An Honest Conversation with Marko P. Verdev and Jure Laharnar at the Alumni JUMP Career Fair

Live Podcast at the Alumni JUMP Career Fair

We’re sharing a bonus episode recorded live at the Alumni JUMP career fair. The episode puts authenticity and the power of human relationships front and center. Marko Podgornik Verdev, CEO of Mikro+Polo and an ambassador of trust-based culture, and Jure Laharnar, entrepreneur, mentor, and creator of the UNDERDOG podcast, took the stage to open an honest conversation about vulnerability and care for people as the foundation on which the strongest and most connected teams are built.

BONUS Episode: Marko P. Verdev & Jure Laharnar | Unmasked

By clicking the CC button on YouTube, you can turn on English subtitles for this episode.

For more than two decades, Marko P. Verdev has led his company with a clear philosophy: people always come before business. In the conversation, he openly shared his entrepreneurial journey, his rejection of traditional corporate norms, and his approach to building a culture grounded in authenticity, trust, and responsibility.

He also shared concrete practices such as unlimited paid leave, shorter working hours with an emphasis on sport and well-being, equal relationships without hierarchical titles, and a work environment where vulnerability is allowed — and encouraged. The discussion also touched on challenges, from prejudice based on appearance and resistance to female leadership, to fear of failure and bankruptcy. Marko emphasizes that facing these fears head-on is essential for both personal and leadership growth.

Jure Laharnar guided the conversation through the lens of mentorship, personal development, and working with people, creating space for honest reflections on leadership, courage, and responsibility toward one’s team.

This bonus episode carries a powerful message: the best companies don’t build results alone — they build relationships, and those are what matter most in the long run.

They spoke about:
- the beginnings of Marko’s entrepreneurial journey and why he has followed himself since childhood
- taking over the company 20 years ago and choosing a “human-centered” leadership approach, where people always come before business
- unlimited paid leave in practice and transferring responsibility to employees
- the reasons behind this leadership style and the belief that life is too short to live inauthentically
- the importance of clear communication, explaining the “why,” and internal entrepreneurship education
- discrimination based on appearance and how Marko turned it into a strategic advantage
- resistance to female leadership and reflections on low self-esteem and the role of upbringing
- advice for young people: be proactive, experiment, listen to yourself, and don’t settle for average
- facing the fear of failure and bankruptcy by thinking through the worst-case scenario
- the closing message: life is short — live it your way, not according to others’ opinions