PETOŠEVIĆ PEOPLE: Q&A with Danilo Bakić

Based in our Belgrade office, Marketing Coordinator Danilo Bakić handles various marketing projects for the firm, such as the organization of conference attendance and the meeting calendars for our lawyers. We asked Danilo about his work, what it is like to work in marketing for an IP firm, his hobbies, and much more.

1. How did you start your career in marketing?

   After graduating from the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, I landed a job at a Nordic NGO, where I worked as an event planner. A friend of mine told me about a job opening at PETOŠEVIĆ’s Marketing Department. They were looking for someone to handle the work related to IP conferences and I had relevant work experience.

2. What is the most challenging aspect of your work?

   Organizing our attendance and client meetings at multiple IP conferences that sometimes take place at the same time can be quite challenging, especially when the conferences are attended by thousands of IP professionals. The room for error is not small, and it’s important to ensure that our colleagues who are attending aren’t distracted by tasks unrelated to IP during a conference.

3. What do you most enjoy doing at work?

   I genuinely love working together with my colleagues who are attending IP conferences. I’ve had the chance to meet incredible individuals from various parts of Eastern Europe and Central Asia within our organization. I’ve even formed (online) friendships with some of them, despite never having met in person. The list of colleagues from our company whom I’ve promised to take on a tour of Belgrade keeps expanding.

4. What would you be working in, if you weren’t working in marketing?

   Because I’m really into popular science and technology, chances are I’d find myself working for a high-tech startup as part of their marketing or business development team. I could also see myself working in the tourism industry.

5. What was the first job you’ve ever had?

   Apart from the distant times when my family paid me to mow the lawn, I worked part-time at various jobs while I was a student. I also trained rock climbing for three years and since I am familiar with climbing equipment, I had a job setting up zip-lines and ensuring the safety of clients during camping, rock climbing, zip-lining and other potentially dangerous activities.

6. What is your favorite thing to do when you are not working?

   I love spending time outdoors with my wife and daughter. I also enjoy doing sports, cooking and motorcycle touring. And of course, I absolutely love discussing international relations and the future of the world with my friends, usually on a park bench.

7. What book did you read last ?

   Honestly, I haven’t read a book since becoming a dad over a year ago. But I’m always reading interesting articles in online encyclopedias. Having spent over a month immersed in articles about the Napoleonic era, my interest has currently shifted towards Persia in the 20th century, particularly the rise and fall of the Pahlavi dynasty.

8. What is your favorite song/music at the moment?

   Just a few weeks ago, I went to my third Rammstein concert, or should I say, spectacle. After reading this question, a bunch of Rammstein songs instantly popped into my head. Other than Rammstein, currently I’m enjoying the song “One & Only” by Oliver Tree. Fun fact – the video was filmed in Belgrade.

9. What is your favorite dish of all time?

   This one is easy – pasta. Pasta dishes are like children to me, asking me to pick a favorite is impossible. It’s no wonder, considering that as a kid I lived in Monza in Italy. That’s where my love for Italian cuisine comes from.

10. If you could meet anyone in the world, from the past or present, who would it be and why?

    Probably Napoleon. Just imagine yourself in his war tents, witnessing how he made those decisions that shaped European history for centuries to come. Ferdinand Magellan is another person who comes to mind. He managed to circumnavigate the Earth 500 years ago, without a clear map and fancy navigation instruments. It’s pretty incredible when you think about it!

11. What was your favorite subject in school and why?

    History and Geography. My love for history started when I was 10 because of the RTS (real-time strategy) video games I played. Most of them were based on historical events. I also liked Physics.

12. What did you want to be when growing up?

    During my teenage years, I wanted to become an army officer. Seeing all the unfortunate events happening around us, I’m convinced that it was a smart move not to pursue that career path. It was sad to witness good and honest people being instrumentalized by the corrupt elite.

13. Tell us three things most people don’t know about you.

    I used to compete in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for almost seven years, and I’m a proud owner of a brown belt.

    Carlito, my pet tarantula, just turned 14. I got him when I was a teenager, never imagining that he would be there to witness me getting married or my journey into fatherhood. Interestingly, my daughter isn’t afraid of him — it must be the genes.

    Recently I became a huge fan of traditional Sumo wrestling. It’s very easy to get hooked on this unique martial art, in which one cannot overstate the importance of tradition.

14. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

    I’d really love to learn how to play the drums. I got my daughter a pair of drumsticks, but she only played with them for a couple of days. Now I find myself air drumming with those sticks and daydreaming about being a drummer in a famous rock band.

15. What is your biggest frustration about the world around you?

    Rising inflation, galloping inequality, and breakthroughs in A.I. are causing me concern. I also feel for the people who live in constant fear, danger, and misery simply because they had the misfortune of being born in a country run by a disconnected government that totally neglects the interests of the common people.

16. What is the most important thing you have learned in the last five years?

    Not to stress too much about the things that I can’t control, and to appreciate things that I used to take for granted — such as health.

17. What do you wish you could have told yourself at age 13?

    To learn how to focus on the things that I’m good at, instead of trying to learn too many things but mastering none.

18. What cities/countries have you lived in?

    Belgrade, Serbia and Monza, near Milan, Italy, where the famous Formula 1 track is located.

19. If you could live in another country of the 30+ countries where PETOŠEVIĆ operates, which would you pick and why?

    Our company covers numerous beautiful and fascinating countries, making it difficult for me to pick just one. As a motorcyclist, I would love to embark on a grand tour and visit every country where our group operates. But if I had to choose a single region to move to, given the breathtaking natural beauty of the Caucasus region, I would consider temporarily moving to Georgia or Armenia.

20. If someone came to your city for 24 hours, where would you take them?

    Belgrade, nestled between two large rivers, has so much to offer to both locals and visitors. I would recommend starting the tour with a visit to Kalemegdan, the medieval fortress situated at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. I would then take a refreshing break and enjoy a coffee at Tašmajdan Park or near the Temple of Saint Sava. In the evening, a nice walk along the Sava and Danube rivers would be a fantastic way to explore the city with guests. To wrap up the tour, I’d suggest treating ourselves to the most delicious cream pie in the world at a well-known restaurant located near Republic Square, the main square in Belgrade.