In the 84th episode of the Alumni Connect podcast, we welcome Aleš Križnar, Secretary General of the Basketball Federation of Slovenia. His journey began in basketball, but also took him through music, studies at the School of Economics and Business, an exchange in Finland, work in Vienna and a year in the United States. In the conversation, he reflects on leading EuroBasket 2013, the responsibility behind major projects, and the trust, decision-making and business thinking that underpin successful sporting stories.

In Episode 83 of the Alumni Connect Podcast, we were joined by Sašo Šmigić, a Member of the Management Board at Generali Investments, one of Slovenia’s leading investment management companies. During the conversation, he reflected on how retail investors view capital markets, how market volatility, uncertainty and current trends influence their behaviour, and why discipline and a healthy relationship with money are crucial for long-term investing.

In the 82nd episode of the Alumni Connect podcast, our guest was Senka Umek, entrepreneur and creative director working at the intersection of fashion, marketing, and the music industry. In the conversation, we explored entrepreneurship, creative industries, personal branding, music management, and how studying at the School of Economics and Business can open doors to less traditional career paths as well.

In the 81st episode of the Alumni Connect podcast, we host Tine Starič, a software solutions architect who takes us through his four-year experience of living and working in Lithuania. We talk about how big decisions often begin with a small step. About how curiosity keeps you moving forward, even when you don’t have all the answers. And about why the paths you choose are never walked alone.

In the 80th episode of the Alumni Connect podcast, our guest was Tanja Majcen Velečič, who serves at Novartis as Head of Data, Digital Ecosystems, Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence in pharmaceutical manufacturing, operating in both a local and global context.

In the 79th episode of the Alumni Connect podcast, we host Alenka Repič, founder of Kaaita and a graduate of the School of Economics and Business, who openly admits that classical economic models “bore her to death.” Instead of profit maximization, she is driven by something else: the belief that nature and the environment are equal business partners and that in the end, we can all win.

Having completed her master's degree at the School of Economics and Business, University of Ljubljana, Ula Kanduč is already preparing for the next chapter of her academic journey: a PhD in Beijing. A passionate trail runner, aspiring researcher, and founder behind a patented medical innovation, she has built her path by questioning assumptions and embracing challenges that others might avoid. From studying in Japan and learning Chinese to developing a healthcare solution inspired by her own marathon experience, Ula believes that growth begins where comfort ends. For her, the goal has never been to choose the harder path, but the more interesting one.

When Magdalena Bogatinovska arrived in Ljubljana from Skopje at the age of 25, she came with a clear goal: to pursue a master's degree at the School of Economics and Business. What she did not anticipate was how profoundly the move would shape both her personal and professional life. Over the past five years, Slovenia has become a place she now considers home, while her career has taken her from a student role to managing one of the largest sales regions at Visionect, a company developing workplace management solutions for organisations around the world. As an alumna of the School of Economics and Business, Magdalena credits her studies with helping her develop the critical thinking and adaptability required in an industry that is constantly evolving. Today, she works with partners and customers across several continents, combining technology, business development and relationship building. Yet despite working in a highly digital environment, she remains convinced that successful business is ultimately built on trust, curiosity and genuine human connections.

David Benedek has been building his career in the financial industry for almost three decades, from investment banking in New York to senior leadership positions at NLB, Triglav Insurance and, today, Sava Re. As one of our alumni, he emphasises that it was his studies at the School of Economics and Business that first opened the door to the wider world and provided experiences that significantly shaped his professional path. His studies at Indiana University and exchange experience in Singapore introduced him to an international environment, teamwork and a practical approach to solving business challenges. Today, he places the greatest emphasis on people, company culture and thoughtful decision-making. He believes that, in the long run, values, curiosity and a willingness to learn matter most.

Nejc Perme began his academic journey at the School of Economics and Business without a clear idea of where it would lead him. Today, he works at the Bank of Slovenia, where he focuses on analysing inflation in the euro area. His path was shaped by courses that gradually steered him towards the research side of economics, as well as by the persistence with which he developed his analytical skills. Already during his studies, he stood out for his outstanding academic performance, earning the University of Ljubljana’s award for academic excellence. His story illustrates how curiosity, discipline and an openness to new interests can lead to a well-defined professional direction.

When she left her hometown of Ptuj at the age of fourteen to live independently in Ljubljana, she could not have known how profoundly that early step would shape her life. Today, Tamara Štumperger is an electrical engineer, a part-time master’s student in the Business and Organization program at the School of Economics and Business, University of Ljubljana, and has been with Danfoss for thirteen years. She works in supplier quality within the automotive industry.

Her path has been anything but linear – from an early ambition to work with animals to leading complex quality systems. By combining technical expertise, business insight and the discipline of sport, she connects processes, people and ideas. She believes in responsibility, curiosity and in the idea that the right things happen at the right time.

Tilen Klobučar found the starting point for his career path in the diverse academic environment of the School of Economics and Business. He knew he wanted a dynamic job that goes beyond routine and requires thinking in a broader context. Over time, he recognized procurement as a field that offers exactly this kind of dynamism, while also opening space for strategic thinking and long-term impact. An important milestone on his journey was his exchange at the University of Mannheim, where he gained additional confidence and a broader perspective. Early on, he set the goal of securing his first job in strategic procurement and persistently invested in it, even when the path was not easy. Today, as Head of Procurement at Pipistrel, he is building and developing the procurement function, while emphasizing integrity, ethics, and long-term thinking as the foundation of his work.

On Tuesday, 9 June, the alumni community welcomed Adriano Martella, Creative Director of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games Closing Ceremony. In an online presentation, he took us behind the scenes of an event many of us had watched on screen, revealing that behind the magnificent images lay far more than spectacle alone. Through his storytelling, the ceremony unfolded as a carefully considered narrative about place, people, creativity and legacy.

Cycling was once seen primarily as a form of rehabilitation after injury. Today, for many people, it is a way to relax, explore, socialise and even spark new ideas. After attending the SEB Alumni webinar on preparing for a cycling tour, I came away with a much better understanding of why so many people are drawn to the sport and why an increasing number choose to spend their free time on two wheels.

On 12 May 2026, Alumni EF hosted the event *From Saver to Investor: What You Need to Know Before Opening an INR Account*, where Urška Cvelbar, Marja Milič, Gal Jure Perhaj and Prof. Dr. Aljoša Valentinčič, together with moderator Tomaž Okorn, discussed individual investment accounts, their advantages, limitations, and the key questions investors should consider before opening one.