Jul22546 EU Business News- European CEO of the Year Awards 2025 mart was founded in Novi Sad in 2000, initially established to provide services in the field of professional IT education. As the organisation grew over the year, it scaled and developed to integrate software engineering into its offerings, which today represents one of the company’s primary offerings. Since its inception, however, Smart’s core beliefs have remained the same, championing adaptability, continuous learning, and long-lasting partnerships. The company is committed to providing innovative solutions while cultivating a workplace that values trust, collaboration, and personal development. In 2023, Smart became a part of Noventiq, a global leader in IT and digital transformation. This advantageous partnership has accelerated the company’s growth and deepened its capabilities, allowing it to proudly serve B2B clients across a wide range of industries – from finance to manufacturing to the public sector. Today, Smart stands as a leader in its field, renowned for its expertise in Robotic Process Automation (RPA), cloud-based services, digital workplace solutions, document and collaboration systems, and cybersecurity. The company is well known for AutoBot, a proprietary RPA platform that simplifies and scales process automation. AutoBot is the ideal platform for processes that are repetitive by nature, rule-based, timesensitive, mature and stable, or prone to human errors. The platform has applications across various industries, including automating operations such as financial reporting in finance; enhancing data processing, customer support, and lead generation in sales and marketing; simplifying order processing and supplier management in procurement; and optimising recruitment processes, payroll, and employee data management in human resources. The introduction of AutoBot is a shining example of Smart’s keen understanding of the market. For more than two decades, the company has operated with a focus on three core pillars: innovation in automation and cloud, customer-centric solutions, and excellence in execution. The first pillar ensures that Smart invests in RPA and AI platforms that are intuitive, scalable, and easy to integrate, as well as working closely with partners like Microsoft and Sophos to bring the best of global technology to its clientele. The second pillar drives the company to tailor its services based on industry-specific needs, aiming for outcomes that improve both efficiency and security. Through rigorous quality assurance, ongoing team training, and agile delivery methods, Smart upholds its third pillar of operations to maintain consistency and reliability across each project it undertakes. These strategies are each supported by measurable KPIs, internal innovation programs, and a strong feedback culture to ensure that Smart consistently remains aligned with both market trends and client goals. Digital Transformation CEO of the Year 2025 (Serbia): Ivana Ruzicic Based in Serbia, Smart is a company aiming to reshape the ways in which companies operate by leveraging automation, artificial intelligence, and secure infrastructure to streamline operations, automate processes, and safeguard IT environments. The company is headed by Ivana Ružičić, a CEO passionate about utilising technology to create meaningful change, for clients and teams alike. We caught up with Ivana below to learn more about her journey, as she is named in the European CEO of the Year Awards 2025. S Contact: Ivana Ružičić Company: Smart Web Address: www.smart.rs May25320 “We take the time to understand our clients’ actual needs – not just what is requested, but what would truly move the needle for their business,” Ivana explained. “Our project delivery is grounded in agile methodologies, close collaboration with key stakeholders, and continuous feedback loops. We don’t just implement software – we build trust. We aim to be more than a vendor; we aspire to be longterm partners who provide measurable impact and ongoing support.” Ivana Ružičić is the CEO of Smart, dedicated to fostering collaborative growth, driving impactful solutions, and aligning organisational strategies with evolving market needs. Her core competencies include strategic leadership, sales enablement, and digital transformation, vital skills carefully cultivated through an array of executive roles. Ivana completed a master’s degree in electrical engineering with a focus on automation, graduating from the Faculty of Technical Sciences, Novi Sad, in 2008. Following her graduation, Ivana’s professional journey began shortly after. What once began as a role in sales quickly grew into a calling; over the past 14 years, Ivana has held multiple roles within the organisation. She climbed the ranks from Accounts Manager to Sales Director in less than a decade, before stepping into her current role of Chief Executive Officer eight years ago. “Each stage has helped me understand our clients, our people, and our technology on a deeper level,” she told us in reflection. “I have learned that leadership is not about position – it is about persistence, empathy, and the courage to act. I continue to apply those lessons every day, focusing on creating value for both our clients and our employees.” As CEO of Smart, Ivana believes in leading by example with consistency, integrity, and heart. To Ivana, the company’s values of adaptability, accountability, and collaboration are not merely written statements but essential elements of how Smart makes decisions, manages challenges, and celebrates success. Ivana is a strong advocate for open communication and shared ownership, regularly engaging with teams across all levels of the company through regular town halls, team workshops, and internal knowledge-sharing sessions to ensure that these values are not only learned but lived. This has been a strategic approach for Ivana, ensuring that each member of the team works in complete cohesion in the face of adversity. For Smart, one of the biggest challenges has been navigating the rapid shifts in technology and work culture, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Simultaneously, these trends have provided the team with the unique opportunity to reinvent how Smart works, enabling the company to scale and streamline in alignment with evolving market needs.
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