Laughter, Tears, Inspiration, and Support Marked the Third Women’s Weekend – More than 1000 visitors at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rijeka

Last weekend, Rijeka was once again the center of inspiration, dialogue, and connection at the third edition of Women’s Weekend. More than 1000 visitors gathered in the Art Neighbourhood to participate in a rich program that included over 100 speakers from around the world, three days of a diverse program, panel discussions, workshops, and excellent entertainment. The atmosphere was dynamic, the content powerful, and the energy contagious.

From Health to Entrepreneurship

Over the three days of the festival, many important topics were opened – from health to politics to entrepreneurship, and many myths entrenched in our society were debunked. One such topic was Is Vagina’s Only Purpose Sex? Myths from the Gynecologist’s Office powered by Poliklinika Sinteza where dr.med. Petra Kejla shattered common myths and answered all questions from the audience, no matter how ticklish.

“Menopause doesn’t need to be frightening – society imposes a negative stigma on it, while it actually represents our maturity and peace. In this maturity, women in menopause most often have the best intimate life because they know exactly what they want,” was just one of the conclusions of this lecture.

Ivana Galić Baksa, Director of Marketing and Communications at United Media, also shared her personal and inspirational story on the topic When Enough Is Enough and moved the audience to tears, while the panel Responsibility to Ourselves: Why Do We Put Our Health Last? powered by Croatia Poliklinika addressed why it’s time to put ourselves first. Participants included Dr. Kristina Klarić, MD, PhD, Specialist in Radiology, Subspecialist in Ultrasound & Head of Croatia Polyclinic in Pula, Brankica Raković, Editor & Host at Lola Magazine & Oslobođena.ba, and Nikolina Lauc, CEO & Co-founder of GLYCANAGE.

“Today, unfortunately, more than 41 million deaths worldwide are caused by non-communicable diseases – cardiovascular diseases, malignant diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes – all reasons that can be prevented,” emphasized Dr. Kristina Klarić, MD, PhD, while Nikolina Lauc further confirmed the importance of prevention.

“Our greatest strength is our greatest weakness – we can adapt to any circumstances in a short time, even negative ones like stress, but in the long run, this will harm us, maybe not now, but in 10 years we will feel it all,” noted Nikolina Lauc.

At the panel Nutrition for Healthy Ageing, dr. med. Richard Allison, Nutritionist and Clinical Dietitian & Member of the Nutrition Advisory Board at Herbalife from London, spoke about the importance of nutrition and physical activity in the process of healthy aging. He emphasized that proper nutrition, physical activity, quality sleep, and social engagement are the keys to longevity.

“Nutrition is one of the most powerful tools for healthy aging. By choosing the right foods, we can preserve muscle and brain function, support hormonal balance, reduce disease risk, and improve quality of life. Every meal is an opportunity to invest in your own health and future. With smart nutrition, years become your allies, not enemies,” added dr. med. Richard Allison.

Special attention was drawn to the conversation with the inspirational MD, PhD Marina Raguž. As one of the rare female neurosurgeons in Croatia, she shared her experience of breaking through a predominantly male profession.

“Scholarships for women in science and initiatives are key because they create opportunity and positive role models. The only criteria should be excellence, but it’s time for women to have the opportunity to lead medical departments in traditionally male professions. Neuromedicine in Croatia is changing positively, and we hope the number of female neurosurgeons will only increase,” said MD, PhD Marina Raguž, whose statements resonated as inspiration to many women in the audience.

The panel Entrepreneurship – Risky Business brought stories about entrepreneurial challenges, featuring successful entrepreneurs – Ivana Urem Marohnić from Korica, Founder & Director, Josipa Maras a founder from Studijo Wallart, and Vinka Matijević, a Director of Sales and Business Development from KARLA, who talked about how much women actually risk when it comes to their business.

“We accept stereotypes, although we take risks – but smartly. Women play it safe, but sometimes we need to accept risk because it brings results in the long run,” said Ivana Urem Marohnić, while Vinka Matijević added that running a business was much different 15 years ago because today everything happens much faster and taking risks is inevitable, confirming that she takes a lot of risks in her business. Josipa Maras added to the challenges in entrepreneurship.

“After some time, the challenge becomes – how to relax and get any sleep at all,” added Josipa Maras. Challenges and opportunities were discussed at the panel When Obstacles Become Opportunities featuring Ivana Mrkonjić, PhD, President of the managing board of the Croatian Post Foundation, Jelena Trivan, PhD, CEO of m:tel Bosnia and Herzegovina, Telekom Serbia, and Renata Štefić, Director of Marketing Enterprise Department at A1 Croatia.

“I worked in an environment where women were present, but as I advanced, I increasingly found myself in rooms full of men. Through effort and persistence, I proved that I deserve my place,” said Ivana Mrkonjić, PhD, and Jelena Trivan, PhD added that power comes with decision-making. “Every fall can be an opportunity for a new beginning. I lost my job twice for political reasons. Every time someone tried to stop me, I came back stronger. If you want to be an astronaut, try it.” said Trivan.

