Jelena Jurišić at the Women in Adria Connect

Jelena Jurišić, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of ENT Group, participated as a speaker at the WiA Connect conference for women in the IT industry, held on 22 April in Zagreb and organized by the Women in Adria community.

The conference brought together numerous experts and leaders from the technology sector with the aim of empowering, connecting and increasing the visibility of women in the IT industry, an area still marked by insufficient female representation, particularly in leadership positions.

In her inspiring lecture, From Expertise to Leadership: Where Do Women Lose Momentum in IT Careers?, Jelena Jurišić addressed the challenges of transitioning from technical expertise to leadership roles. She emphasized that the obstacles often do not stem from a lack of knowledge, but from how women assess their own readiness and recognize their influence.

“Expertise builds credibility, but is not enough in itself for leadership. Leadership also requires a voice, visibility and the willingness to make decisions amid uncertainty,” Jurišić highlighted.

She particularly addressed challenges such as perfectionism, taking on “invisible work” without adequately communicating results, and waiting for external validation before assuming new responsibilities. She also pointed to the so‑called “broken rung” phenomenon, the barrier at the first level of management that has long‑term effects on women’s representation in leadership.

As key factors for advancing into leadership roles, Jurišić underscored the importance of making one’s work visible, building a network of mentors and allies, and being willing to take on responsibility even before feeling fully certain.

“Leadership is not a reward for perfection, it is a decision. We do not need to wait for permission; we need to claim our space and open doors for others,” she stated.

Her lecture sparked strong interest and opened an engaging discussion among participants, followed by numerous questions and an exchange of experiences.

By participating in the WiA Connect conference, ENT continues to contribute to the development of a more inclusive technological environment and to encouraging greater participation of women in the IT industry and in leadership roles.