Successful Diaspora Returnee Stories: Martina Marincic Kustra, Axsis Projects, Zagreb

The 2nd International Conference on Diaspora Tourism took place in Split on May 17, 2019. TCN meets some of the returning diaspora who have made a success of life in Croatia. Next up, Martina Marincic Kustra of Axsis Projects in Zagreb.

1. You are from Hercegovina, returned to Croatia, something that many diaspora dream of doing. Tell us briefly about your journey.

I was born in Hercegovina, lived in Slovenia where I worked for an architecture and engineering company and now in Zagreb for almost 4 years. I don’t have a ‘romantic’ story like my husband Joseph about why I moved here. I actually did not want to live in Croatia. I got a job offer and planned to stay for a few months. The company I worked for had some interesting projects lined up. We worked on updating and renovating visitor’s centers for national parks including Plitvice, Kopački rit, some museums and hotel chains. So I kept prolonging my stay.

Zagreb is changing a lot, in a good way and I started liking it. It is getting more European in energy and lifestyle. There is a lot of potential from business perspective as well. Funny thing is I met my husband the first time I went out in Zagreb. I guess there was a reason I needed to be here for a few months…

After living here for 2 years, I realized I’m staying so I started my business here in architecture and interior design field –Axsis projects. It is a full service company that caters to investors in Croatian real-estate market. We provide permits, interior design, project management and full furniture fit out.

But one of the services my clients appreciate the most is managing the project until completion and being their eyes and ears during the building phase here in Croatia. Doing business in Croatia is not easy, there are many roadblocks but there is a lot of ‘cake’ left for quality services in the Croatian market.

2. Looking back, what were your hopes, expectations and fears about moving to Croatia?

My fears were mentality, not having the opportunity to develop professionally, bad healthcare. I think those were also my expectations  But there are plenty of good people and opportunities here.

3. How supportive was your Croatian community back home at the time?

Not at all. It is considered a failure to move somewhere else and not stay there your whole life  My family is happy if I’m happy but everyone else is ‘confused’ by my choices. My goal was to start my business – I got that here; great weather – I got that here; a great and supportive community- I got that here too. And also I’m a big foodie, and access to good fresh food is amazing in Zagreb. I was not attached to any specific location or country but I knew what I wanted from life. I guess it all came together in Zagreb.

4. Many diaspora think of returning but few do. In truth, there is little information out there about real-life stories and help/info about the process. What advice do you have for those who are thinking about making the move?

Have a good financial background or a secured job. Life in Croatia is not as cheap as you think. You can’t get a job just because you showed up. Even with many industries lacking workers it is not easy. Learn the language. Things here move much slower than expected – prepare for that. I hear so many stories with things going bad. And I noticed it is mostly for the same reason – people expected things to be done the same way as in other countries.

Different environments have different rules and need different strategies. Emotional resilience in a must for survival here. I’m very involved in the international community here and that is very helpful. I’m also a member of ACAP and a member of the International Women’s Club Zagreb. Both of those associations are full of people with good advice about life and business in Croatia.

5. How were you perceived in Zagreb as diaspora moving back – was the welcome warm?

I did not pay much attention to that. I met some good people and some bad people. I think bad ones are bad to everyone, so that did not upset me too much.

6. Through a lot of hard work, you have been very successful, while many foreigners have given up and left Croatia. What are the keys to success in doing business in Croatia in your opinion?

As already mentioned emotional resilience… If you have an entrepreneurial mindset you will figure it out, if not it is going to be 10 times harder than in your country. There are many members of the expat community that have successful business here and are willing to help. That helped me a lot, not just advice but knowing that someone who does not speak the language can have a successful business in Croatia.

Get a great accountant, they will save you from bad decisions. Ask them everything and don’t assume just because you read something, heard something that it is true or applicable to your situation. Trust google more than the guy from the local bar who says he knows everyone and everything. As any business anywhere, know your market, adapt and change fast. And stay away from ‘I have a great deal, just for you, just because I like you’ –this usually involves your new found ‘best friend’ treating you with ‘janjetina’.

7. What is the diaspora community like in Zagreb and how integrated is it with locals?

I think that diaspora community is existing mostly parallel with locals. But many locals are very open to diaspora and expats, especially in the entrepreneurial community.

8. And finally, a word on this conference. How was it for you, and what were the main take-home points?

People were great! That is the most important thing. I think speaking about the problems is important. If you just stick your head in the sand those problems will eventually bite back and you will lose more than facing them in the first place. Conferences like this offer solutions, we just need to find a way to start implementing them.

You can connect with Martina via the official Axsis Projects website.

For more on the Croatian diaspora, check out the TCN dedicated section.