Arijana Koskarova

Co-Founder of Creative Hub

(Forbes 30 Under 30)

5 April 2019 6 Min Read

Arijana Koskarova: Pursuing Opportunities and Achieving Goals

I had the honor to talk to Arijana Koskarova, a passionate and ambitious entrepreneur and co-founder of Creative Hub, a business that brings together international lecturers and provides students with high-level networking events, as well as partnerships with top schools and internships. Arijana’s business granted her the recognition she deserved by Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Europe 2019: Social Entrepreneurs.

Arijana started her career with an MBA from the International University of Monaco. She has founded multiple businesses during her journey, including Travel Guide “Skopje In Style” in Macedonia and CruiseKPI and Yacht N’Go in Monaco. She has also worked as a Manager at Royal Caribbean Cruises in Shanghai.

Her international experience certainly brings a positive aspect to her work with Creative Hub. Join me in learning what Arijana’s secret to success is, what motivates her, and what qualities a successful entrepreneur should possess!

The Logician

Before anything, thank you for taking the time to do this interview today! Would you mind introducing yourself? Who is Arijana Koskarova? What do you do for a living?

Arijana Koskarova

Arijana Koskarova is an entrepreneur in what she does.

A passionate and ambitious achiever with a background of a marketer, with an MBA from the International University of Monaco.

My work experience includes Shanghai, Miami, New York, and Monaco.

I also enjoy creating, I enjoy working with teams and bringing the best out of people by developing them.

The Logician

I also would like to congratulate you on making the Forbes’ 30 under 30! It must be a great honor. Was this one of your goals?

Arijana Koskarova

On the Forbes Under 30 awards, I was introduced at one summit in Hong Kong where I went to pitch my app “Cruisekpi”.

I met a guy from India who was talking all the time that his goal is to be on the list, and I was like ‘wait what list?’. So technically he introduced me to the list.

I was 27 at that time and I thought “I have no chance, I am too old”.

A year later, when my idea “Creative Hub” started developing in a serious business I thought I deserve to be on the list.

The Logician

Can you tell us more about Creative Hub? How was the idea born?

Arijana Koskarova

The idea is the connection between my experience and education. It is a sort of a puzzle, everything I learned and experienced is combined in a single informal education program.

Creative Hub is more than just a training hub with courses and academies.

We organize high-level networking events, we bring international lecturers, we even brought the Vogue photographer on a Masterclass.

We partner with top schools such as Miami ad School where our students can continue their education,

Our lecturers come from various fields, they are well-recognized professionals in Macedonia and we provide internship for every student.

The Logician

Not only you have founded Creative Hub, but you also have founded CruiseKPI, and you are a CEO and Manager in two other companies. How hard is it for you to manage your time? How do you do it all? What is your secret?

Arijana Koskarova

Cruisekpi was well before Creative Hub.

Actually, Cruisekpi (which was an app on Key Performance Indicators for Cruise Lines) helped me found Creative Hub later on.

With Cruisekpi I learned how to pitch to investors, how to deal with banks, and how not to (laughing).

On the other hand, I do believe my greatest challenge is to deal with all the ideas that I have in my head.

I just have so many that it is really difficult to transfer and organized parallelly everything.

The secret?

There is no secret, you learn to prioritize and to work more if you want to achieve more.

The Logician

What is your definition of success and why? When was your ‘I made it’ moment?

Arijana Koskarova

I still haven’t had my ‘I made it’ moment’, because I believe I can still give so much.

Probably 20 years from now if I achieve the freedom to live wherever I want and to manage my businesses and live without having to be there directly I can say that.

My definition of success is:

“Where you are born, where you live does not limit you. Only time does. Use your time on the best possible way. You got you! Whatever you want to achieve depends on you and how hard you want to work. So do It for you!”

The Logician

What is your opinion on smart vs. hard work? Do you think education is necessary for success? Please explain.

Arijana Koskarova

Success can be defined in many different ways by different people.

For some people is financial freedom, and for others is a good salary at the end of the month.

For someone is a 3 months vacation in the year.

During these years I have met so many people that I can’t really define success but a single person experience.

Smart and hard work go together.

Smart people know that it takes hard work for success. Now, are they going to do it? Will they hire someone? Well, it’s up to the person itself.

On the question of education, I would not say that it is a must for success because I do know people who left high school and are successful businessman today.

But I also know a significant amount of people who later on in life after business success take executive programs.

The Logician

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you opened your own business? What are the top five qualities and traits of successful entrepreneurs?

Arijana Koskarova

Oh, a lot of things. I wish I had a mentor who would lead me. Who would teach me on what is expensive, what is achievable, what should I do when I open a business, etc.

The first space for the hub we rented was downtown on a very good central location. Everyone around me told me the rent is insane, however when I signed the contract I had no one to tell me that I can find cheaper or how to negotiate.

Top 5?

Persistence, Ambition, Hard Work, Dream, Team.

The Logician

According to you, what matters in life? Who is your biggest supporter? Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing?

Arijana Koskarova

My biggest supporter is my mom. She is my rock whenever I need. I also have a small circle of business friends who are always advising me when I have a doubt. However, I have to say that all the decisions at the end always come to me.

So I will say this ‘I got myself’. I think I am my biggest supporter.

Outside of work, I love my daily workouts, I love hanging out with my friends, I love traveling and having fun. Overall, that’s what life is all about. Living it to the max.

The Logician

Where do you see yourself 5–10 years from now? What about your businesses?

Arijana Koskarova

I see myself as the president of a board of a corporation listed on NASDAQ. Well, my business is that corporation.

Also, 5 kids and a house in Santa Monica.

The Logician

Lastly, what life advice would you like to share with the audience?

Arijana Koskarova

I am very often asked this question and I always say the same:

“Action, action, action. There is no better time to start than today. Start and fail rather than not try. Work hard and you will get where you want.”

Life is full of opportunities. The question is whether you are prepared to take them.

The Logician

Despite all of your success, you say you still haven't had your 'I made it' moment. I agree when you say you still have so much left to give. After all, you are so young, so I'm excited to see your future. Thank you, Arijana, for inspiring my readers and myself and reminding us that circumstances aren't limiting. You can achieve anything when you want to do something and work hard! I can't wait to hear about NASDAQ, your five kids, and the house in Santa Monica!

The Logician

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