Our guest in Episode 87 of the Alumni Connect podcast was Andreja Leški, Olympic judo champion. In our conversation, we trace her journey from her first steps in judo to Olympic gold in Paris. She talks about balancing her studies with elite sport, dealing with pressure and disappointment after Tokyo, and her decision to give everything to what might be her last chance at the Olympics. We also explore her retirement from competitive sport, her changing sense of identity and the new chapter beyond elite sport.

From an exchange semester in Budapest to developing and commercialising products for some of the world’s best-known brands, Matteo Mozetič has built his career by deliberately seeking out environments in which he could learn and grow. After completing his studies at the School of Economics and Business, University of Ljubljana, he joined Unilever as an intern and went on to spend nearly a decade working with global brands such as Magnum and Cornetto. Today, he works in innovation at Diageo, helping turn consumer insights and new ideas into products with real commercial potential. His journey is a story of curiosity, persistence and thoughtful risk-taking – but also of learning that professional ambition is most meaningful when it is balanced with a fulfilling life beyond work.

In Episode 86 of the Alumni Connect Podcast, we were joined by Tomaž Junkar, Director of the Novartis Corporate Center Ljubljana and Head of Finance NOCC/PPA CoE Ljubljana. We discussed career decisions, leadership, people development, trust within teams, and why long-term success is not only about results, but also about the people who make them possible.