Branko Stanić, Assistant Director and Senior Research Associate, participated at the Young Leaders Forum 2026, an international three-day event held from May 15 to 17 at Hotel Trakošćan. The Forum was organized by the Croatian Office for Creativity and Innovation (HUKI) and the U.S. Embassy in Croatia, bringing together young leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts from the United States, Croatia, and the European Union with the aim of fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, international cooperation, and the development of leadership competencies.

On the second day of the Forum, Stanić participated in the panel discussion “From Zero to Hero”, which explored topics related to finance, leadership, and decision-making, opening a discussion on responsible resource management and sustainability. In his presentation, he spoke about the state of fiscal decentralization in Croatia, the challenges of local public finances, and the importance of data- and results-driven decision-making.

He particularly emphasized the importance of strengthening local capacities through cooperation among local government units, establishing more stable financing rules, and linking budget decisions with results and measurable outcomes. He also highlighted the need for openness toward functional integration and the possible merging of local government units that consistently fail to ensure an adequate level of public services.

"The strongest institutions are not necessarily those that never make mistakes, but those that are willing to measure results, learn from data and evidence, and adapt when something is not working", Stanić pointed out.

He emphasized that the same principle also applies to business management, entrepreneurship, and leadership – namely, the ability to make decisions based on results, learn from experience, and adapt in a changing environment.

Photo: Mislav Mesek