Prime Highlights:
- Dragana Čalija became Serbia’s first solo female tech founder, creating Saint D, a software and digital consulting company.
- She built a workplace where employees feel supported, trusted, and motivated, while also promoting innovation and inclusivity.
Key Facts:
- Saint Dhas expanded internationally, with offices in Serbia, the UK, and Switzerland.
- Čalija actively works to reduce gender bias in tech, supporting female entrepreneurship and digital training initiatives.
Background:
Dragana Čalija, Serbia’s first solo female tech founder, has made a strong mark in the tech industry, showing determination, vision, and leadership in a male-dominated field. At 27, she started Saint D, a software and digital consulting company, to build a business that matched her values and goals.
In an interview, Čalija said her early interest in leadership and planning helped guide her career. “I often led team projects during my studies, and my professors recognised my entrepreneurial mindset early on. My education gave me a strong technical foundation and network, which became invaluable when starting my own company,” she said.
Čalija knew a regular 9-to-5 job didn’t suit her, so she started her own company. “Good leadership isn’t just about growth. It’s about knowing when to adjust and make tough decisions,” she said.
Since then, Saint D has grown beyond Serbia, with offices in the UK and Switzerland. Čalija also stresses balancing work and personal life, setting goals, and enjoying hobbies.
Beyond her business achievements, Čalija actively promotes gender equality in technology. She collaborates with organisations that support female entrepreneurship, delivers digital training to women from vulnerable groups, and participates in initiatives such as International Girls in ICT Day.
“The connection between innovation, learning, and personal growth drives me every day,” Čalija said. “Technology never stands still, and neither do the people who build it.”
