TAKE RISKS, THE TOP IS REWARDING – DIJANA DESPODOV, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AMCHAM

If someone finds the eight-hour working day, at least 20 working days of vacation in the year, paid contributions and a pension at 62 an ideal working position, she finds risk a challenge. You decide to abandon a senior position without having a plan B. Dijana Despodov says she gives her best in risky situations. Guided by the proverb: “A ship is the safest in the harbor, but it was made for storms, for the high seas,” she had reached peaks within twenty years. Charismatic, smiling and immediate, critical, fighter for women’s rights, the environment and for responsibility in every aspect of life, Despodov has been in charge of the American Chamber of Commerce in Macedonia (AmCham – Macedonia), commonly known as AmCham, for almost a year and a half. This is her inspiring story.

She was born in Delchevo, where she finished elementary school. She decided to enroll to a natural sciences and mathematics high school, not that she had a special affinity for the natural sciences, but simply because the better pupils went there.

– I’ve always had an excellent GPA, but I’ve never been a “bookworm”. I think that I am a fast learner because of my natural curiosity, but I also attended classes. And that helps a lot – says Despodov.

Student days in Bulgaria and Hungary

Her predispositions have had a major impact on the development of her future career, in every aspect. She had been accepted at two faculties – the English Department at the Faculty of Philosophy at the University St. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, but at the same time at the Open Society Institute Foundation – Macedonia she received a scholarship to study at the American University in Blagoevgrad. At that time, in 1995 there were still not many people from Macedonia who studied abroad. She decided to risk and chose journalism and mass communications. Short time after, she was convinced to have made the right choice.

– For me it was a point of inflection. It was different, challenging, and I always plunge into challenges. They do not make me anxious, they give me energy, élan, and I am eager to accept them. Although I was in neighboring Bulgaria, I entered another world where education was completely different. There was a different relationship between professors and students. They taught us to think critically and to apply the knowledge in practice. The relationship was bi-directional, based on respect, dialogue and discussion. We often attend student conferences and meet people from different countries and cultures. My mind opened, as well as many doors and windows – Despodov says.

According to her, a young 18-years-old person is not yet ready to face the pressure and decide what exactly he or she will do in the rest of his or her life. The Faculty does not specify what you are going to do, and at the end of the day, only a few people do what they have studied for. Despodov believes in another philosophy – learning is a lifelong process.

– I chose journalism and mass communications because of all the offered studies it was the most acceptable option. And it coincided with my character – I continued to work in communications in the next 18 years. I really found myself in that story. I want to communicate with people. I cannot sit in an office in front of a computer and spend my whole day like that. I get energy and ideas from interacting with people, and that’s why I have found myself in the field of communications and PR – says Despodov.

She got her master’s degree at the Central European University in Budapest, South East European Studies. There she learned to look at things more focused.

One can learn something from any situation

– Success is not a straight ascending line. There are always ups and downs, plans that will not work, things that will not come out as we have planned and we should be ready for it. If we are tied to the idea that everything must go up, we will only be disappointed and discouraged – says Despodov.

After graduating, she returned to Macedonia and had many jobs – from the private sector, non-governmental organizations, to EU and USAID projects. She says she was only focusing on getting the best out of every situation.

– Something can be learned from every situation. No matter how much a job seems routine, uninteresting, non-creative, you can learn something from everything and improve – she says.

At age 30 she moved to the United States. She started working as an intern, unpaid, in an organization that was engaged in the promotion of women’s rights. She realized that she was starting a career in a country where her previous experience does not mean anything to anyone; she knew that she would have to prove herself if she wanted to get involved in that system, in that labor market.

– And so, at the age of 30 I went to be an intern without a salary. I could complain, say how unfair it was, that I was wronged… But I did not. These internships have linked me to many people, and that’s how I ended up at the World Bank in Washington DC – tells Despodov.

She moved to Ukraine for family reasons, and then in several other countries. After every move she was looking for a new job, sometimes she was starting a new career, in a brand new field. On the one hand, it was difficult; on the other hand, it built her into what she is today.

