#People of Nelt | Dragana Živić | From a Girl Fascinated by Logistics to a Nomination for “Engineer of the Year”

Dragana Živić, Senior Supply Chain Data Analyst at Nelt Group, has built her professional career across various areas of logistics and analytics after graduating from the University of Belgrade’s Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, specializing in Logistics. Today, she contributes to process improvement and better business decision-making through data-driven insights.

In this People of Nelt interview, Dragana talks about how she was fascinated by the world of logistics as a young girl, what her professional journey has looked like, and what being shortlisted for the “Engineer of the Year” award in Serbia means to her.

She also reveals why data only creates real value when it helps people make better decisions, the piece of career advice she has followed since her very first day at work, and why one comment from a colleague remains the greatest compliment she has ever received.

Read the full interview with Dragana.

What made you decide to study Logistics at the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering?

I grew up in Vukovar, where, even as a child, I was fascinated by the regional grain silo during the summer months. I was intrigued by how everything seemed to be perfectly connected in one place. Tractors arrived continuously to unload wheat, which then went through a series of fully automated processes for cleaning and drying. I watched the grain being transported by conveyor belts and elevators, moving seamlessly through different stages of processing before being stored or shipped further by rail or along the Danube.

As a child, it seemed incredible to me that such a complex system could operate almost invisibly, with so much precision and organization. I don’t think I knew what logistics was back then, but I knew I wanted to understand how systems like that worked.

You were shortlisted for the “Engineer of the Year” award in Serbia. How much does this recognition mean to you?

This recognition is a great honour for me, but also a responsibility. Throughout my career, I have learned that behind every piece of data, process and result are people, teamwork and a constant desire to learn. If my story inspires even one girl to believe that she belongs in the world of science, technology or engineering, I will consider this nomination to have fulfilled its purpose.

How did your career journey unfold?

I can honestly say that my first job found me. I sent a single CV to the Sales Director of City Express at the time, who called me at home one afternoon. That is how it all began.

I joined City Express at the time when the company was acquired by Austrian Post. Over eleven years, I held various positions, from Logistics Assistant to Business Development Manager. This gave me an excellent understanding of logistics processes and showed me just how important people, organization and good communication are to success.

I wanted a new challenge, so I shifted my career towards analytics and working with data. At Geodis, I worked on supply chain monitoring in the oil and gas industry, and almost four years ago, I joined Nelt. After working in the CRM team, I have spent the past year and a half as part of the Data Management team, where I bring together my logistics experience and analytics skills every day.

One moment that has stayed with me happened after we developed advanced reporting for the supply chain. Following our first training session, our dear colleague Olja Lojović called me and said: “Gaga, I feel like Esmeralda.”

For younger colleagues who may not remember, Esmeralda was the main character in one of the first telenovelas broadcast in the 1990s. At the beginning of the story, she was blind, and later she regained her sight.

I don’t think I could have received a more meaningful compliment at that moment. In one sentence, she described exactly what we aim to achieve through data and reporting – to help people see processes more clearly, identify opportunities and make better decisions. That is precisely why I love what I do.

Since the beginning of this year, we have been working intensively on improving reporting for the Sales organization, as well as developing new HR solutions. I hope that through all these initiatives, we have managed to create a “twin sister” for the Esmeralda mentioned above.

What would you highlight as your biggest career achievement so far?

I have never been someone who puts my achievements front and centre, because I genuinely believe that the greatest results are achieved through teamwork. That is why I naturally find it easier to say “we” than “I”.

A major recognition of my work came when my first company awarded me an MBA programme at Bled School of Management, but today I measure success differently. What gives me the greatest satisfaction is knowing that I have made someone’s job easier, helped a team make a better decision or improved the way we work.

I am particularly proud of contributing to the development of data literacy. I believe that data only creates real value when people understand it, interpret it correctly and use it in their everyday work. That is where I see the true meaning of what I do.

If you could swap jobs with one colleague for a day, who would it be?

Definitely Nenad Rakočević. His energy, knowledge and understanding of processes are truly impressive. Whether we talk for five minutes in the hallway or sit through a several-hour meeting, I always learn something new. I would love to see the company from his perspective for a day.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

Not to take anything personally at work. My first manager gave me that advice on my very first day, and I have firmly stuck to it ever since.

What is your hidden talent that many people might not know about?

Making “healthy” cakes and desserts. They are mostly healthy because they always contain plenty of fruit and nuts, and sometimes vegetables as well. In fact, there is almost never a recipe – everything comes together instinctively, with plenty of experimentation.

Of course, every cake has one of my “secret ingredients”. Sometimes it is a piece of Milka white chocolate, sometimes a little bit of Oreo, or something else no one expects. In the end, everyone tries to guess what I added.

The funny thing is that I almost never make them for myself. They are always for family, friends, guests or a special occasion. When I make a cake, I put my whole heart into every detail, and I admit that I am a true perfectionist – it doesn’t get served until it looks exactly the way I imagined it.

How do you like to spend your free time, and what does your ideal day outside work look like?

Since I am someone who almost always wakes up during the famous “grey hour” – that special moment between night and day – I love quiet mornings at my home in Smederevska Palanka. A cup of coffee on the terrace, a view of the greenery, and my dog occasionally barking in the background – that is the perfect start to my day.

Whenever I can, I escape the city crowds and spend time taking care of the garden. I love planting something new.

Which song always puts you in a better mood?

The Cure – Friday I’m in Love.

It takes me back to primary school, and I have never grown tired of it. When it comes to music, I have stayed loyal to the bands I listened to as a teenager. Perhaps that is the only thing in my life that has not followed trends or digitalization.

What is your favourite destination you have visited, and where would you like to travel next?

Mallorca is a destination I have already returned to, and I would happily go back again. It has a special energy.

I would love to visit Mexico. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work with many colleagues from Mexico and, through their stories, learn about some of their culture, traditions and way of life.

If you had to change careers for a year, what would you do?

A difficult question, because I think my biggest challenge would be doing nothing. I am not someone who can sit still for long. Even when I have no obligations, I find something to work on, improve or create.

If I had to change professions for a year, I would probably choose dentistry. I think I would enjoy the combination of precision, working with people, continuous learning and the fact that you can immediately see a tangible result of your work.

How do you see yourself in the future?

I would like to continue doing work that inspires me and allows me to learn something new every day. It is important to me to be surrounded by good people, contribute to the company’s development and use my knowledge to help others make decisions more easily.

If, ten years from now, I still have the same enthusiasm for my work that I have today, I will consider myself successful.