Slovenia has become home to some remarkable voices in the personal growth arena. The 2024 top personal growth speakers are leading figures, bringing fresh perspectives and innovative strategies for self-improvement. These experts excel in areas like leadership, motivation, emotional intelligence, and mindset shifts, helping individuals reach their full potential. Here’s a closer look at the top 10 personal growth speakers making waves in Slovenia, guiding many on their journey toward lasting success and personal transformation.
Ksenija Benedetti
Ksenija Benedetti was first appointed Chief of Protocol of the Republic of Slovenia in July 2000. Over the course of her 18-year career, she and her team organized and executed numerous historical events in Slovenia. Throughout these 18 years, whenever her duties allowed, she conducted full-day workshops on Protocol Rules and lectured to diplomats, politicians, businesspeople, public servants, and middle management in the business sector. In 2019, she published her second book Kažipoti, sonatina o odnosih in kulturi srca (Guidelines, a Sonatina about Relationships and the Culture of the Heart) through Sanje Publishing House, and in June 2023, her third book, Hiša sozvočja (The House of Harmony), an autobiographical interview with 75 interviewers, was published by Beletrina Publishing. She is also the recipient of the 2018 Lecturer of the Year Award by the Life Learning Academy and the 2020 PRO PR international award.
Sara Isakovič
Sara Isaković is Slovenia’s most successful swimmer and the winner of a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which marked the peak of her sports career. Four years after retiring from professional sports, Sara has found her mission in studying brain function and performance psychology. After completing her bachelor’s degree at Berkeley and her master’s degree in San Diego, she began working with young athletes, pilots, and businesspeople, helping them achieve optimal performance in stressful situations. Her mission is to make psychology accessible to performers, explaining it in a practical, fun, and relatable way.
Darko Đurić
Darko Đurić is a former top para-athlete, known to the broader Slovenian public as a two-time world champion, European champion, world record holder, and two-time Paralympian. After retiring from competitive sports in 2020, he co-founded an innovative company focused on digital solutions in physiotherapy. Through the brand Froomcare, they offer individuals quick and effective therapeutic treatment. In addition to entrepreneurship, he remains active in sports, promoting sponsorships and raising awareness for para-volleyball.
Dr. Aleksander Zadel
Dr. Aleksander Zadel is a psychologist and a specialist in clinical psychology. He focuses on the development of individuals and teams, coaching people in the most demanding positions in business and the public sector. He is frequently hired as a consultant by companies that place people at the center of sustainable success. He co-founded the Department of Biopsychology at the University of Primorska.
Boštjan Romih
In addition to his work in television and radio, Boštjan Romih has been successfully teaching public speaking for over 15 years. He conducts workshops, lectures, and individual training sessions for various clients, all characterized by the exceptional practical value of the content, high professionalism, and his extensive experience in public speaking across different fields, combined with a relaxed atmosphere. He earned the highest certification for microphone speech proficiency at Radio Slovenia and is a certified NLP practitioner.
Blaž Zupan
Dr. Blaž Zupan is a full professor at the Faculty of Computer and Information Science at the University of Ljubljana and head of the Laboratory for Bioinformatics. His teaching and research focus on data mining, with the laboratory applying these techniques primarily in biomedical research projects. He enjoys building intuitive software systems for data analytics and data fusion techniques, which are tested and used by partners at home and abroad. One such partner is the Baylor College of Medicine, where he is a visiting professor.
In 2016, Dr. Blaž Zupan was listed in the “New Europe 100” project, which was carried out by Res Publica, Google, the International Visegrad Fund, and the Financial Times, in collaboration with numerous institutions, highlighting the 100 best innovators from Central and Eastern Europe.
Dr. Sanela Peresciutti
Dr. Sanela Peresciutti graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in Sarajevo (University of Sarajevo) and has been working at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana, at the Clinical Department of Gastroenterology, since 2011. Sanela continues to further her education in psychology and psychotherapy, completing several months of supplementary studies in the USA, Germany, and Switzerland. She describes herself as a young doctor and a joyful person who freely talks about the importance of hugs and sex in daily life. Her greatest passion is talking about emotional brains. She enjoys hiking in Slovenian hills, long conversations with good friends, and often hugs people randomly. Her goal is to motivate people and their imaginations to connect with the endorphins around us.
Dr. Željko Čurić
Dr. Željko Čurić is a physician, psychiatrist, and communication expert. He is the co-founder and director of projects at O.K. Consulting, a company that provides training for improving interpersonal relationships. In 1993, he moved to Ljubljana from Dubrovnik with his wife Emilija and their daughter Andreja. He specializes in counseling, training, and clinical psychotherapy. His work includes education and training in business and sports psychology, as well as individual and group coaching in both professional and personal development. He is also a coach and trainer for members of the special units of the Slovenian police and the negotiation unit for terrorist situations and hostage rescues.
Emil Marinšek
Emil Marinšek is an entrepreneur at heart and soul. He started his entrepreneurial journey at the age of 15. In 1994, he shifted his focus to the production and sale of high-quality mattresses. Since then, ensuring good and quality sleep has been his mission. For his entrepreneurial work, he was nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year in 2009, and in 2013, he received the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia award for outstanding business achievements. He believes that sleep is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle, and in recent years, he has devoted much of his time to researching sleep and its impact on individual health.
Marko Juhant
Marko Juhant is a lecturer and author of several bestselling books on parenting. He is also a special education teacher specializing in behavior, emotions, and personality, a former school principal, and a lifelong educator. He is often sought after by desperate parents who no longer see a way out of the vicious cycle of difficult child behavior.