– We build ourselves through difficulties – when we get out of the comfort zone and take risks. I think that I made the most of all these changes. The comfort zone and safety were never attractive to me. Spending a whole life in one company, in one field, you have much less space to develop, to learn. And learning is a lifelong process. You can always improve, retrain, train again, go to a completely new industry at the age of 50. I need that challenge and I realize my potential in these situations. Risk often pays off. But people prefer to be safe, have a steady job and they miss on many opportunities. We do not even know how we could develop if we do not take the risk. That’s why I want to inspire people to get out of that comfort zone, especially the young people – to reach the heights they did not even dream about – Despodov explains.

Experience at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

When she began working for the Doing business project of the World Bank, she thought it would be difficult for her because she lacked the experience in economics or in finances.

However, it worked out so well that in the end she concluded that she enjoyed that job. She remained there for seven years. She says she may have doubted herself a little, but did not allow it to prevent her from engaging in the challenge and accepting the job.

The experience with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is invaluable, like all others. Within that engagement she visited the headquarters of the Foundation in Seattle. She was glad to see that it was about modest, immediate people, devoted to what they were doing.

– Many believe that wealthy people invest in society to hide something, erase sins, boast, increase the value of the brand. These people truly believe in what they do and I think that makes the whole story successful – Despodov says.

According to her, it is crucial that economically powerful people be philanthropists and socially responsible. It is necessary for the survival of mankind and the planet. However, social responsibility does not consist solely of philanthropy and financial support to non-governmental organizations and a particular cause.

– Social responsibility is the responsible operation of the company itself. How does it operate, how it handles waste, how it treats its employees, whether it invests in their development… We want to promote all these values in Macedonia and guide our companies. We cannot rely on foreign foundations and donations to solve our problems in society forever. And obviously in the last 30 years, unfortunately, no government has had the capacity to cope with these problems – says Despodov.

The private sector will be the leader in resolving social problems in the near future, Despodov explains, but space needs to be made to be able to act. With the current regulations, there is not much space. It is very rigid and discouraging for a private company to invest in society. She provides a graphic example.

– Last year we raised money from our companies and built a sensory garden – an external classroom for children with impaired vision at the school Dimitar Vlahov in Skopje. In other countries, this is the responsibility of the government; it is a teaching aid, children learn how to orient outdoors, through different smells, they learn what it’s like to walk on different surfaces… The private sector has raised money, we made the sensory garden and paid the VAT in the end. Other companies are donating to charity, then taking the advantage of the right to VAT refund, but get inspections, audits instead… They feel like criminals because they want to do something good – Despodov explains.

About the mission of AmCham

The American chambers of commerce in each country are usually established by local organizations – a group of businesspersons who want to join and advocate their rights. These are mostly American companies, but that’s not the rule. Since companies in the world are increasingly multinational, the chambers of commerce also become multinational. Despodov explains that all American Chambers of Commerce are members of the United States Chamber of Commerce in America. But they are totally independent, separate budgets and independent operations. This is also the case with AmCham Macedonia.

How did she return to Macedonia as an executive director of AmCham? As many times before, with a life and professional road that did not always go uphill, geographically scattered all over the world, at one point she was in Thailand. She started looking for a job and ended up at the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand as a director of communications. It was her first contact with the operations of chambers. Slowly, her work became her. Primarily because chamber operation is dynamic, diverse and completely fits with her character and affinities.

– I realized that I may have been prejudiced against the private sector. I began to look at the other side of the story; many things became clear and I realized that if you work in the private sector, you can also engage socially. That aspect of my work was very appealing – says Despodov.

After four years in AmCham Thailand, the desire for something more, something bigger grew. To find a new challenge she decided to quit. Without even having a plan B.

Two weeks later, she received an interesting email from a friend – they were recruiting an executive director at AmCham in Skopje.

