The Executive Education program in Canada has been a truly rewarding and enriching experience for me. As part of the Executive Leadership program, I’ve successfully completed the Queen’s Executive Leadership Program at the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University in Kingston, followed by a job-shadowing experience at the leading company in Toronto, the Toronto Star.
The Leadership Program at the Smith School of Business was focused on learning and peer-to-peer knowledge exchange while exposing participants to diverse leadership environments, focusing on strategic leadership, innovation, team performance, and organizational transformation.
Queen’s University gave me the opportunity to learn alongside and from professors, executive coaches, an incredible group of peers who challenged, inspired, and supported each other throughout the program. The curriculum included a series of inspiring lectures on transformational, charismatic, and self-aware leadership, advanced one-on-one coaching, as well as team meetings with an extraordinary Seeker Challenge exercise. This aided in developing skills and expertise, with awareness as the foundation for more effective, authentic guidance, persuasive communication, and empathetic leadership.
My Executive journey culminated in the unforgettable experience at the Toronto Star, with the opportunity to job-shadow across multiple departments at one of Canada’s leading and most respected news organizations. I gained valuable insight into how different functions come together to support high-impact journalism. It was inspiring to see the collaboration, creativity, and commitment that drive every part of the organization.
I’m extremely grateful to Mr. Jonatan Bitove for the incredible organization and exclusive access across a spectrum of departments, and to everyone at the Toronto Star who took the time to share their proficiency and make this practice so meaningful. This knowledge deepened my appreciation for the power of storytelling, innovation, and cross-functional teamwork in the media industry.
Kudos to Prof. Goce Andreevski, for his warm hospitality and personalized engagement in providing a customized training session for strategy and competitive advantage. Also, glad to meet and exchange ideas with the members of the Ambassador’s Club of the Macedonia 2025 organization in Canada.
This experience expanded my perspective on leadership, strategic decision-making, and the power of authentic influence. I am looking forward to applying these insights and driving meaningful impact in my company, Makedonski Telekom, to lead with elevated confidence and purpose, and carry these learnings into the next stage of my professional career.
A huge thank you to Macedonia2025 for their incredible support and for allowing me to be part of this journey! Although I entered the program with high expectations, it exceeded every educational, practical, and professional level.
Honored and excited for the voyage ahead and the opportunity to grow, learn, and give back!
Zane Ivanovska, Lead for Customer Experience and Customer Value Management – AD Makedonski Telekom (part of DT Group)
