“On our journey from a small branch office with just 13 employees to a company that is now among the country’s largest exporters, we have learned a great deal as a team,” says Robert Bosch d.o.o. General Manager Jovanka Jovanović
Robert Bosch d.o.o. Serbia operates at two locations: its New Belgrade headquarters and its plant in Pećinci, representing Europe’s largest Bosch wiper system plant. In celebrating her two decades of work at the company, GM Jovanka Jovanović shares with us details of how the company reached this point and what’s planned for the years ahead.
What was Bosch like when you first joined back in 2004, and how does it look today?
— When I first joined Bosch in Serbia, it was a small representative office with only 13 employees focused on distributing Bosch products.
The potential of our market was soon recognised by the headquarters in Germany, and in 2006 we established Robert Bosch d.o.o., which, together with BSH household appliances, forms the Bosch Group in Serbia. Our company is today one of the largest exporters in the country and the third most desirable employer, employing over 4,500 people. We are focused on developing new technologies, with the company’s operations encompassing a variety of areas – from manufacturing electrical and electronic equipment for motor vehicles, to distributing a wide range of Bosch products and providing services, particularly in the ICT field and the automotive aftermarket industry, for which there is a global Bosch competence centre in Belgrade.
When it comes to numbers, we must mention one that is very personal for you: 20 years of work at Bosch, for which we congratulate you! How would you assess this exciting journey and what advice would you give to young people just embarking on their career journeys?
— First of all, thank you for the congratulations! We have been accompanied all along by new challenges and challenging projects, as well as the continuous growth of the organisation, with which both the company and its people have grown – and that’s what matters most. Many young leaders have developed into senior professionals, and I’m proud to have witnessed their growth, both professionally and personally. At the same time, I’ve also learned a lot from them, particularly the younger generations, who comprise a large part of our team.
I would like to highlight the important topic of female leadership, which is a local focus for us, with 50% of leadership roles at our New Belgrade headquarters held by women
I would also like to highlight the important topic of female leadership, which is a local focus for us, with 50% of leadership roles at our New Belgrade headquarters held by women. My advice to young people is to choose a job that allows them to grow and that brings them satisfaction; to be curious and explore new opportunities, and not to give up when they face a ‘make-or-break’ challenge, but rather to give their all to achieve the goal. It’s also crucial to find time for hobbies and interests beyond work. In my case, that’s new technologies, travelling and cooking, with a focus on the origin of ingredients. Physical activity is a must, no matter what you do, because it impacts not only your physical health, but also your mental wellbeing, which should be everyone’s priority.
Do you appreciate the speed at which technology is evolving and how responsible companies are using it?
— I believe it’s extremely important to have a responsible approach, both during the development of new technology and its application, especially when it comes to artificial intelligence. And this is a priority for our company in every field. We truly create technology that makes life easier for people, on the one hand, and more exciting, on the other: technology that is “invented for life”.
I’m particularly impressed by examples of new technologies in the medical field, such as the new AI model that can detect breast cancer up to five years before it develops, various models that assist elderly people and those focused on education, which is one of the priorities of our corporate social responsibility activities.