Interview with Nikola Mirković
Ajla Dizdarevic
Nikola Mirković is the co-founder and co-CEO of ZenDev, an IT consulting company with offices in Bosnia and Sweden. Mirković earned his BA in software engineering at the Chalmers University of Technology.
Can you describe your occupation, including your title, industry, duties, and the impact that your actions have in your field?
I’m a serial entrepreneur who has co-founded a few companies. My main business is ZenDev, where I currently hold the title co-founder and co-CEO. We’re a Swedish-Bosnian software development agency employing just under 100 people with offices in Sarajevo, Mostar, and Gothenburg. My main responsibilities are to co-manage the company with my co-founder, Senad Santic, leading our sales and marketing team as we grow ZenDev. We’ve prioritized raising standards for working conditions and employee benefits in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which I’m extremely happy and proud of. Growing up in Sweden, a country that for decades has been a leader in fair working conditions and employee well-being, I knew I wanted to bring those values to ZenDev. For example, we’ve organized trips abroad for employees on the company’s dime. For nearly half of our colleagues, this was their first flight, which made the experience even more fun. On top of that, we introduced a 50% profit sharing program in which ZenDev’s dividends are shared with the team.
How did you get your start in your industry?
Although I wanted to pursue business in college, my grades weren’t quite high enough, so I went with my second choice, IT, at Chalmers University of Technology. Looking back, it was probably one of the best things that happened to me. In 2009, after one year at university, I started my first startup company while completing my studies. In 2011, I secured an internship in Silicon Valley and stayed in California for three years. After a few unsuccessful startups, I accepted a position as a software developer at an e-commerce company called Northerner Scandinavia in Gothenburg. Northerner Scandinavia became one of ZenDev’s first clients. As they say, the rest is history.
What steps have you taken over the years to advance in your industry?
Most of the knowledge I acquired was acquired on my own outside of university simply because my university didn’t offer courses in the areas I wanted to excel in. While pursuing my formal IT studies, I began learning web development and search engine optimization to create websites and drive traffic to them. I also learned how to monetize that traffic through ads and affiliate marketing.
Later on in my career, I found different networks to exchange knowledge, experiences, and ideas with like-minded people. Right now, I’m part of an entrepreneurial network called Founders Alliance, which connects over 300 entrepreneurs with one another.
Can you describe co-founding your startup and what your startup does?
I’ve known my co-founder, Senad Santić, for over 25 years. We were childhood friends who co-founded several web businesses during college. In 2016, he came to me with the idea of starting an IT consulting company offering software development services from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The plan was for him to move back to Mostar, where he is originally from, while I remained in Gothenburg, Sweden.
This company became ZenDev, which offers services needed to build software, including UI/UX design, software development, DevOps, quality assurance, and project management. Our mission is to build products that are recognized on a global scale.
What aspects of your industry have you made more accessible to the Bosnian community?
ZenDev has afforded young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina the opportunity to work with world-class companies like Volvo and IKEA without leaving their homes. We’ve opened doors to the international job market, mainly in Scandinavia, and have also proven that Balkan IT professionals are competitive workers in the international job market.
What has been a memorable project for you, and what did it teach you?
I co-founded a company called Mendy a few years ago. We aimed to develop a service that connected handymen with customers over video calls to help with house repairs. It was a very intense journey, and we ended up closing the company after a few years when we realized we didn’t have enough runway to truly make an impact in the industry. Through this project, I learned a lot about what happens when people don’t take ownership of their responsibilities and the importance of holding others, including myself, accountable.
What advice do you have for Bosnian-American professionals who want to join your industry and succeed like you?
I think you really need to enjoy what you’re doing, so make sure you have a passion for the profession you’re pursuing. Find other people who are passionate about the same things and with whom you enjoy working. Energy, whether it’s positive or negative, is contagious!
Additionally, I’ve noticed that the most successful people in the IT industry aren’t just strong engineers; they’re clear communicators, especially when it comes to explaining complex concepts to people who don’t work in tech.
Accountability is equally important, so take ownership of your work, your bugs, and your deadlines. And finally, be empathetic. Understand the different perspectives of users, teammates, and clients.
