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MEGA INTERVIEW
believable that all these very successful peo-
ple will come to Skopje. How did “Macedonia
2025” manage to assemble such an impres-
sive group of speakers?
M.Zafirovski: For sure it is amazing, but it
shouldn’t be seen as unbelievable that these
people are visiting Macedonia. The country
enjoys a level of dignity that has been culti-
vated by many a great people who are rep-
resenting it abroad by being from Macedonia
and of course, by people in the country who
do their best to be good civil ambassadors.
The speakers are coming because they have
been invited by someone in or from Macedo-
nia. What’s more important is that the people
in Macedonia use these events to reflect on
their knowledge, on their thinking, on how
they see business and their role as a business
person or as a company in the country. That
is what true leaders do, such as the people
who are coming to speak at the Summit.
What will be the topics covered at the
Summit?
M.Zafirovski: The Summit will address
relevant topics related to business and man-
agement, technology, the Internet, IT and
telecommunications, personal growth and
more. However, many of the speakers will
put into perspective their specific experience
that is related to the topics mentioned above
and others. For example, we will have a con-
versation on smart cities and the Internet of
Things, on changing the culture within an
organization, then we will try to lay out what
it takes for Macedonia to develop into a hub
for certain industries and much more.
I believe that all the discussions at the Many people talk about the need for others
Summit will ultimately provide a mosaic of
ideas that should serve as a strategic direc-
Macedonia is at a place where
everyone has to have the desire to
become a better person, a better
employee, a better boss, a better
speaker, a better listener
tion forward to the Macedonian society and
business sector? In this context, what is your
view? What should be done in order to put
Macedonia on the track of fast and sustain-
able economic growth?
M.Zafirovski: There are exceptional people
in Macedonia, but are there enough people
or institutions that play the role of enablers
who will help forward-thinkers and doers to
realize their potentials? Macedonia is at a
place where everyone has to have the desire
to become a better person, a better employee,
a better boss, a better speaker, a better lis-
tener. The country needs more enthusiasm
for change and optimism for the future. The
infrastructure is there, the raw knowledge is
there, but this has to be integrated into a for-
ward-moving engine. Motivation is a vehicle
that can take individuals and companies to
success and the Summit as a whole is a good
place to get motivated(and better educated)
to do whatever you want to do.
For example, I have had many motivators
and mentors in my life, from Jack Welch (my
former boss at GE), to Peter Drucker (in my
view, the best mind ever on the practice of
management and leadership), to Harry Kram-
er (a close friend, the former CEO of Baxter,
who has become the most popular professor
at the Kellogg School of Management, on top-
ics such as “values based leadership); and of
course, the late John Bitove Sr. (a great ex-
ample for how optimism turns dreams into
reality, and a terrific role model for how to
be a good husband, father, relative, friend,
businessman, philanthropist, global citizen,
Macedonian patriot). I keep trying to learn
and get better; there is no substitute for it.
to improve and change, I suggest that each of
us always start with our self! I know it is not
easy. Yes, is always easier to talk about oth-
ers, but not nearly as productive!
In order to succeed in the future, Mace-
donia must have a very systematic approach.
What kind of score card should we develop
and what should be the components, indica-
tors in that scorecard?
M. Zafirovski: “Macedonia2025” has
worked on a set of metrics that we are go-
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