“I learned a lot about how people in Silicon Valley think about entrepreneurship, innovation, and building companies.”
Can you introduce yourself? Tell us your name, where you’re from, and a bit about your background.
My name is Sonja, and I’m from Serbia. I have a bachelor’s degree in Business Management, which I really enjoyed and knew I wanted to study since high school.
After that, I joined a graduate program with HP, where I worked as a business analyst and learned tools like Excel and Power BI, which I still really enjoy using.
Currently, I work as a sustainability analyst at a can-making company called AMP.
What inspired you to join ABC Silicon Valley?
I really enjoy international programs like this, where you can travel, meet new people, and work on case studies or real problems together.
I’m also planning to do my MBA in a couple of years, so I saw this as a very valuable experience for networking and learning from different perspectives.
What did you learn during the program?
I learned a lot about the Silicon Valley mindset — how people think about entrepreneurship, startups, and what motivates people to build companies. It was interesting to see how different it feels compared to other environments I’ve been in.
What stood out to you the most?
Visiting companies like Tesla and IBM was a very valuable experience. It was interesting to see how different parts of businesses operate in practice, not just in theory. Each company had something different to take away from.
Who was your favorite speaker?
My favorite was Kerry Brown. I found his perspective very unique because he is not only a businessman, but also an inventor.
That combination really changed how I think about entrepreneurship. I was impressed by the hands-on, scientific way he approaches building products and ventures.
Would you recommend the program?
Yes, definitely. I would recommend it to students and young professionals who want real-world experience, networking opportunities, and on-the-ground learning.
