Within the IT sector, women are still significantly underrepresented. The percentage of women in technical positions in the Dutch digital sector will drop to 19% by 2023, down from 21% in 2022. This puts the Netherlands three percent below the European average, according to the Dutch D&I in Digital Benchmark 2023.
Dragana Mijatovic has worked at Eraneos for 20 years and is a prime example of how diversity can flourish in the IT world. Her journey began at TU Delft, where she studied Electrical Engineering Systems and Control Laboratory. Driven by a passion for technology, she expanded her skills a few years later with an international MBA at Webster University in Leiden. This powerful combination of technical expertise and business administration laid the foundation for her impressive career.
Champion of diversity
Dragana is a strong advocate of diversity within the IT sector. “Why should the IT sector want more women?” she asks rhetorically. “Diversity leads to better results and innovation. Women bring a unique perspective and skills that are crucial for inclusive and effective solutions. This sector offers countless opportunities for growth, challenge and impact.” Her work is an example of how it can be done; more than 50 percent of her business unit is female. This, unfortunately, still makes her an exception, but Eraneos wants to make a more active effort to improve this for all business units.
“Women bring a unique perspective and skills that are crucial for inclusive and effective solutions.“
The magic of digital transformation
After completing her education, Dragana knew exactly where she wanted to go: consulting. But before she wanted to help companies grow, she wanted to gain hands-on experience. Dragana explains: “At the time, I wondered how I could advise others on organizational structures and processes without having practical experience myself.” Through her network, she ended up at Quint, a small consulting firm near the Vondelpark in Amsterdam. “I chose this workplace because it was close to my home, but I didn’t realize at the time that I would spend more time in the car than in the office.”
Most of her career to date has been dedicated to digital transformation, both from her employer and former clients. What draws Dragana to digital transformation is the perfect blend of technology, change management and organizational design. “It’s not just about new tools, but about redesigning organizations and managing change effectively. All of this leads to more efficient operations, better customer service and new opportunities.”
Partner Organizational Excellence & Transformation
In early 2023, due to the merger of Quint Group, AWK Group and Ginkgo Management Consulting, Quint continued under the name Eraneos. At that time, Dragana will have been responsible for the international business unit ‘Organizational Excellence & Transformation’ as Partner for exactly ten years. She advises boards and directors and is part of the management team of Eraneos Netherlands. Her role is multifaceted, as she is involved from strategic consulting to leading complex transformation projects.
Not only with her employer, but also with her clients, the Eraneos partner is appreciated. “A client once told me that I had changed their culture, and while that’s a nice compliment, of course I don’t do it alone. It is the result of countless small, powerful interventions, which bring about big changes.”
Dragana’s team also welcomes her input. To celebrate her anniversary, she received a wonderful gift that still makes her blush. “They had collected several valuable compliments in a collage for me with the theme, ‘you’re a sky full of stars,’” she said. To cite a great example: Always stylish with your glitter, but above all infectiously enthusiastic, honest, critical and professional – a real power woman. In the sometimes somewhat gray IT world, you are a glittering star who inspires and motivates.”
Nr. 1 in Agile Consultancy
Dragana likes to share her life lessons: “Most people are virtuous, so maintain your contacts. No one is happy and successful in isolation. With that, I think it’s important to make others great, which makes you grow yourself. But surely the biggest lesson is: if you can’t be anything else, be kind.”
And being kind is right up Dragana’s alley. She is incredibly proud of her team and the joint successes they achieve. “We achieved the title No. 1 in Agile Consultancy by not only strictly following Agile frameworks, but also implementing them in a sustainable way. We face the challenges together with our clients and are proud when they reap the benefits of transformation.”
Dragana’s motto, “I would like to make a positive impact on people around me,” is at the heart of her approach, both professionally and personally. It is more than obvious that she is an inspiration to Eraneos and beyond. On to the next anniversary with many more diversity milestones!
