Gender equality has long been a part of our daily life and a guarantee of our good business results

Women account for the majority of Hemofarm employees, as much as 54.5% of the total number, while 64% of leadership positions in the company are held by women. On International Women's Day, 8 March, Sanda Savić, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications in this company, talked about the topic of equality, equal opportunities for everyone, and her career path.

According to her, the data on the percentage of women in Hemofarm are the best confirmation that gender equality has long been a part of our daily life and a guarantee of good business results, while she herself always chose organizations where gender equality was implied and nurtured. As she says, perhaps the biggest but also the most challenging business move she made in her career so far was the moment when, after many years of working in the media, in radio and TV journalism, she decided to transfer to a pharmaceutical corporation.

’I’ve continued working in the media, but from a different position, from the other side now. The new position and new experience gave me space to develop and learn in completely new ways. And that story continues, because it is really true that we learn and develop as long as we live. Certainly, when you have such a dynamic profession, it is inevitable that you are always facing different challenges, but I have been well 'trained' for this during many years of working in the electronic media. In my work so far, I am most proud of the campaigns of Hemofarm Foundation, such as support to mental health and organ donation’, Sanda Savić points out.

As women often have the role of being the pillar and backbone of their family, good partners, devoted mothers, responsible colleagues, while maintaining their femininity and taking care of their appearance, Sanda emphasizes that Hemofarm is a partner to women in this instance as well, because it offers a whole range of products that are important in prevention and preserving of health and beauty.

‘Our product Thiomucase is the right solution for what many women struggle with, and that is cellulite. Thiomucase is the best-selling anti-cellulite product in Serbia according to IQVIA data, and proof that the company I work for is a true ally of women,’ she points out.

In addition to its core activity, the Hemofarm company is also focused on numerous socially responsible projects, some of which are intended specifically for women.

‘It is especially important to support women who are just entering the world of business. One of the nicest parts of my job is mentoring young women. In addition to numerous projects, Hemofarm has also developed a new mentorship program ‘Unique and Important’, intended for women in business in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, who have the ambition to advance in their professional development. The mentors are my colleagues from different divisions of the company, who will provide continuous support to female entrepreneurs for the duration of the program. The long-lasting tradition of female leadership in Hemofarm has resulted in the knowledge required for a program like this to bring value to every woman entrepreneur and enable her to grow in the direction she wants. When we talk about diversity, we also talk about uniqueness, and here with us everyone can be exactly who they are, because what makes our people unique, makes us unique, too.’

As for the discussion on whether women or men are more successful as managers, Sanda Savić believes that there is no difference between women and men in management positions.

‘We are measured by our abilities, motivation, characters. In a way, we all choose our own path and sometimes we succeed or we don’t. Every one of us fights for her own position, and not just because we are women, but because we have ambition, vision, plans and because we want to do something with our professional lives. Inequalities that exist today are much more sophisticated when compared to the past. Equality is very important nowadays and every smart society or company nurtures it. If you have a strong and accomplished woman, it is a gain for any community,’ she believes.

Her advice to young women who are just starting their careers and have the ambition to climb to the top is to always maintain their uniqueness and qualities.

‘However, the moment they enter any business environment, they should first of all be ambitious, work on themselves, improve themselves, because nothing is given or given forever anymore. Every successful woman must be ready to learn, to change, to have an open mind and be willing to listen and watch every day. It is always the hardest when we have to change something about ourselves. In all of this, another thing is important, and that is nurturing of women's solidarity. To be more supportive of each other.’

Also, she admits that it was not entirely simple for her, as a woman manager, to balance the private and business sphere of her life.

‘Since I spent some time as the editor-in-chief of an informational program of an electronic media in Serbia, it meant that I was constantly on the phone, busy with numerous obligations, and on the other hand, it also brought frustration, because I wasn’t always able to devote myself fully to my children and family. But all this is still possible. The nice, maybe the nicest part of our traditionalist society, is the great support you have from your family. For me, my mother is my pillar and my biggest support and I believe that we all have that family support, which is sometimes indispensable.’

Regarding the definition of a successful woman, for the Senior Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications at Hemofarm, a successful woman is, above all, satisfied, smiling, happy.

‘Each day in life is a new moment, a new opportunity to do something for ourselves, for others, and that’s why my message is always - seize the moment. The moment is now and there is no rerun. Tackle it and be sure that you will always emerge victorious. In my opinion, this is the attribute of a successful woman, and as such, she can achieve a lot in life. I believe in the attitude that all our limitations are just a reflection of our limited visions’, Sanda Savić concludes.

Taken from Blic.rs