Could you please describe yourself in a few sentences?
I am Serbian, born in Belgrade in Yugoslavia. Due to known political battles, my native country split into many separate new countries. I have many fond memories from my childhood spent in Yugoslavia.Overall, I feel that I will best describe myself by using the letters of my name:
- Z: Having a zest for curiosity as I never stop enquiring about the world around me.
- O: Being open to new experiences.
- R: Showing the readiness for a continuous learning as I never cease to ‘take on board’ new ideas, concepts, points of view and perspectives.
- I: Possessing an inner drive towards conveying knowledge, as I never wish to stop disseminating knowledge for the enhancement of myself and others.
- C: Coaching others for personal and professional development.
- A: Demonstrating a dedication towards achieving better academic competence, as I continuously work on improving my academic profile, based on enhanced awareness, knowledge and skills.
Seen from the professional level, I am the Chartered Occupational Psychologist with the British Psychological Society. I am also a Registered Coaching Psychologist and I do freelance coaching for individual and career development and enhanced performance.
What is your area of academic interest and which courses are you involved in?
I am a Senior Lecturer and the member of two teaching teams within the Human Resource Management and the Leadership and Development Departments. I am the Deputy Module Leader for the Strategic Perspectives Module – 3rd year keystone module that covers both: strategic and organisational aspects. Apart from an academic engagement, this role also incorporates a management of around 20 tutors. I have recently designed a brand new module ‘Applying the Tools of Positive Psychology to Business’ (2nd year option module) which will run for the first time from the next Academic year.
In my teaching capacity on both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, I am enlarging my portfolio of modules and achieving professional expertise on a continuous basis. Some of the modules that I cover/ed on the undergraduate level are: Interpersonal Skills for Business – 1st year (career orientated module aimed at increasing students’ future employability), Professional Competence – 1st year
Personal and Professional Development Tutoring – 1st year, Perspectives on Behaviour in Organisations – 1st year, Work Psychology – 2nd year, Organisational Behaviour – 2nd year, Internship Toolkit – for Study Abroad students, HRM – 3rd year,
Managing Business Organisations – 3rd year
Some of the modules that I cover/ed on the postgraduate level are: HRM – Diploma in Management Studies, People Management and Development and Managing and Leading – MA in Personnel and Development for the HR professionals, Counselling Skills workshop – MA in Personnel and Development for the HR professionals, Organisation Analysis and HRM – MA in Management Studies and Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies for Kings Partnership – NHS and Tower Hamlets, as well as the Coaching provision – Value Added programme for the MBA students
My additional responsibilities involve supervision of postgraduate projects in MA in Human Resource Management and MA in Management studies, as well as attending residential skills orientated weekends (part of the Organisational Analysis module for post grads).
However, my main academic goal remains to develop my professional competence in the area of research. I believe that my personal strengths, enthusiasm and determination will aid me in successfully completing my Professional Doctorate in Occupational Psychology which I commenced at the UEL in 2011. My key area of research is Talent Management Practices in Organisations.
What was your first job? What did you learn from it?
My first ‘un-official’ job was making a series of interviews with famous Yugoslav film directors for several student magazines. I have learnt that I like asking questions and that I was good at it.
What did you do in your career before coming to Westminster Business School?
I was working in several ex-Yugoslav export-import companies in London. I was utilising my knowledge acquired via the studies of Economics which I conducted in Belgrade many years ago. I also worked in the local government for a short while, in the Voluntary Sector Unit while I was completing my Masters in Occupational and Organisational Psychology at UEL.
I ended up in Academia, I would say by accident. My ex-UEL colleague & now my Westminster Business School colleague invited me to help her with the Interpersonal Skill for Business module. This is the moment when I was looking for a consultancy work as a newly qualified Occupational Psychologist. I thought that I would just help for a while, but soon found myself, not only liking, but loving my work as a lecturer.
Soon after I have joined I managed to complete the PGCHE – Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education for which I was supported by the University of Westminster. And, my journey within the University happily continues…
What do you thinks is special about Westminster Business School ?
Westminster Business School represents ‘the big world in a small space’. All parts of the globe are gathered in this central London location, both in the body of the students and lecturers.
However, I feel that at times, we are modest about our achievements in terms of offering such a variety and expertise of teaching provision.
What do you think of the Social Learning Platform?
This is a great area for gathering of all generation of students among themselves and with their tutors. It represents an open space for sharing and caring; learning and chatting; eating and resting or just watching the ‘world go by’… I am so pleased that current and future students have the opportunity to physically see each other and meet in an informal environment that should enhance their learning capacity and encourage their creativity.
If you were asked to give one piece of advice to students then what would it be ?
I will give you two pence worth of advice:
My own – Be true to yourself!
One from the religious sources – For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:8)
How do you relax out of work hours? What are your interests/ leisure activities?
I like to spend quality time with my lovely family (husband, son and daughter). I love swimming, shopping and going to restaurants with friends. I travel a lot, either on my own or with my family members.
Also, I use a lot of my own time to devote to Occupational and Coaching Psychology world. I had and still have quite a few voluntary professional roles. I was the member of the International Liaison Strategy Group in the Division of Occupational Psychology (in 2009 and 2010), as well as the member of the Conference Subcommittee in the Special Group in Coaching Psychology – SGCP (in 2008 and 2009) and the Promotions Secretary of the British Eastern European Psychology Group – BEEPG from 2007 until 2012.
Currently, I hold two roles – Committee Member of the SGCP and the Co-Chair in the SGCP Events team and the Committee Member of the Psychometrics Forum. These are personally fulfilling roles that help me develop some transferable skills, such as promoting, networking, team working and problem solving. As they each involve four events per year, they serve as my intellectually stimulating space beyond the University work.
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