Kolinda: Fees for a single speech are higher than my presidential salary

Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, the former president, has not held an active political position for years, but she has several important activities. She is a member of the International Olympic Committee and actively participates in the work of that organization. However, in addition to promoting sports, the former president is also an entrepreneur.

In November 2022, she founded the company KGK Advising & Professional Services, which, as can be read in the court register, deals with business consulting, market research, education in speech communication, and the organization of seminars and promotions.

She is the director and the only employee of that company. As we prepared the weekly topic on former politicians who started their own businesses, we reached out to the former president and asked her, among other things, what she considers her greatest success in the business world, and we present her answers in full, considering that she has rarely spoken publicly on this topic.

– My greatest success is not a single event or project, but the fact that I have managed to translate my international experience, knowledge, and contacts into concrete benefits for Croatian and international organizations I work with. I am pleased that today I can choose the projects and people I collaborate with and that my work brings added value, whether in the economy, diplomacy, or sports.

What lessons and experiences from politics have you transferred to business?

– The most important thing is patience and the willingness to listen and learn. In politics, you learn that without dialogue and compromise, there is no progress, and the same applies in the business world. Another key lesson is resilience. In politics, you are often criticized and challenged. If you survive that and learn to cope with criticism, then you know how to remain calm even in the toughest business moments.

What mistake from your political career would you not repeat in business today?

– In politics, I sometimes trusted people too much and thought that everyone had the same goal, to serve the public interest. I learned that it is not always the case and that trust must be earned, and loyalty must be mutual. Therefore, I am more cautious in business, I set clearer boundaries, and I insist on professional standards.

Was your political career a prerequisite or an obstacle to your success in business?

– I would say it was both. On one hand, my political career opened doors for me and provided experience that cannot be learned in any university. Furthermore, it gave me international recognition. It is incredible how many people still recognize me around the world, both at international gatherings and in stadiums, and literally on the street.

On the other hand, a political career carries the burden of prejudice. In Croatia, former politicians in business are often viewed with suspicion. That is why I have always insisted on being evaluated based on results, not on the positions I held. Furthermore, you remain a ‘politically exposed person’ for your entire life, and special rules and additional checks apply to a good part of your business, which can sometimes slow down operations.

Are there any other obstacles?

– It may be hard for people to believe, but once you have held the position of president, you have actually narrowed your range of possibilities for a further career. There are jobs and positions that I would very much like to hold today and would not consider ‘beneath my dignity’, but I most often encountered the reaction ‘don’t even think about it because we won’t even consider your application, you are simply overqualified.’

However, I would like to emphasize that business, especially managerial experience, is extremely important for success in politics, that is, in leading countries and public institutions. I like the American model, where it is quite natural and normal to fluctuate between politics and the business world throughout one’s career.

How do your political reputation and contacts help you in business, and how do they complicate it?

– Contacts and reputation certainly help, but they do not bring success by themselves. Even today, I often meet with heads of states and governments, sometimes in the service of the project I am working on, and often quite friendly. However, you must know how to leverage your network of acquaintances to create trust and opportunities. A political career complicates business when people assume that everything you do has a political background, rather than a professional one. Or when you are pigeonholed into a certain political or ideological mold.

What has been your boldest or riskiest business move so far?

– The boldest decision was to decide that after leaving Pantovčak, I would not withdraw but venture into new areas, from geopolitical consulting to sports and international institutions. It is a risk because you enter a world where you no longer have a political position as protection, you do not have a support system, but you stand solely behind your name and work.

Do you have any new business investments or projects planned?

– Yes, I am always open to new opportunities, but I choose them carefully. I enjoy working on projects that have social value, whether in education, innovation, sports, international security, or cooperation. The most important thing for me is that I can stand behind every engagement with full conviction in what I do. I must admit that I still dedicate most of my time to volunteering in non-profit institutions or on projects such as humanitarian demining, empowering women, the right to education, and the right to health as a human right.

I strive to find a balance between what brings me a decent income for a secure life for my family and what does not bring money or fame but carries that special fulfillment that something good has been left behind, that I have helped someone, that I have changed something… This year has been difficult and challenging due to the loss of my mother, who was my anchor and support in life, and I have taken some time for myself and dedicated myself to some long-term projects.

Have you transferred any lessons from your political career to entrepreneurship?

– Absolutely. Politics teaches you how the world works, how to make decisions under pressure, and how to balance different interests. This is an experience that is highly valued in business. However, politics can also teach you bad habits, so it is important to be aware of the difference between public and private responsibility.

What moment from your business life gives you the greatest satisfaction, even more than political successes?

– The greatest satisfaction comes when I see that the people I work with have received a new opportunity, advanced, or achieved success thanks to our joint efforts. In politics, victories are often fleeting and subject to interpretation, while in business, results can be more concrete and long-lasting.

And I must admit that I feel particularly good when I think about how much the media ‘stretched’ my speeches, even when they were well-prepared and professional, how they took things out of context, and today for one speech, I receive a fee that often amounts to more than the monthly salaries I received as president. That is my special little personal satisfaction.

What lesson would you give to younger politicians considering business?

– I would advise them never to rely solely on titles and positions. They are transient. What remains are knowledge, integrity, and the ability to build relationships at every level. If you enter politics with conviction and leave with experience and credibility, then you can succeed in the business world.