Marjan Batagelj, Slovenian Entrepreneur of the Year 2019

The eighth Congress of Slovenian Entrepreneurs took place in Portorož on Friday, 31 May 2019. Each year, at the biggest gathering of Slovenian entrepreneurs, the prestigious title Slovenian Entrepreneur of the Year is awarded, selected by the entrepreneurs themselves.

Congress of champions of entrepreneurship

The eighth Congress of Slovenian Entrepreneurs took place in Portorož on Friday, 31 May 2019. Each year, at the biggest gathering of Slovenian entrepreneurs, the prestigious title Slovenian Entrepreneur of the Year is awarded, selected by the entrepreneurs themselves. The three champions of entrepreneurship, as they were called by the congress hosts, were nominated for this prestigious title: Marjan Batagelj, known as the president of management board and owner of Postojnska jama d.d. among other roles that he plays in the Slovenian economy, Bogdan Kronovšek from the company Kronoterm d.o.o. and Tomaž Lah from the company Nektar Natura d.o.o.

»Hi fights for us, for all of you, for our children, for economy, for Slovenia«

When pronouncing the winner, Dr Jure Knez from the company DEWESoft d.o.o. said that the nominees are »exceptional entrepreneurs, people who run their companies with heart and devotion«.

The Entrepreneur of the Year has become the one »who has a clear vision about entrepreneurship and courage to express this vision in public. Being criticized and attacked many times, he says to himself  “Why do I need this!”, nevertheless, he keeps fighting on every morning. For us, for all of you, for our children, for economy, for Slovenia! « This is what Dr Knez told about the Slovenian Entrepreneur of the Year Marjan Batagelj, serial entrepreneur, visionary and a driving force, representing a good model of Slovenian tourism.

Young entrepreneurs, our hope

Marjan Batagelj did not hide that at the congress he felt most enthusiastic about the young group of entrepreneurs AVAGA from the Dobravlje Primary School, the winner of POPRI competition for the best entrepreneur ideas of the youngsters, who presented their idea at the congress, too. When pronouncing the winner, he said: »If I could give this award to someone, I would give it to them. I am so happy for them, they are our hope! «

He also entrusted us which force drives him on when he thinks “why do I need this”. »If you look through one day, one hour, then you would like to be in the comfort zone. However, if you look at the trace that you are leaving behind, these dreams that you catching, they drive you on, as the wind drives a sailing boat. Therefore, it really does not matter who is the Entrepreneur of the Year, all entrepreneurs are the winners, since they are fighters, the ones who fight for a better future. «

 

Author of the photos: Janez Kočar