On the main stage, simultaneously marking the official opening of the 5th Split Tech City Festival, we kick off a discussion on the future of work and education.

We all feel the market is rapidly changing – new technologies, transformations in how we work, and pressure from global competition are bringing changes affecting every profession.

Panelists will, each from their own angle, open topics that are shaping our everyday and our future.

We increasingly hear comments that the role of a programmer is evolving due to the growing penetration of AI. The question is – will everyone be able to do everything, or will advantage go to those who specialize and become leading experts in narrow niches? Such specialists are highly valued in the market and can choose the projects they want to work on.

Another important aspect is the increasing prevalence of remote work. Companies face a chronic shortage of talent, and remote-first or hybrid models serve as an added benefit that attracts them.

The question arises – is remote work the long-term future or just a transitional phase until the next big change in work organization?

We must also consider potential challenges: will such a way of working long-term erode social skills and team dynamics?

Although we hear that more and more community teams are indeed moving out of the city or spending weekends in the countryside, that doesn’t necessarily mean that in the future we will literally be “herding sheep.”

Still, the fact is that green technologies and sustainability are increasingly becoming a requirement in idea development, especially when hardware is involved. And for many, they are increasingly a lifestyle condition.

On the other hand, students graduate from university, and the education system isn’t changing at the same pace as the labor market – which raises the question of who, and how, will be ready for the jobs of the future.

In this panel, we will talk about all these challenges and opportunities that the future brings, from various angles thanks to excellent panelists:

Monika Mikac – CEO, NAD Capital & Board Member, Turbo Energy

A serial entrepreneur and investor with over ten years of experience in the e-mobility sector. From the early days at Rimac Automobili, where she participated in scaling the company from 1 to 350 employees and raising over €50 million in investments, to today leading the NAD Capital fund – Monika brings a powerful story of innovation, capital, and global ambitions.

Jelena Jelušić – HR & Employer Branding Consultant, INSPO Consulting

An organizational psychologist with over 20 years of experience in HR and employer branding. She was the first recipient of the Employer Branding Impact Award in the region, and until recently was Senior Employer Brand Manager at Photomath (now Google).

Today, she leads INSPO Consulting, helping companies become magnets for talent. She is also co-founder and moderator of the Engineering Management meetup.

Duje Senta – Senior Software Engineer & Technician Team Lead, EPAM Systems d.o.o.

With more than 10 years of engineering experience, university lecturing, and managerial roles, Duje combines deep technical knowledge with an understanding of people and team development. His interests span from data structures and big data analytics to music theory and playing instruments.

Izet Ždralović – Partner, Silicon Gardens

As co-founder of Photomath and Microblink, two global successes from the region, Izet today, through Silicon Gardens, helps the new generation of founders scale their ideas globally and avoid the most common startup pitfalls.

We don’t claim you’ll find all the answers, but we will definitely pose some important questions, and the discussion will be moderated by Pinija Poljaković

This announcement presents the full Festival agenda, which you can find HERE.

Tickets, whether single-day or for both days (student discounts available, of course) can be found HERE.