a real difference in leading teams in an era of rapid technological advancement and artificial intelligence.
“One of the key messages from tonight’s panel is that in a time when technology and artificial intelligence can help us reach information and solutions much faster, human skills become even more essential. Communication, empathy, listening ability, critical thinking, adaptability, and decision-making are what build long-term trust and separate a manager from a leader people truly want to follow. These skills aren’t learned once—they are developed through experience, mistakes, and daily work with people,” highlighted Niko Katušić, adding that such events are crucial for initiating conversations about the future of business and encouraging an open dialogue about the challenges professionals encounter every day.
The importance of continuously bridging the gap between academia and the business sector was also emphasized by Aleksandra Gečević, Career Services & Alumni Relations Manager at RIT Croatia.
“Fostering an ongoing dialogue between the academic community and industry is vital for delivering high-quality education. Today, when technology and artificial intelligence grant us swift access to information, human potential and soft skills come into even sharper focus. Dialogue with our alumni—professionals who are actively driving processes in the real sector—opens up space for sharing experiences and offers all generations a direct insight into real-world business challenges and modern practices. Through this exchange, we create an environment where learning continues beyond the classroom, and industry experience enriches the academic community. In doing so, we foster the growth of communication, empathy, adaptability, and critical thinking—skills that, alongside formal education, make the difference between a good professional and a great leader,” stated Gečević, noting that a student’s relationship with RIT Croatia does not end with graduation, but continues to evolve throughout their professional career.
