Hub Managers

Aleksandar Nedeljkovic

Chief Business Officer, Mainstream

Hub Manager Adriatic Hub (Serbia)

Hello, my name is Aleksandar Nedeljkovic. I am a business & finance executive of a high growth cloud computing company from Serbia with more than 20 years of passionate engagement with various community-based organizations. As a Hub Manager my goal is to strengthen our regional WU EA community of more than 100 professionals by fostering our alma mater alumni network value beyond classroom experience.

If you have an idea how we can jointly approach this quest, let’s connect.

Ivana Žmikić

Financial Advisor/Global Mobile Professional

WU EA Female Leaders Network Hub Manager Croatia

I am a finance professional with more than 15 years of experience in domestic and international finance, controlling, and audit across different industries. Also, I have expatriate experience as a finance professional in Austria and Hungary. I value integrity, personal and professional growth, and positive interpersonal connection, and these values guide me in my career path.

It seems to me that, more often than not, many alumni lose contact and engagement with the WU EA after they graduate. Ultimately, they have minimal contact with only a few former colleagues from the MBA program. This should not be the case.

As a Hub Manager, I want to inspire Croatian alumnae to join the WU Executive Academy Female Leaders Network, and to strengthen the community of alumnae. My personal motivation is to build long-lasting connections and partnerships and to create a vibrant hub where one can freely exchange ideas with like-minded and highly motivated community members.

Decide to be a positive inspiration and join me!

Anita Kirilova

Founder and Board Member of WU EA Female Leaders Network

WU EA Female Leaders Network Hub Manager Bulgaria 

Anita is a passionate business leader with more than 20 years of experience in leading people and organizations. She has a solid background and proven successful track record in strategies development and deployment, change management, talent identification and improvement, project launches from the beginning to the end. She holds the “Best Woman Sales director Europe 2015” award from Woman in a Sales organization. Currently, Anita is a Distribution Head of a worldwide life insurance provider, managing B2B and B2C lines of business and taking care at a national level for 200+ people. 

“In the world when the expectation is women to work like they do not have children and raise children as they do not work, females need other females to help them. Female Leaders Network is a place for support, sharing and developing together further both personally and professionally.”

Together we are stronger, let`s connect!

Karin Apjarova

Senior Marketing Director, Woman in Tech

Hub Manager Czech Republic

WU EA Female Leaders Network Hub Manager Czech Republic and Slovakia

I have 15 years of marketing and communications experience with software, technology and entrepreneurship across local and multinational positions. As senior marketing director of strategic customers, I am currently acting as CMO for each of these customers across the EMEA region, at one of the leading providers of enterprise software and hardware. I am always willing and passionate to be part of projects which have never been done before and successfully test the unproven strategies. Next to my corporate career, I am a loving mom, art collector, skydiver, drum performer, and sport and well-being person who enjoys being a woman surrounded by her family and friends.

Together we are stronger, let`s connect!

Stefan Popescu

Red Bull Romania, On Premise Manager Romania and Moldavia

Hub Manager Romania (Bucharest)

First, best thoughts to all WU community! I know  you are winning in keeping the ballance right with full time job,  family, entrepreneurship or academic studies!

Allow me to keep it very simple:

● I am a natural socializing person acting in the hospitality sector, so WU community members should find this very easy to contact me and answear their needs.

● Cohesion and trust, built during formal and informal gatherings - proud I did that as Class President 2011-2013, WU EMBA Bucharest!

Right after being appointed as Hub Manager for RO/Bucharest area  and with full participation of my colleagues, I managed to organize:

● 2018:      2 International Alumni Reunions, March 29 and November 2nd, in unique locations in Bucharest, Point Cultural Hub and Creator.

● 2019:      1 International Alumni Reunion, June 3rd,  ASR (Ambasada Sustenabilitatiii Romania)

● 2020:      1 online intervention, November 11th, in front of the new 33 students of 6 nationalities, of EMBA Bucharest 2020-2022

So, should the need be, to get in contact with another colleague, to foster a kick-off meeting, or to scout and find together new business opportunities – please use me!

It is very important that we keep the WU spirit alive and this is my mission as Hub Manager: Interconnected, Consistent, Unified, Eager to Succeed, Empathic, Strong, Diligent

● 2021:      Looking forward to see you in person, hopefully very soon and in a safe environment!

Let’s connect.

Smaranda Streanga

Chief Financial Officer

WU EA Female Leaders Network Hub Manager Romania

My personal and professional experience in finance of almost 20 years, with different companies in different industries, in roles from junior auditor to CFO, taught me the importance of working together, promoting and inspiring one another.

Being part of WU's alumnae community is a privilege and an opportunity. Building a strong ladies community in Romania, where we can find inspiration, care and networking may be an important step on our continuous growth path. I am happy to be part of the WU EA Female Leaders Network and to develop the Romanian Hub.

Let’s connect and create opportunities!

Together we are stronger!

Angela Putylina

GILEAD Sciences Russia, Sales & Marketing Director

Hub Manager Russia

My 20+ experience in marketing and sales in the pharmaceutical industry allows me to create high performing teams to ensure access to modern medicines for the treatment of socially significant diseases.

My personal values are honesty, love of life and hard work. Family is my main value. Strengthen business connections is one of my life priorities, both for career development and inspiration from communicating with amazing people.

The Russian WU Executive Club brings together well-educated people, with similar values and promoting the introduction of innovations, new technologies for outstanding results. It is not only about pleasant meetings with classmates and the WU EA team. We also try to continue our training, to educate in different aspects of professional life, to analyze trends in order to be in demand and competitive in the labor market. Being a part of the community I am very happy to continue business education, share experience and enjoy communicating with people on the same wave from different countries.

Let’s connect.

Damir Matrljan

bob Finance (fintech department of Valora Holding), Project Management Office (PMO) Manager

Hub Manager Switzerland

About me:

I am a 36 year old Croatian, I work as a PMO Manager in Zürich and I am currently finishing my doctorate program in PMOs, Strategy and Leadership.

I have devoted almost 30 years of my life to handball as a player, coach and referee. I like to spend my free time scuba diving, dancing ballroom and Latin dances, playing darts and spending time in nature. 

My "superpower":

My career path, education and professional experience have always been closely connected to the project management world. My experience and expertise empower me to look at situations from many different angles and to understand how everything is connected even in the most challenging projects. This also helps me to influence key stakeholders and the dynamics within the team to ensure the highest chances for the successful project completion. In a way it makes me a business generalist with great expertise in managing people, projects and organisations. 

WUEA CH:

Our WUEA community consists of passionate individuals who create an outstanding network of experts willing to help, support and connect each other. Our Swiss Hub organises networking meetings and lectures held by experts working in Switzerland. Often our reach includes the entire DACH region and we work very closely with the WUEA community engagement team.

Why am I a hub manager:

I have become a Swiss hub manager as my wish is to help other alumni members to expand their networks and find the right contacts to boost their business, to access important learning and development materials, to change their career path or find another opportunity.

I am also happy to help in any other way that I can, so please be free to reach out :-)