Bio

I had good grades in school, but for some reason, I thought I only had a couple of career options available. To be honest, I didn’t really give it much thought. It was like I was living out a script that someone else wrote.

I liked TV shows about lawyers (Ally McBeal, Matlock), so I decided to go to law school. It took me a really long time to finish; I just wasn’t excited about the content I was learning. I know that now, but back then, I had no idea that it’s possible to be excited by and engaged in your studies and enjoy the work you do.

Everyone around me was always waiting for Friday—they lived for the weekend. So I did that as well. I finished school and worked in a law office. I felt bored and unmotivated.

Changes in my personal life brought me to North America, first to the United States in upstate New York. That’s when everything changed for me. I ended up working in admissions and student services at Cornell University. For the first time in my life, I realized I could have FUN at work. That was a breakthrough experience for me.

Moving to a different continent allowed me to reinvent myself and the way I want to show up at work. Looking back, I see that this was the first time I had an opportunity to utilize my strengths fully. I learned a lot, had fun, improved systems, provided value, and was of service. I built genuine connections with my coworkers and my students. It was during this time that I realized: this is how I want to live my life.

You can be professional, but still personable.

You can create value and meet goals, but have fun at the same time.

Another move happened, and this time I landed in Vancouver, BC. I took on a role as campus manager at a small 3D animation school and again, I had so much fun. But I couldn’t shake this feeling that this is not it for me.

The thought “Is this all there is?” kept coming up, and the fact that I got seriously burned out didn’t help. I felt exhausted and stuck. I was resentful and wanted to make a change, but I had no idea what I could do. Luckily, I found my way to a career coach, which was another big turning point in my life.

The career coach I worked with didn’t magically change the situation I was in (we never do), but she gave me insights and tools to start gaining self-awareness on how I was contributing to feeling stuck. I learned so much in those sessions.

I learned that there are many things I can do or try if I’m only willing to feel uncomfortable and like a beginner again.

I also had to work through my imposter syndrome (which was the size of a small mountain). I had to learn that there is space for me to ask questions. Nobody knows it all, and asking questions and being curious is the only way to learn and get better.

I changed jobs and started working with a different coach. In the new job, I took on all of the awesome professional development opportunities they offered. I continued learning and absorbing all of the information I could. I started coaching myself, changed jobs again, became an employment coach, and started freelancing as a coach.

From then on, I had focus. I knew what I wanted to do: To coach. As I was working with clients, while still trying to understand myself, I signed up for a counseling program and became a counselor as well.

I now live in Victoria, BC, Canada. When I’m not working, I try to spend as much time as I can recharging in nature, doing aerial arts, strength training, spending time with my partner, playing with his cats, working in his garden, beach-combing, and learning—how to paint (watercolors), how to write, how to dance, how to cook.

I am excited about life and what comes next!

FAVORITE BOOKs:

• I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was by Barbara Sher – one of the first books I read when I took on career coaching. I still use many insights from it to this day.
• Hidden Potential by Adam Grant – a book that explains very well how much success can be attributed to talents and how much to persistence and discipline (spoiler: persistence is so much more important)
• The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron – such a wonderful guide about re-connecting with your inner wisdom and creativity.
• No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz – a book that introduces Internal Family Systems approach to dealing with inner conflicts and learning to embrace & welcome all of our parts, as all of them are valuable, important and ours.

FUN FACT:  

It seems to be quite difficult to pronounce my name. I made this video to help you guys out!

I practice Aerial Hoop and every single time I do it, I feel like a child on a playground and time passes by super fast.

I am originally from Slovenia (Balkan represent🙌 ), but I’m also a Canadian citizen (where I currently reside).

I am a Counselor (registered in BC, Canada) AND a Career Coach. Oh, and I used to be a lawyer (a long, long time ago).

This one time… I got stuck in a dress. In a dressing room. In a mall. I had to be cut out of the dress and I’m still processing that one 💔

ASSESSMENTS RESULTS:

• Strengths Finder: Learner, Arranger, Activator, Achiever, Positivity
• MBTI: ESFJ-A (Consul)
• Human Design: Manifesting Generator
• Enneagram: 8
• VIA Character Strengths: Humor, Love of Learning, Curiosity, Honesty, Love
• DISC type: Influence (1), Drive (2)

Why I work with HTYC:  

I am lucky to have found a company that is encouraging their team to be themselves. To be myself fully means that no masks need to be worn. All of that energy gets focused into providing value for my clients, and if you ask me, that is an ideal working arrangement. With HTYC, I get to do what I do best, the way I like to do it. (mic drop)

MY PODCAST EPISODES