Women’s Weekend and the Power of Voice: An Interview with Nevena Rendeli Vejzović

Text by Vanja Kavčić, Editor in Chief of Internationalis Slovenia

Few media professionals in the region have managed to transform a professional vision into a platform that sparks meaningful social dialogue. Croatian journalist, producer, and entrepreneur Nevena Rendeli Vejzović has done precisely that with Women’s Weekend, an event that has quickly established itself as one of the most influential gatherings dedicated to leadership, equality, and contemporary social issues.

Bringing together prominent voices from business, politics, culture, and media, the conference creates a space where topics that shape society today can be discussed openly and without stereotypes. In this interview, Rendeli Vejzović speaks about the idea behind the initiative, her leadership philosophy, the balance between professional ambition and personal life, and the themes that will define the upcoming edition of Women’s Weekend.

What was your initial motivation when you decided to organize this state-of-the-art event that focuses on women in Croatia?

The idea for Women’s Weekend emerged from the need for a space where important social, business, and personal topics could be discussed openly, thoughtfully, and without stereotypes. Through years of working in the media, I encountered strong, capable, and highly educated women whose stories often remained in the background. I wanted to create a platform where such voices would be clearly and powerfully represented.

Women’s Weekend was never conceived as an event dealing exclusively with “women’s issues,” but rather with issues that concern society as a whole – leadership, economy, health, culture, equality, and responsibility. The focus on women came naturally, as a response to the imbalance that had long existed in the public sphere.

How big is your team? Are there just women or men, too? Who do you cooperate better with? What is the average age of your associates? What defines your leadership and management success? What kind of leader are you? Name 3 main qualities of your management style?

The Women’s Weekend team and my agency team are diverse in terms of gender, age, and professional background. We work with both women and men because I believe meaningful social change cannot be one-sided.

I do not divide collaborators by gender, but by professionalism, integrity, and their ability to take responsibility. The average age varies, as I value a combination of younger professionals who bring energy and fresh perspectives, and experienced experts who contribute stability and strategic thinking.

I see the key to successful leadership in clarity of vision, consistency, and trust. People perform at their best when they understand why something is being done and when they feel their contribution has purpose.

As a leader, I strive to be decisive yet open. I set high standards while providing support. The three qualities that define my management style are clarity in communication, accountability toward the team and the project, and empathy in decision-making.

I believe authority does not come from position, but from consistency and integrity.

 Who is Nevena Rendeli privately, after the event curtain goes down? What are your energy sources? Do you apply the life-work balance?

Privately, I am someone for whom family and close relationships are the foundation of stability. Motherhood has given me a different perspective and an additional sense of responsibility, but also strength. It has taught me organisation, patience and the importance of setting priorities.

I draw energy from meaningful conversations, travel, reading, and meeting people who have a broad outlook. I am inspired by individuals who think globally but act locally.

Work-life balance is not always perfect or linear. At certain times, work requires more; at others, family takes precedence. However, I consciously strive to maintain balance and not allow professional engagement to overshadow personal values. I believe long-term success is not possible without inner stability.

 Which round tables/workshops/speakers would you highlight for the coming Women’s Weekend?

I would highlight four panels that strongly reflect the spirit of this year’s programme.

Food is the language we all speak, with Lidia Bastianich, is an intimate conversation about roots, identity, and building a lasting global career from deeply personal beginnings.

Budi glasna, tiše pričaj addresses women’s authority in business and the challenge of leading without shrinking to fit expectations.

Znaju li muškarci sve o seksu? opens an honest and mature dialogue about intimacy and sexual health from a male perspective.

And finally, Pustite me na miru! confronts the culture of constant judgment women face, advocating for clearer boundaries and the freedom to exist without constant justification.

 Your message for women in their 20s, 40s, and 50s?

To women in their twenties, I would say: do not be afraid of ambition. A period of experimentation and mistakes is not a weakness, but an investment in experience.

To women in their forties: this is the stage when knowledge and intuition meet. It is the age when we stop seeking approval and begin making decisions grounded in the confidence of our own experience.

To women in their fifties: your strength lies in wisdom and perspective. Society often underestimates this phase, yet it is precisely when clarity emerges – clarity that enables influence, mentorship, and the redefinition of established rules.

Regardless of age, the most important thing is not to accept the reduction of your own space. Every generation has its strength, but courage remains the common denominator.

Nevena Rendeli Vejzović