Security in the digital space was a key topic of the panel Digital Romance – How to Protect Yourself from Online Scams Powered by A1 #BoljiOnline. The panel featured Iva Ančić, Head of Brand, Marketing Communications Department and Digital Business at A1 CROATIA, Predrag Šuka, Head of the University Department of Multimedia at Algebra Bernays University, Daniela Trbović, TV Host at HRT, and Ivan Lovreček, Journalist & Producer at CGM Films Croatia.

“Research from 2025 shows that we’re 60% confident we can recognize deepfakes, but the actual accuracy is only 0.01%, that’s not even one percent! We need to raise awareness about these threats and be careful at every step, always seeking additional verification sources,” Predrag Šuka surprised the audience with this data, while Iva Ančić highlighted the unique advantage of A1’s chatbot.

“Our chatbot’s main advantage is that it provides real and accurate information – sociologists, psychologists, and social workers worked on the content so that all information is verified and made safe for young people, and it’s also anonymous. The success of this initiative is confirmed by impressive results, with over 20,000 people participating in their education programs last year. For additional support, the Center for Safer Internet is available via the toll-free line 0800 606 606,” added Iva Ančić.

Authenticity and Community Strength

The panel SISTERHOOD: Building Confidence Through Personal Branding powered by Answear.Lab brought together Manuela Šola, Owner of Komunikacijski laboratorij, Sandra Gašparić Zoković, Country Manager at Answear.com, and Tea Zavacki, Business Mentor & Founder of #radimposvom, and was moderated by Nevena Rendeli Vejzović, Director of Prime Time Communications Agency and Founder of Women’s Weekend. The panelists shared experiences about the importance of authenticity in the business world.

“Women often have limitations toward themselves. Who am I to talk about this topic, present myself and represent myself as an expert, or to take up space,” asked Tea Zavacki and added that such questions block us and prevent us from showing our expertise and value, and building confidence.

“Our daughters are much stronger and much more self-aware than we were, they have not only different mothers but also different fathers. Our girls have different role models, the future is bright for them,” emphasized Manuela Šola.

The panel Are Women Funny? brought a dose of humor and reality. It featured Daniela Trbović, TV Host at HRT, Jelisaveta Miletić, Marketing Manager at Njuz.net, and Antonija Blaće, TV Host, Producer & Author at RTL. Through a conversation with Robert Ferlin, the panel participants concluded that women are indeed humorous among themselves, but the humor that men find funny mostly includes dark humor. However, women often use such humor with reservation because they try to remain mysterious, polite, and feminine in men’s eyes. This creates a long-term illusion that they are not humorous, while they are actually restraining themselves due to social expectations about the impression they should make as women.

Inspiration that Leaves a Mark

Khalia Collier, one of the leading figures of the Dallas Mavericks NBA club and owner of St. Louis Surge, and Iris Diaz, Brand & Marketing Director of FIFA World Cup 2026, made a special impression on the audience.

“The goal is not to be the only woman in the room – the goal is to create a community that supports women and ensures them a place to advance,” said Khalia Collier.

From the USA, Ana Kreacic, COO at the Oliver Wyman Forum & Chief Knowledge Officer at Oliver Wyman also came to Women’s Weekend and talked about how a strong voice in leadership is not just a matter of equality – it’s a matter of social progress.

Ana Kreacic emphasized the importance of a multi-layered approach to supporting women leaders.

“It’s crucial to provide concrete support for caregiving responsibilities, build a fairer and more flexible work environment, actively sponsor and mentor instead of mere promises, and completely redefine our traditional understanding of leadership,” said Ana Kreacic, who backed her position with research results showing a significant change in younger generations in the labor market, who more quickly leave positions where such comprehensive support is absent.

One of the most authentic and sincere moments of the festival was the conversation Hajde da ludujemo… 35 years later, in which Tatiana Cameron – Tajči, in a conversation with Milana Vlaović Kovaček, who was her backing vocalist 35 years ago, talked about her meteoric success, the pressure of expectations, and the feeling of isolation despite popularity. “Back then, no one talked about burnout, physical exhaustion, or sexual harassment. The only way out I saw was to leave – to find myself somewhere far away,” Tajči recounted, explaining how the experience forced her to leave the entertainment industry and go to America, where she found new meaning in life through family, music, and personal growth. She spoke openly about fame, expectations, and also revealed why, 35 years ago at the peak of her fame, she left Croatia and embarked on a new path.

A Festival that Connects and Empowers

Besides top-notch panels and discussions, Women’s Weekend also brought an excellent entertainment program. Friday was reserved for the Stilueta Party, with a performance by Eni Jurišić, while on Saturday Tajči took the audience back to their childhood and youth with her hits, and Renata Končić Minea spontaneously joined her on stage. Women’s Weekend once again confirmed why it is one of the most important events dedicated to women in the region. People don’t just come here to listen – they come to talk, connect, and change perspectives. Thanks to Women’s Weekend, for the third consecutive year, Women’s Day is not just a symbol but a herald of change!