QBack - Miljan Simonović: New Possibilities for Success on PM Journey

The return of Miljan Simonović to our company marks not only the comeback of an experienced professional but also the continuation of an exceptionally fruitful collaboration. During the past period, Miljan has demonstrated his qualities and dedication, and we have been pleased to follow his professional development. We maintained contact, waiting for the right opportunity to embark on a shared journey towards an even more successful future. 

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Miljan's return to the role of a Project Manager enables him to, step by step, realize his professional ambitions. We continue to build our story together, with full confidence in Miljan's ability to achieve outstanding results.

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How do you view your previous experience with Quantox, and can you share some details about your start with the company?

My first encounter with Quantox was during my studies when I started as a junior Project Manager. Before that, I was active in the nonprofit sector, organizing events and small projects. So, Quantox marked the beginning of my corporate career. I worked on numerous projects, learned, tried new things, and developed myself. Despite the later challenges of the pandemic and uncertainty, Quantox is a company that truly cares about its employees and made an effort to ensure that challenges were not felt, and teams adapted well to remote work.

 How do you believe the time initially spent with us prepared you for your current career?

Regarding my initial experience with Quantox, I would highlight two things. Firstly, the excellent mentorship I received. I believe that at the beginning of one's career, having a good mentor is crucial. They provide support for learning and development while also assigning real and challenging tasks that help gain experience – something I definitely had at Quantox. Secondly, the diversity of projects. Working in the outsourcing world allows constant learning through different projects and working with different clients. Each new project is a unique story, a new idea to be realized, and new challenges to overcome – each new experience contributes to making future work easier.

Do you believe this is the right moment for your second experience at Quantox, and why?

Absolutely! In the past period, I have matured and gained a lot of experience, working with startups, smaller companies, and even corporations like IBM. Now is the right time to leverage that experience and take project management to a higher level. Quantox has also matured significantly, working on internal organization, growth, and strategic expansion. Despite industry challenges, there's no better way to progress than by solving problems and facing challenges.

Have there been any changes in your professional journey in the past?

The core of my career has always been communication with people and working on various activities. The type of projects has changed, ranging from in-house product development to outsourcing projects and improving internal processes. Industries have also changed – from education to healthcare, cloud services, and blockchain. However, my role as a Project Manager has remained consistent, helping teams develop outstanding products.

In which areas do you think your previous experience will bring the most value to the PM team?

Primarily, in improving organization and processes. I've had the opportunity to work with numerous startups and scale-ups in establishing PM teams, creating custom PM frameworks, and structuring internal processes. Quantox has made significant progress in internal organization since my first time here when there were around 200 employees, so I see room for further improvement and stability to support the company's continued growth. Of course, my primary focus is on project delivery, and my previous experience in different industries will make it easier to work at Quantox, where each project is innovative in its own way, depending on the industry, technologies, and the client's imagination.

What do you think are the biggest challenges for project managers in the industry today?

As a global challenge that has been widely discussed recently, I would mention remote work. It's much easier to work with a team that's in the same room because co-location facilitates effective communication, team building, and problem-solving. 

The pandemic has brought a new normal – distributed teams and remote work, but the post-COVID era is trying to reintroduce office work through hybrid models. It's up to project managers to find the best solution for their projects and teams. Additionally, there are constant industry changes, a constant influx of new methodologies, frameworks, and tools – all of which need to be followed to stay up-to-date and deliver the best results.

What is your primary motivation and inspiration in business - what keeps you going?

Client satisfaction and team fulfillment. Although project managers don't create tangible value by writing code or creating content, enabling smooth work, leading teams, and solving problems are also crucial for a successful project. The feeling within the team when a project is completed and delivered, whether regularly through sprints or in phases, is highly motivating. When all of that is delivered to the client, client satisfaction is another motivator to continue delivering quality work.

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