Merima Šadić, who is currently the manager of 4 doctor’s offices in Great Britain, spoke with us, and BUZZ brings you the story of a woman who, despite her accomplished career outside the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has not forgotten her country. We came to Merima through the popular group “Mi, Mahaluše” , in which she often helps in humanitarian actions, and her contribution makes those who need help the most happy every day. Merima revealed to us what her beginnings were like in Great Britain, but also how different life there is from life in the Balkans.
When did you go to Great Britain and how did you decide to do it?
12 years ago, I met my husband, who was born in Brčko, but lives in England. 2011. we got married and after the wedding I came to live with him.
How different is life there from life in the Balkans?
In my experience so far, I can honestly say that the people of the Balkans are the most noble people. Such hospitality does not exist anywhere in the world. The community is closer in Bosnia than in England. People are more relaxed and seem happier. More time is spent with neighbors, family and friends, while this is not the case in England.
We are fortunate to live in Birmingham where we have both our own mosque and a Bosnian house that operates as part of the ‘Bosnia UK Network.’ Our children attend a Bosnian school and we often organize gatherings where traditional Bosnian food is served, Independence Day and Statehood Day are marked, the anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide and other significant dates in the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
What were your beginnings like?
When I came to England 9 years ago, I started working in the reception area of a doctor’s office. While working in the reception area, I had the opportunity to complete a course for a Health Care Assistant. I got a diploma and now I can work with patients (draw blood, work with asthmatics, diabetics, etc.). I worked in both positions for several years, and in the meantime I completed several courses that were most needed for the business at that time. When the position of assistant manager opened up – I successfully passed the interview and training and worked in that position for about a year. In 2017, the main doctors founded the company “Druid Group” and they decided to appoint me as the manager of the company. Currently I am the manager of 4 doctor’s offices in Birmingham with a patient list of 12,000 and a team of 45 people and I am studying “Human Resources Management”. I am in my final year of this faculty.
How difficult is it to be a successful woman today?
It is much easier to be a successful woman today than it may have been in the past. But first, we should define ‘success’. For some, success is being a housewife, for others, success is being successful in their career. It’s all individual. I believe that for every woman, success is achieving her goals and finding a balance between her private and professional life. There is no simple formula. The desire for success is omnipresent, but for that desire to become a reality, a lot of effort, hard work and sacrifice are necessary. The most important thing is not to adopt a victim mentality and to work as hard as possible to achieve the goal you have set.
Given that you are a very successful woman who is first and foremost a wife and mother, how do you manage to balance your private and business life?
In everything we do, when there is an imbalance – it always leads to dissatisfaction. If a woman decides that she wants to be a mother, a wife and a successful businesswoman, then she must keep all three achievements in a sacred and protected place in her life and devote enough of her time to both. Priorities must be clearly defined and there must be strict discipline to give each aspect its deserved importance. If one aspect is compromised, then this will undoubtedly lead to one’s own dissatisfaction and a sense of failure. For a perfect balance, there must also be support, help and understanding from a life partner. I am really happy that I get all the support and encouragement from my husband as well as from his parents who help us a lot with the children.
How long have you been in the group “Mi, mahaluše” and what was your experience with the group?
I have been in the group since 2016. The experience is extremely positive because the group is full of humane, sincere, witty and funny women. Different topics are active every day in which we share our experiences and honest advice.
Thank you to Halida Telalović, who successfully gathered almost 60,000 women from all over Bosnia, the countries of the former Yugoslavia and the diaspora.
Believe me, these are the women who really tell the most beautiful stories.
Does “We, Mahalushes” replace your nostalgia for Bosnia and Herzegovina?
In a sense, yes. We often write about our native places, we post pictures from our travels through Bosnian places, traditions, old Bosnian words and expressions. We do many humanitarian actions for homes in Bosnia or wherever help is needed most at a given moment.
There are also “Mi, Kuharice” where mostly recipes and pictures of our Bosnian dishes are shared.
What is the most important thing you have learned in life?
Once upon a time, I read the book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. That book had a great influence on my life. It shows and proves the eternal proof of the power of our dreams to transform us and witnesses of how important it is to listen to one’s own heart. She also reminded me that everyone is unique in their own way and that everyone’s life path is different. The most important thing is that we live the life that we want and that we choose ourselves and that we don’t let others tailor it for us. Sometimes we succeed and sometimes we fail in our goal. The outcome is not important, but the process itself.
Taken from DnevniBUZZ
Interviewed by: Adna Tatarević
