LEADER Project Marks 10 Years in Serbia: 400 New Leaders for a Stronger Economy

Over the past decade, nearly 400 participants have completed the Canadian international education program, the LEADER Project, in Serbia. Thanks to the knowledge and skills they acquired, many now successfully launch and lead businesses and manage domestic companies, it was announced today at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS).

The conference titled “Artificial Intelligence, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship: Shaping the Future Together,” held to mark ten years of the LEADER Project in Serbia, gathered more than 180 participants. During three panel discussions dedicated to the role of artificial intelligence and digital transformation in business and leadership, experts and former course participants shared their knowledge and experiences.

“The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia has supported and been part of this project from the beginning. Over the past ten years, we've seen increasingly stronger generations of entrepreneurs join this course. Today, artificial intelligence has become a necessity—a fundamental part of doing business, even for small companies and startups,” said Mihailo Vesović, Vice President of the CCIS.

The conference was organized by CANSEE – the Canadian-Serbian Business Association, in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, the Center for Digital Transformation (CDT), and the Embassy of Canada in Belgrade.

“Participants of these programs, held over the past ten years, have begun networking independently and building an alumni network. That’s a great development because these are the people who will form the backbone of Serbia’s future business and social leadership,” emphasized David Morgan, Head of the Political Section and Deputy Ambassador of Canada to Serbia, North Macedonia, and Montenegro.

The Canadian LEADER Project is an international economic development program established in 1991 and led by instructors from the Ivey Business School at Western University through its MBA, HBA, MSc, and PhD programs. According to Mirjana Dončić Beaton, Executive Director of CANSEE, the program is successfully implemented around the world, aiming to empower promising entrepreneurs to envision, launch, and grow new ventures that strengthen local economies.

“Today, as the LEADER Project celebrates its 10th edition in Serbia, we remain committed to supporting individuals by helping them develop business ideas that contribute to both society and the economy,” said Dončić Beaton.

The event at the Chamber of Commerce brought together business leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to discuss and explore the dynamic intersections between artificial intelligence, modern leadership, entrepreneurship, and the importance of diversity in shaping the future of business and society.