NEWS AND BLOG

When passion and vision come together, a story like the one about Sanja and Outside Media is born. Driven by a desire for freedom and creative expression, Sanja decided to leave the safety of a permanent job and step into the uncertain waters of entrepreneurship. Her journey was not easy, but perseverance and faith in her vision enabled her to build a successful business.

 

What inspired you to start your business?

I’ve always wanted this. I've yearned for freedom all my life. I also have a sense of my visions, and the 8 hours I spent working, I wanted to dedicate to making those visions come true.

 

The Roots of an Entrepreneurial Spirit

 

What is your family’s business background? (Is anyone in your family an entrepreneur?)

Not really, my parents briefly ran a small video rental store, but I wasn’t raised in a business-oriented environment. It seemed impossible, very challenging, and exciting, being an entrepreneur felt somewhat distant.

The path was not without its obstacles. A lack of initial capital, time, and any type of support posed significant challenges.

 

Challenges and Lessons on the Entrepreneurial Path

 

What has been your biggest challenge so far on your entrepreneurial journey, and how did you overcome it?

The hardest part was starting without help, without investment, and without time. These are three very important resources. You overcome this with hard work, desire, knowledge, and belief in yourself.

 

Smart Investment Strategy

How did you secure initial funding? Did you receive any financial incentives when starting your business?

This is now called bootstrapping. It means starting a business with little or no money, using your own resources, time, and resourcefulness, instead of relying on external financing. It’s a “do it yourself” approach to building a business step by step. Practically, after my regular job, I would work on this side project in the evenings, building it little by little with my partner-husband. That’s how we built our portfolio, clients, and partners, while also developing projects and businesses. We essentially stole time from ourselves and, over time and with knowledge, replaced the lack of resources at that moment.

 

Failure as a Springboard

 

How do you handle failure or obstacles?

I tell myself: Keep going.

I learn from it and change something so it will succeed next time. I regularly check my attitude. Like anyone, I can get bogged down by failure, but there’s no time to stay in that position for too long. There’s a lot of work to do, and the inclination to learn is the best attitude.

 

First Steps Toward Success

 

How long did it take for you to start earning revenue with your business?

We were cautious with registration and didn’t take on expenses until we started making money. As soon as we saw good earning potential, we registered. There was about a year of marketing work and building the story without expecting revenue, but immediately after registration, we began generating income. We were very careful not to get into debt or unnecessary expenses.

 

The Beauty of Running Your Own Business

 

What do you enjoy most about running your business?

Freedom and unlimited creativity. We also enjoy the fact that we’ve managed to move from a home office to a real office, as it adds a new dimension and confirms success, allowing for balance and flexibility.

 

Advice for Young Entrepreneurs

 

What advice would you give to young people who want to start their own business in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Someone once told me that when we go on a journey, we can plan the path, but we can’t plan for every hole or obstacle along the way. We deal with it as it comes. So, just start, and you will solve problems along the way. One thing is guaranteed—there will always be problems. Another thing to keep in mind is that as long as you are alive and healthy, all problems are solvable, and they are never as bad as they seem.

 

How the system can support youth in business? What activities at the state or city level could help overcome the obstacles for young people who want to start their own business?

Provide space, ease bureaucracy, open a network with which the city and state institutions have contact, and have them use their networks to promote new businesses from their city. Then subsidize education and implement social purchasing—i.e., buying from these businesses. A lot can be done when there’s a will. But it needs to be demanded constantly, formally, intensively, politely, in writing, and in meetings!

 

Entrepreneurship Through the Lens of a Woman

 

What unique challenges have you faced as a woman in entrepreneurship, and how have you overcome them?

As a woman, if you’re serious, you’re aggressive; if you joke, you’re not taken seriously. And that happens quite often. It’s even harder to be a young woman in business. My age has helped me overcome this—both my years and my experience. But more and more, I see wonderful, assertive young women who don’t rush ahead, are calm, and don’t try to please everyone, and that works really well. On the other hand, it’s important to read the room in each situation, have empathy, and be able to assess it. Whatever prejudices are in front of you, remember you have your vision, good intentions, and you walk steadily toward it.

 

What advice would you give to other women who want to become entrepreneurs?

When you decide to go into entrepreneurship, define what you want, acquire the necessary skills, and start before you spend a year dreaming. Get some generalist skills—they will be essential in the beginning. Be a very good specialist in the subject of your business. When you create your offer, go out and say what you need, demand, ask, negotiate meetings. Know what you want from a meeting, and what you won’t accept. Network with women around the world. Bring something to your business that no one else can do quite like you.

 

What initiatives or changes do you think are key to achieving greater representation of women in entrepreneurship?

Changes start from a young age. We need to help girls realize they can achieve their ideas. Parents, schools, and the environment are key. Furthermore, we need to celebrate women in entrepreneurship, showcase their successes—promote yourself, your colleagues, and institutions, companies, and media need to do the same. We should be cautious of the idea that women in entrepreneurship need to emphasize that they are women in entrepreneurship. It’s like pointing out that it’s something strange and inaccessible.

Through her story, Sanja shows that success doesn’t come overnight, but through careful planning, continuous learning, and adaptability. Outside Media and Knowledge is an example of how passion and work can merge, building an entrepreneurial endeavor step by step without tangible resources, focusing on time and knowledge.

 

Once again, BRAVO Sanja, and we wish you much success in the future.