Right place at the right time? One thing is for sure, when an opportunity arises, seize it! That is exactly what Sladjana Cosic did in the midst of the war in Bosnia & Herzegovina. At the mere age of 13, she became the radio show host on the first private radio in Tuzla, Radio Kameleon. Working for the radio during the war gave Sladjana a meaningful way to contribute to her community. After the war, she worked for a national TV network and for a humanitarian organisation supporting women and children displaced by the violence - the experience that deeply influenced her later career choices. In 1999, she left Tuzla to further her education in Vienna where her abilities were recognised by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development. She worked throughout her studies, at first helping the Centre collect data on rape victims in Bosnia & Herzegovina, and later supporting programs for asylum seekers.

Her studies in Vienna opened her eyes to the world. The truly multicultural setting and understanding of hardship helped shape her career, and allowed her leadership abilities to thrive. In 2004, she won two scholarships and was accepted into a prestigious & selective program at the Johns Hopkins University - School of Advanced International Studies (one of the top graduate schools for international relations, diplomacy and economics in the world).

Since 2006, Sladjana has been on an exciting career trajectory, working firstly at the World Bank and now the European Investment Bank - the bank of the European Union - as an expert in social development. She has devoted her professional life to supporting developing nations, empowering citizens and fighting inequalities all over the world, including the East Asia and Pacific Region, South Asia, Africa, and Europe and Central Asia.

Sladjana, like many of us dreams about a prosperous Bosnia & Herzegovina, part of the larger European community. Listen to her story in our latest podcast episode!