The 10th LEAP Summit, held on 15 and 16 October at the Zagreb Fair, once again proved to be one of the most significant events for young leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs.

This year’s LEAP Summit brought together local and international speakers who, over two days and on two stages, shared experiences on changes in the world of labour, leadership development, digital trends and social responsibility. Through lectures, panels and interactive sessions, the participants had the opportunity to hear from experts from various industries – from technology companies and creative agencies to financial and social sectors.

Among the many topics that caught the attention of the audience were panels on sustainability and financial literacy of young people, lectures on authentic branding, the future of creativity and the role of artificial intelligence in business. The expo zone with partner activations has further enriched the experience of participants, offering space for networking and exchange of ideas.

Redefining sustainability: concrete steps towards change

The “Reinventing Sustainability” panel brought a fresh perspective on sustainability – not as a trend, but as a strategic approach to long-term business operations. Participants were Darija Jurica Vuković (Philip Morris Zagreb), Ivan Božić (Humana Nova), Karla Alfier (Alfier Consulting) and moderator Ana Katulić (Host). The conversation opened the topics of corporate application of ESG principles, social entrepreneurship and the importance of transparent performance reporting.

A particular highlight was the presentation by Daria Jurica Vuković from Philip Morris Zagreb, who spoke openly about sustainability in the corporate context: how to incorporate sustainable initiatives into business processes, how important transparent reporting is, and how partnerships can accelerate innovation and scale solutions with a concrete social impact. The spotlight was on what can truly be measured, performed, and sustained in the long term in collaboration with local communities.

Youth, money and responsibility

One of the most visited programs was the “Building Wealth Young: Smart Investing” panel organised by AZ pension funds, where Toni Milun, Marko Bogdan (InterCapital) and Ermin Preljević (Open Radio), as moderator, discussed the importance of smart savings and early-career investment.

The panel was among the most popular and interactive ones, and participants were presented with practical guidelines for responsible money management, clear initial steps and realistic expectations in unstable periods – with an emphasis on financial literacy of young people.

Behind the scenes of big events

Another standout was the panel “The Making of Major Events”, held in cooperation with UNIFEST, which revealed what is actually behind spectacular events with tens of thousands of visitors. The panellists Joe Bašić (MPG & Ultra Europe), Amar Fočo (Noa Beach Club, Zrće) and moderator Ermin Preljević (Otvoreni radio) spoke openly about the challenges, risks and the passion that drives the event industry.

The moderator started the discussion with the hypothesis that event management is the most stressful job in the world, and the panellists agreed that organising events is a calling, rather than just a job. Working in this industry requires passion, discipline and willingness to face any challenge. Fočo described how each festival begins with a detailed analysis of the location, laws and logistics, while Bašić added that risk management is the key to success: “An event manager is actually a risk manager.”

The audience also heard incredible behind-the-scenes stories – from the fire during Steve Aoki’s performance to the tornado that almost toppled down Ultra Europe. All this, the panellists pointed out, shows that the only thing that can be expected in the event industry is the unexpected.

Creativity, leadership and the power of storytelling

The Zagreb LEAP Summit once again proved its international character – world leaders and experts who shape modern business practices took the stage one after another. Ruij Pedro Silva (Adidas) spoke about the development of leadership and teams in global organisations, Frederik Härén inspired the audience to be courageous in decision-making, and Alessandra Mariani (TikTok) opened up the topic of authentic branding and the role of music in creating viral content.

Reinier Evers (Trendwatching) presented trends that affect consumer behaviour and strategic growth of brands, while domestic leaders such as Tomislav Car (Productive), Daniela Žagar and Dunja Kokotović (Lelo) and Ivanka Mabić-Gagić (Aleph Croatia) brought examples of success in the domestic business and technology scene.

Over the course of ten years, LEAP Summit has evolved into an indispensable platform that connects innovation, sustainability and community – a place where students, young professionals and experienced leaders explore new perspectives on business and social development together.

This year’s edition at the Zagreb Fair once again showed that Zagreb is a city that successfully combines youth, knowledge and inspiration and is becoming a hub for events that change the way we think about the future.

Explore more about events in Zagreb here.