The future belongs to companies that succeed in balancing business ambition with a human touch

At a time when the market is changing rapidly, employer reputation is built not only through business results and stability, but above all through the way a company treats its employees. Increasingly, attention is being paid to development opportunities, the quality of the working environment, support, and the feeling that people’s work and contribution are genuinely valued.

Ivana Jovanović, Nelt’s HR Manager for Montenegro and Albania, spoke to Antena M about what it means to be an employer of choice in Montenegro, how to attract and retain quality talent, and how trust and a sense of belonging are nurtured within a large organisation.

 

We are republishing the full interview with Antena M.

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The labour market is changing rapidly, and candidates today are looking not only for a job, but also for security, development opportunities and a strong workplace culture. How does Nelt MNE respond to these expectations?

Job security is certainly important today, but on its own it is no longer enough. People want to know where they are coming, what kind of leader they will have, whether they will have opportunities to progress, how their efforts will be recognised, and to what extent they can achieve a healthy work-life balance. They are looking for an environment that provides stability and room for development, that understands their personal and family responsibilities, but also a place where they can be themselves and do not have to gather the strength every morning just to come to work.

At Nelt, we respond to these expectations in several important ways. First and foremost, through the stability of a large system and a clearly organised way of working, but also through continuous investment in employee development. Equally important is the atmosphere in which people work – the way we collaborate. People very quickly sense whether they are in an environment that is supportive of them. That is why it is important to us that Nelt MNE is a company where people have good working conditions, opportunities for learning and development, and feel that what they do has meaning and purpose. It is not possible to respond to the needs of the market only through business development and new tools if we are not simultaneously investing in the people who drive that business every day.

 

In the dynamic world of distribution and logistics, how do you succeed in attracting and retaining quality talent?

 

In distribution and logistics, it is not enough simply to find people who can keep up with the pace of work. It is much more important to create conditions that make them want to stay. It is an industry that requires responsibility, speed, focus, consistency in delivering results and strong organisation. At the same time, it can offer people a clear structure, a dynamic environment and a sense that their work matters and is visible. It is important to us that people feel from the very beginning that they are joining a stable system, that they know what is expected of them, that they have the support of their leaders and that they can see opportunities for advancement. When people have a clear structure, a fair relationship and a sense that their efforts are recognised, they are more likely to stay and build their career within the company.

We are particularly focused on developing our organisational culture and strengthening support within the organisation. We encourage employee development through numerous training programmes, leadership programmes, as well as sales and digital training. At Group level, as many as 75% of management promotions in the company come from within, confirming that we systematically invest in our people, recognise their potential and create opportunities for long-term professional development.

This is precisely where we see the key: attracting quality people and building an environment in which they can develop and see their future. Because in industries such as distribution and logistics, people are not retained by salary or a job title alone, but by the overall experience they gain through their work.

 

You are also strengthening your organisational culture through the Ascend 2030 strategy. What does this strategy specifically mean for employees in Nelt MNE?

Ascend 2030 is Nelt Group’s development strategy focused on new partnerships, digitalisation, investments and organisational strengthening. It aims to take the company to a higher level of efficient, responsible and sustainable business by 2030, with an investment of EUR 400 million in people, brands and infrastructure. For employees in Montenegro, this means being part of a system that is developing, modernising and opening up new opportunities for learning and professional growth.

Therefore, when we talk about Ascend 2030, we are not talking only about a business direction. We are talking about how we work, the knowledge we develop, the leaders we build and the culture we want to preserve. Our task is to prepare employees for changes in the labour market, provide them with the support and tools they need, but also to preserve what matters most in the process – a sense of belonging, respect, trust and a shared purpose.

 

What concrete examples demonstrate that Nelt’s commitment to employee wellbeing goes beyond declarations?

Employee care is not simply a formal list of benefits for our people. We demonstrate our commitment to people through everyday decisions and build it throughout the entire employee lifecycle. It is reflected in the way we onboard new colleagues, the time a leader takes to have a conversation with an employee, the flexibility we provide when someone needs support, and the fact that we ask employees what they think and how they feel about their work.

We focus on their health, family, careers and the overall employee experience we create. It is important to us that employees feel supported not only at work, but also in life situations that are particularly important to them. This is also reflected in the numerous recognitions we have received, including the “Employer of Choice for Children and Families” award, which demonstrates that we recognise people’s different roles in life and continuously invest in their wellbeing.

Every year, we allocate significant resources to employee benefits, including private health insurance, medical and preventive health check-ups, financial support on the occasion of the birth of a child or marriage, long-service awards, additional annual leave days, as well as sports and family events.

At Nelt MNE, we also provide benefits for colleagues on maternity leave, including reduced working hours upon their return from maternity leave and the retention of all benefits and bonuses, in line with our policies, during maternity leave. As part of career development, we provide professional training, involve employees in various projects, talent programmes and skills development academies, and offer opportunities for both horizontal and vertical career moves within Nelt Group.

In the previous year alone, around 40% of employees at Nelt MNE developed their skills through various training programmes, amounting to approximately 630 hours of training, while 15% of colleagues in the logistics sector completed the Logistics Academy. In the previous year, 27 employees were promoted.

To build a positive culture and create a good employee experience, we also maintain open dialogue with our people and strengthen two-way communication. We value their opinions in order to preserve the positive aspects of our working environment while also initiating change where necessary.

 

How does Nelt approach young talent?

Young people today define value differently. They expect more from an employer than their first professional opportunity. They are looking for meaning and purpose in their work, opportunities to gain knowledge and the space to demonstrate what they can do. Today, we learn from them just as much as they learn from us.

Our goal is that when we hire young people with potential and aspirations to progress, we develop them into individuals who will one day lead this company. That is why we create an environment in which they want to start their careers, understand and learn how a large business system such as Nelt operates, and discover the unlimited opportunities it offers for career growth.

It is particularly important to us to show young people in Montenegro that they can build a successful career in their own country, work in a modern organisation such as Nelt MNE and be part of a regional business story. We have a responsibility to open doors for new generations, but also to support them as they walk through those doors – better prepared, more confident and more motivated.

Through cooperation with universities in Montenegro, we strive to bring the business world, our way of working and Nelt’s culture closer to students through conversations and real-life examples. We want to be their first and right choice for a strong start to their careers.

 

What, in your opinion, makes an employer attractive in Montenegro today?

In Montenegro, where the labour market is relatively small, an employer’s reputation is built every day. It does not depend only on campaigns and public recognition, but above all on how a company treats its employees in practice: how it onboards them, develops them, responds to their needs and recognises their contribution.

People may join us because of our employer brand, but they definitely stay because of how their experience of working in the company makes them feel, the opportunities and perspective they are offered, the leader they can trust, the place where their work is valued and where they can be authentic.

An employer of choice is, in fact, a company where people can imagine themselves in two, five or ten years and one they would recommend to their friends as a great place to work.

Nelt MNE strives to be precisely that kind of employer – stable, modern and responsible, while also flexible and close to its people. I believe the future of work belongs to companies that succeed in balancing business ambition with a human touch. Companies that have the courage to set ambitious goals, but also enough wisdom to understand that behind every result is a person.

Because every strategy, every innovation and every result begins and ends with people. That is the direction we are committed to at Nelt, and the foundation on which we will continue to build our position as a trusted employer of choice.