For Sanja Horylova, a simple yet powerful philosophy has guided both her personal and professional journey: “Make the place better than you found it.” The principle has shaped her outlook on leadership, growth, and responsibility throughout the years.

From Belgrade Winters

Her story begins in Belgrade, where vivid childhood memories still stand out, snow-covered Januaries giving way to blossoming Aprils. Those early years were filled with sports, family gatherings, and a constant pursuit of learning, whether in school or through various camps. Growing up across the former Yugoslavia, she spent her time skiing in winter and swimming in summer, experiences that nurtured a spirit of independence, curiosity, and innovation from an early age.

A Mind Drawn to Patterns and Possibilities

Academically, mathematics, history, and information technology formed the core of her interests, eventually leading her to pursue a master’s degree in software engineering. Yet her curiosity extended beyond studying subjects in isolation. She became fascinated by the patterns that connect them, seeing parallels between human decision-making and the logic of data.

During this time, she also began teaching mathematics, an experience that sharpened her ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively. In many ways, it laid an early foundation for the leadership skills she would develop later in her career.

When Technology Met Organizational Curiosity

At the same time, her involvement in real-world projects focused on process automation opened her eyes to the intricate ways systems interact. This exposure sparked a deeper interest in understanding how organizations function, how processes evolve, and how different components within a business connect with one another.

Disrupting the Norm

In the early stages of her career, opportunities for women to grow into significant roles within technology companies were limited. Nevertheless, Horylova embraced every opportunity that came her way, from teaching mathematics and building databases to taking on commercial responsibilities in IT companies.

Over time, her focus shifted beyond the technical side of work. She became increasingly intrigued by organizational dynamics and the mechanisms that drive teams and companies forward.

The Questions That Shaped Her Leadership

Questions began to shape her professional thinking. How can different teams be aligned effectively? What form of leadership creates the best outcomes in varying circumstances? At what point does company culture influence success, efficiency, and proactivity? And how can the comfort and effectiveness of a workplace be measured through numbers, KPIs, and tangible results?

Expanding Horizons Beyond Borders

It soon became clear to her that managing both numbers and people required a broader skill set. Determined to expand her perspective, she chose to travel, work, and live abroad, experiences that helped her understand different cultures, professional environments, and leadership styles.

Difficult Conversations

Leading teams and navigating global challenges further strengthened her approach to leadership. One of the most important lessons she learned was that avoiding difficult conversations rarely solves problems; it only postpones them. She realized that standing up for her teams, her peers, her leadership, and herself was not only necessary but vital.

Confidence, she discovered, came from trusting herself to manage whatever followed, even when conversations were uncomfortable.

Leadership Is Not About Having All the Answers

Over time, she learned that clarity often emerges by confronting uncertainty directly. Leadership, in her view, requires the ability to tolerate unpredictability while maintaining sharp focus and discipline. It is not about having all the answers, but about continuously adapting, making informed decisions, and ensuring that progress never stops.

Beyond Titles

In her current role, Horylova does not view her position simply as a place within a corporate hierarchy. Instead, she sees it as a responsibility, to empower, to create impact, and to serve.

The growing numbers and achievements her teams deliver reflect more than business success; they demonstrate how prepared each team member is to face new challenges. For her, the true measure of leadership lies in the confidence people gain to step forward. Trusting them and providing support remains at the center of her approach.

Behind every number, she believes, lies teamwork, cooperation, and trust.

The Power of the Present Moment

Today, in a world defined by constant information flow and rapidly shifting priorities, Horylova has come to appreciate the significance of small moments. Whether writing an article, reading a book, working with colleagues, or spending time with family, she sees each moment as an opportunity, to learn, to act, and to give something forward.

For her, the path toward building a better future is not defined by grand gestures alone but by embracing every present moment. It is in those moments, she believes, that meaningful change begins and where the commitment to “make the place better than you found it” truly comes to life.

For the complete feature and more stories from this edition, visit the full magazine TECHx Review – IWD 2026.

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