At Women’s Weekend, Men and Women Agree: “Don’t Be Ashamed to Talk About Sex!”
The first day of Women’s Weekend brought inspiring conversations, remarkable guests and an evening to remember. The day culminated in a major Women’s Weekend party, where talented performers ToMa and Ružica Maurus delivered a true musical spectacle, keeping the audience dancing late into the night.
Friday Afternoon Marked by Inspiring Stories and Important Conversations
At the panel “From Immigrant to Ambassador”, Nathalie Rayes, former United States Ambassador to Croatia, shared her personal story of growing up in a refugee family and the professional journey that led her to the top of American diplomacy. She recalled how values such as hard work, discipline and dedication shaped her from an early age, and how even as a young girl she dreamed of becoming a lawyer, believing that the law could be used to fight injustice and protect people.
“I have always wanted to do something good in the world and leave every place at least a little better than I found it,” Rayes said. Speaking about her time in Croatia, she added an emotional message:
“I love Croatia, but most of all I love the people. People are what make a city, and that’s why it is the Croatian people I miss the most.”
The panel “No Filters with Ida: Stand Up!”, powered by L’Oréal Paris, brought together writer Ivana Bodrožić, Karla Pudar, Executive Manager of the SOLIDARNA Foundation, and TV host Mia Kovačić, moderated by Ida Prester, for an open discussion on sexual harassment, social stereotypes and society’s responsibility in creating safer public spaces.
“We would have a much greater social impact if we taught boys not to do these things, rather than teaching girls how to defend themselves,” said writer Ivana Bodrožić, highlighting the importance of empathy and understanding other people’s boundaries.
“The line between flirting and harassment is very clear – it’s the moment when discomfort appears and when we feel our boundaries have been violated,” added Karla Pudar, while Mia Kovačić emphasized how important it is to teach girls concrete ways to respond and protect themselves.
Financial literacy was the focus of the panel “What Do (and Don’t) We Know About Investing?”, featuring Sandra Švaljek, Deputy Governor of the Croatian National Bank, and Eva Horvat from Raiffeisen Pension Insurance Company.
“Financial security does not happen by chance – it is the result of informed decisions, long-term planning and an understanding of risk,” Švaljek emphasized.
The panel “Speak Up, But Speak Softer”, powered by the Croatian Chamber of Economy, addressed questions of authority and the double standards women still encounter in the business environment. Participants included Marina Rožić, President of Eurochambers Women, Marija Zaputović Mavrinac, Member of the Management Board and Deputy CEO of Jadrolinija, Henrietta Laklija Hanzl, Retail Offer Management Director at INA, and Renata Štefić, Director of Marketing for Business Customers at A1 Croatia. The discussion was moderated by Hrvoje Krešić.
“I’m personally quite direct, but experience has taught me that sometimes it is more important to listen to others and reach solutions through strong arguments,” said Marina Rožić.
Saturday Program Sparks Strong Audience Reactions
The panel “Men’s Industries, Women’s Jobs”, powered by L’Oréal Groupe, attracted great interest. Ines Najvirt, Head of the Office of the UEFA President, and Antonija Trupinić, a military pilot in the Croatian Air Force, shared their experiences of working in traditionally male-dominated industries.
“In our profession, it has never been a question of whether someone is a man or a woman. What matters is who has completed the training and who can carry out the task – in aviation there is simply no room for any other criteria,” said Trupinić.
“Industries may carry labels such as ‘male’ or ‘female’, but careers are ultimately built on knowledge, integrity and the quality of one’s work,” concluded Ines Najvirt.
The audience was also highly engaged during the panel “Do Men Know Everything About Sex?”, where Luka Matutinović, Marketing Director at LELO, Ognjen Bagatin, manager, serial entrepreneur and entrepreneurial influencer, and Dražen Klarić, Editor-in-Chief and Director of Večernji list, spoke openly about intimacy, communication and changing dynamics in relationships. The panel was moderated by Dr. Petra Kejla. “We started working on education because most men are still not sufficiently informed about how women can achieve orgasm. Many young people learn about sexuality from pornographic websites, which often present a distorted picture of intimacy. That has to change, especially as millennials are increasingly losing interest in sex,” said Matutinović.
The panel “Women in Tech” brought together Maja Biočić, Director of Marketing for Private Customers at A1 Croatia, Nina Knežević, Senior Director of Global Business Development for the telecom industry at Infobip, and Irina Bručić, CEO and President of the Management Board of Nexi Croatia and Nexi Slovenia. They discussed the challenges and opportunities within the technology industry.
“Technology is evolving faster than ever and sometimes we all feel exhausted by constant change, but it is inevitable. The most important thing is to remain open, continue learning and turn new technologies into concrete solutions,” said Bručić.
The responsibility of leaders in the age of automation was the focus of the panel “Leadership in the Age of AI – The Future of Work from the Perspective of Female Leaders”, powered by Mastercard. Participants included Ivana Marković, Member of the Management Board and Chief Consumer Business Officer at A1 Croatia, Ivana Mrkonjić, CEO of Croatian Post, and Tamara Perko, Director of the Croatian Banking Association. “AI helps us analyze vast amounts of data and make decisions faster, but the context of the future is still created by people,” emphasized Ivana Marković.
Saturday Afternoon Brings More Inspiring Conversations
Women’s Weekend, taking place at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rijeka, once again confirms why it has become one of the region’s most important gatherings dedicated to leadership, social change and new perspectives in business.
The program continues this afternoon with a series of new panels and conversations, bringing even more inspiring speakers, powerful messages and ideas that drive change.