– I told myself, that’s it. It is a chamber, and it is home. I never thought that I had left forever – I was always leaving room to come back one day, above all because I prefer to work in my country, for my people. So, after 12 years I returned home. Coming back was easy, not traumatic; I immediately entered the grind, as if I had never left, she explains.

Macedonia needs good laws

The activities of the chamber are diverse and depend on the needs of the members. Their core objective is to provide a better business climate for all – by monitoring and responding to regulations, giving feedback where needed to ensure that the regulations do not stifle businesses, but give them space to grow and develop, thus providing economic growth.

– The work is extensive, but we do not give up. We organize events aimed at networking members, or that have an educational component – to develop the capacities and potentials of companies and their employees, to promote social responsibility and responsible work of companies throughout their operations – explains Despodov.

AmCam is open to all legal entities in the country, the non-governmental sector, educational institutions and membership is continuously growing. The benefits are diverse – networking with another company from the same industry to exchange experiences, prospecting new clients or associates, influencing the adoption of legislation related to the economy, further education and know-how for digital marketing, human resources, how to manage work-related losses, cybersecurity, especially for small companies that do not have the potential and lack human resources… This is their chance to learn a lot. All events are free for members. The membership process is rigorous in only one aspect – you must work 100% legally.

Asked about the business climate in Macedonia, the weaknesses, the greatest potential and where the young people are in the whole story, Despodov is categorical – the legislation stifles the business.

– The concept of laws in our country is wrong. They are designed to prevent operational irregularities, but only in the worst cases. And most often they, the worst cases, do not work within the law. The consequences are great for companies that work regularly and properly – they only impose additional burdens. We need laws that work for most of the companies, and additional measures to monitor and punish those that do not work, instead of drafting laws that punish those that work conscientiously. This is a very young market, it has enormous potential. Every day I leave home and I come up with at least five things that I would like to be around, but they do not exist. And I find it strange when I hear about such high unemployment rate, while so many things are missing. Precisely our mentality is the obstacle to that – we are waiting for someone to give us something, to make it happen, instead of creating a product, a service ourselves and fill the gap in the market. It is a great potential that should be used – says Despodov.

Women have huge untapped potential

Several people, teachers and mentors helped her up the success ladder by giving her strong support to move in the right direction. That’s why she is doing the same today. She is a mentor in a program to develop leadership skills of young women in Southeast Asia, specifically a girl from Nepal studying in America.

– We have been cooperating for two years; we have never met, but we have developed a very nice relationship. We get in touch every two weeks; I advise her on the career development and her next steps. I have also benefited from the experience and wisdom of older colleagues and I want to be supportive, an advisor, a source of inspiration for younger people – says Despodov with a smile.

She is adamant that those who follow the motto “Business is a world ruled by men” make a fundamental mistake – the potential of 50 percent of the world population remains untapped. We all lose that way. Traditionally, the woman has long been placed in the household without a chance to develop professionally. Fortunately, in the last 50 years a lot of things changed, and today it is obvious how great the potential of women is.

– Just 100 years ago, women did not have the right to vote, let alone having that many jobs. I am glad that we finally understand that women can contribute to the development of society and business too and that they have proved that they can be shoulder to shoulder with men. Although, we are not yet where we should be. If women are half the whole population, they should be represented with 50% everywhere. We are excellent at multitasking, but when you need to do thing both at work and at home, care for the parents, there is not enough time, energy and focus to reach the peak of the potential. Men should take half the burden of domestic responsibilities so that women can contribute professionally. We are still fighting this battle and we still have a lot to do – says Despodov.

Problems with women’s representation on a global scale are very different – in America they are not paid the same as men, in Pakistan they are not even allowed to go to school. It is therefore important to think systematically and globally on how to balance those differences.

– This will contribute to achieving the full capacity of women. I am not satisfied with the comfortable zone, with certainty. I’m not planning on stopping here. I do not know what comes next, but it will surely be something bigger, more challenging, riskier. However, I am very pleased where I am now, especially because I am in a position to work on improving the whole society, not just the business – says Despodov.