Photo: Antonela Matijević’s LinkedIn profile

Antonela Matijević graduated in Sociology and Communication Studies from the Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb—two fields of study that shaped her professional interests and guided her towards public relations, the field in which she works today.

She began building her professional experience while still a student, initially through volunteering at the Institute for the Development of Education and active involvement in various student associations. She then continued developing her skills at a communications agency, followed by a position at a strategic corporate advisory firm. The combination of theory and practice, together with the opportunity to work with Croatian, regional, and global companies, enabled her to enter the world of corporate communications soon after graduation.

Although her career began relatively recently, she has had the privilege of learning from outstanding professors and mentors who significantly influenced her professional development. Today, she works as a Senior Corporate Affairs Specialist at HEINEKEN Croatia, where her responsibilities include strategic communications, media relations, engagement with institutions and local communities, internal communications, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility.

The knowledge she gained through her sociology studies helps her every day to understand social processes, stakeholder dynamics, and patterns of behaviour that shape attitudes and decision-making. Communication Studies, in turn, provided her with the tools to translate these processes into clear and effective messages. Together, the two disciplines developed her ability to see the bigger picture before making decisions, recognise nuances in interpersonal relationships, and design communication solutions that create a tangible and positive impact for both the organisation and society.

“The years you spend at university pass incredibly quickly. And although I may not have changed the world during those five years, I met people and gained experiences that permanently changed mine,” Antonela says. She adds that her studies gave her something that has shaped her professional path in the long term: courage, perseverance, and the theoretical and practical knowledge that helps her become better at her work every day.

“And perhaps most importantly, my studies taught me that at the beginning of your career, the courage and effort you bring with you can often matter more than experience itself,” concludes Antonela Matijević.