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Do you know what connects the Zagreb earthquake and Split’s PR scene? After you learn more about the new Split Tech City member through this article, this connection will be obvious.
Today we are happy to present Vrh komunikacije, a small public relations agency. We noticed their work even before our paths crossed, so we can’t emphasize enough how happy we are that they have joined us. 🙂
We talked to Luka Šipić, the founder of this top agency, about the company’s very beginning, their way of work, as well as their projects and plans.
Luka’s career story is interesting because it is unusual. He did not have a straight path on which one knows exactly which step will follow.
Already after the first semester of studying programming, he realized that this was not for him and, like many young people in Split, switched to the hospitality industry.
He worked as a waiter for years until, at the age of 23, he decided that he needs to change his way of life. He then went to Prague, where he lived and worked for three months.
“It was there that I cleared my head and realized it was time to study.”
He wanted to enroll in journalism because he liked to express himself through texts. However, in the end, he decided on public relations because he realized that the wider scope it encompasses would suit him better. So at the age of 25, he enrolled in Zagreb’s VERN.
“The second time around was a totally different experience for me than the first time. I became a proper student. A real teacher’s pet at 25!”
In addition to being an excellent student, he interned from the first year, which made him even more thoroughly acquainted with his future profession.
Given that he has always had an entrepreneurial drive and knew that he would someday have “something of his own”, after finding his purpose in public relations, he did not doubt his next move.
So, at the end of his 3rd year of study, which he took part-time because he worked full-time at the same time, he decided to start his own business. He took advantage of incentives for self-employment and set off.
“The hardest thing was building relationships with the media and reaching out to clients.”
He fondly remembers the young team from the gaming studios located in Jastrebarsko, which he contacted with an offer of cooperation. They became his first clients, after which his work became known through recommendations.
Although he stayed to work and live in Zagreb, he was increasingly contacted by people from Split who wanted to support “our kid from Split“. Due to the numerous projects he was working on, he was coming back to his hometown more and more often.
The business expanded, so, in the next two years, he hired two more young people from Split: Ivan worked from Split, while Kristina and Luka were covering the capital city.
At the very beginning of the pandemic, they had more work to do than ever before. As Luka explains, marketing and PR became indispensable because companies did not know how to communicate in this new situation.
And now we circle back to the beginning of this article. After experiencing the trauma that was the Zagreb earthquake at the end of March 2020, Kristina and Luka packed up and temporarily returned to their hometown that very same day.
Temporary eventually turned into permanent. Becoming one of the few PR agencies available in Split during the still ongoing pandemic, they kept receiving more and more business offers. Everything has fallen into place, so very soon they did not doubt whether they should return to Zagreb or not.
“We realized how much more developed Split is in every aspect than five years ago. That was a sign for us to stay. Something very good came out of a bad situation.”
When comparing Zagreb and Split, Luka points out that the difference in the rhythm of life between the two cities is “ice and fire“. Up North, everything is hectic, and here in the South, there is a much more relaxed lifestyle. He is thrilled that Split is a “city of creatives“. However, as he says, the business culture here operates following the way of life.
“We acquired our business culture in Zagreb and transferred it here. Clients jokingly call us ‘Germans’ because we finish everything before the deadline.”
The culture of their agency, he points out, “is not set in stone“, but among the things they insist on are the constant availability to clients and paying great attention to detail.
“We want to be as good as possible and always strive for excellence.”
They usually work from home on Mondays, are in the office from Tuesday to Thursday, and hold meetings on Fridays. Of course, their weekends are often active, too.
Regarding the importance of public relations and the role of PR experts, Luka revealed the following:
“We all communicate every day. Companies need to communicate with clients and customers, you need to know the audience you are addressing well, and you need to pay attention to every word. Public relations is a dialogue, not a monologue! We are always looking for feedback, we are the mediators who make sure that the communication is clear. If you are a good communicator, it will be easier for you, both in your personal and business life. It is a privilege to engage in public relations and help people communicate better.”
As for their reasons for joining Split Tech City, Luka reveals that there were no doubts:
“We like the huge progress Split has made in the last few years. We consider Split Tech City an important factor in the development of the IT sector in the city. We want to be part of that growth and support the further development of the community with our skills. ”
We are thrilled that this young team is not only supporting us with words. Our first joint project was the mini PR conference held this month, and we have a feeling that this will be just the beginning. 🙂
Vrh komunikacije, welcome to Split Tech City!
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