Nevena was my first intern, and I, her first mentor (okay, that sounds a bit cringy, but it's a fact). She describes herself as someone who enjoys socializing, being on the move, and having fun. In the community, she's known as the one who celebrates the most holidays (which is why we affectionately call her Slavica) and rarely spends an entire weekend at home. These qualities, among others, were recognized by the tershouse team, leading them to offer Nevena the opportunity to become the second Community Manager at tershouse, providing the community a chance to enjoy Nevena's humor and spontaneity.
Together, we revisited her beginnings at tershouse and her journey from intern to Community Manager. 'A lot has changed with my responsibilities growing every day. I learned to handle greater responsibilities, think quickly, and respond to new situations promptly. I tapped into a creativity that was within me but I haven’t had a chance to use it.'
A true Community Manager can’t describe his/her position in a single sentence, and the same goes for Nevena. For her, Community management involves various roles. 'I can't describe my job in one word because it encompasses many positions: Marketing Manager, Space Manager, Administrative Manager... It's a responsible job, in any case. I like to describe this position as helping people love the place they are in and keeping them in the space for as long as possible. Their companies are there to provide financial security, and our job is to keep them in tershouse as long as possible.'
As a Community Manager, Nevena focuses primarily on marketing, handling all of tershouse's social media. I was curious about her views on marketing and what good marketing means to her, as well as what is a no-go in the industry. 'We need to separate marketing for coworking space from other concepts. What we offer as a service is very specific. We have a unique approach, trying to offer something different. For us, it's essential to be unique, to convey the energy we have in the space and to reflect what is happening here on social media, to convey that atmosphere. Regarding what I consider a total no-go in marketing, it's fake marketing. People often present themselves falsely, and then clients may be disappointed after experiencing a service or product.'
I was also interested in what was particularly significant for her during the 'transition' period from intern to Community Manager. 'Team support was crucial for me, having a good mentor who could tell me when something is good and when something needs improvement, and not selfishly keeping knowledge to themselves. It's essential to have someone to follow.'
Nevena is someone who is very detailed, professional, responsive, and not afraid to delve into the unknown and the new in her work. 'I think what influenced my work ethic the most is what I learned within the team, that we share everything with each other and work together to solve problems. What is also very important for me, especially as the youngest in the team, is that everyone's opinion is equally valued. We all work towards the same goal, regardless of our sometimes differing personal opinions.'
Although young, Nevena skillfully finds a common language with different coworkers within the community and is open to various topics. Her relaxed demeanor and openness make this part of community management easier for her. 'I am an adaptable person and always find a common language and common topics with others because I am interested in knowing a lot about our community. It's important to encourage coworkers through various events and gatherings to open up. If someone new joins the community, we immediately try to introduce them to the rest of the community.'
Working at tershouse is Nevena's first serious work experience, and I was curious about what advice she would give to young people just starting to work. She gave advice that might seem like common sense at first, but it's not always practiced due to shame or a self-imposed feeling that one should know everything. 'I would advise asking, whatever your doubt is; there will always be at least one person who will answer your questions and help guide you.' As a second piece of advice, she mentions the need to unleash a side of oneself that may not have been used before but also to sometimes take on additional tasks that are not expected or requested from you to leave a good impression. 'If you only do what is expected of you, you will remain static. Self-initiative work is always a good thing, especially in your first job.'
Nevena is a Gemini in the zodiac, often joked about in the context of sailing in one direction today and a completely different one tomorrow. As such, she says she doesn't have a long-term life motto. 'It varies based on my moods and ambitions, but I could perhaps say - Go with the flow.'
