For over three decades, it has been our privilege to annually bestow the Manager of the Year award, recognizing the most exceptional business leaders and their exemplary business models. These individuals serve as inspiring role models, driving the much-needed transformation of the Slovenian economy.

Among these distinguished individuals is this year's Manager of the Year, Marko Lukić, the director of Lumar. A business leader who values action over words, Lukić firmly believes that successful managers demonstrate their capabilities through their actions rather than through mere rhetoric.

Perseverance, indomitability, clear objectives, and focus: a recipe for success.

Just as he pushed the boundaries of climbing, he is now doing the same in business. He is constantly seeking new and unique challenges, both for his personal growth and the growth of his company. He strives to stay one step ahead of the competition through innovative ideas and, above all, actions. As a firm believer in the power of action, he expects the same from others, encouraging them to demonstrate their capabilities through decisive and sustained efforts. Marko Lukić, a world-class climber, the son of an entrepreneur, and an entrepreneur himself, has found his passion in challenging himself.

"He is a man of principle, always full of innovative ideas. He encourages out-of-the-box thinking among his team and is an excellent listener. His remarkable sincerity and his philosophy of viewing mistakes as learning opportunities rather than failures are further testaments to his character. Marko Lukić is a director known for his exceptional attention to detail and perfectionism," reveal employees of Lumar, the Maribor-based woodworking company, backing up their words with figures demonstrating the company's growth over the past decade, a collection of awards, and stories of innovation, responsibility, and sustainable leadership."

Their success can be largely attributed to the ambitious vision of Marko Lukić, who took the helm of Lumar fifteen years ago. Understanding that he couldn't replicate his father's ability to build from the ground up, he focused on honing and perfecting the existing business. His background in world-class climbing instilled in him a strong sense of purpose and an unwavering determination. The skills he developed as a climber, such as setting clear goals and maintaining focus, proved invaluable in his business endeavors. His conquest of El Capitan in record time stands as a testament to his exceptional abilities.

Higher added value, increased sales, greater profits

With a clear goal and focus, he also tackled the challenge of managing a family business. He initially inspired his employees with a climbing motto, emphasizing that doing the right things is paramount for success and that productivity is hindered without rest and motivation. Recognizing that he couldn't expect 100% from his employees, even though as a former athlete he always demanded it of himself, he realized that such a high expectation could quickly lead to burnout. He learned to awaken the talents of his employees and push them out of their comfort zones. How? First through rewards, then through inspiring stories, innovation, and challenges. And so, they built the first low-energy house, followed by the first passive house, then a plus energy house, an active house, and finally a zero-energy, fully sustainable house. These innovative Lumar projects skyrocketed the company's performance in all areas.

• Value added per employee in 2019 amounted to €52,000, increasing to over €80,000 last year.
• In 2019, their revenue was nearly €19 million, rising to over €30 million last year.
• They significantly increased their assets and capital, with 10 more employees in 2022 compared to 2019 (totaling 94), and their net profit more than tripled compared to 2019. In 2019, their net profit was €820,000, while in 2022 it reached almost €2.7 million.

More and more Austrian homes are coming from Lumar's factory

They are experiencing increasing success at our northern neighbors, with Austrian competitors facing declining sales while sales of Lumar's subsidiary are soaring. Last year, sales jumped by 50%. "You see, we build the best houses in Slovenia. And we're able to offer a better product with better service at a comparable price. But whenever I tell anyone this in our country, they dismiss it as boasting. I'm not boasting. It's a fact. All builders know the quality provided by Italians, Germans, and Scandinavians. The higher you go, the lower the quality," Lukić states with sincerity.

However, success today is not just about growth numbers, Lukić notes. In modern business, it is a much greater achievement if employees feel secure in the company, if a clear system of rewards and advancement is ensured, and if the company is sailing towards sustainable development and reducing its carbon footprint. Marko Lukić has achieved great success in this area, as evidenced by the numerous awards, certifications, and recognitions for innovation, sustainable breakthroughs, and inclusive relationships within the company. Because they live and breathe T.I.S.T.O.

He doesn't see obstacles as problems, but rather as challenges

What is T.I.S.T.O.? It stands for Sustainability, Innovation, Passion, Teamwork, and Ownership (in Slovenian). These are the values and behaviors that the Lumar team has adopted as a compass for their work, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making in recent years. Through workshops, daily work, and discussions, as part of the company's Sustainable Transformation project, Lumar aims to ensure transparent and ethical business practices, as well as growth and development for all employees. This includes the understanding that when things are going well and we believe there are no limits, it's essential to pause and only continue when fear returns. Lukić, whether as a climber or a businessman, never sees fear as an enemy but as a guardian.

Because of this brake, he probably didn't achieve and experience everything, says Lukić. But he survived. Both in sports and business. And in the end, what matters is that after a decade and a half, he's still at the helm of a growing company. Partly because he doesn't see obstacles as problems, but rather as challenges.

Challenges, like competition, motivate him. Without competition, a company wouldn't thrive. Similarly, an athlete without competitors wouldn't push themselves as hard. Losing the German market was a significant challenge early in his career, but he overcame it.

Likewise, his father's sale of the company to an investment fund presented another challenge. When Lumar didn't develop under the new ownership and innovation stagnated, he bought the company back in 2014, demonstrating his resourcefulness, perseverance, and good judgment. And once again, he succeeded.

This experience reinforced a lifelong belief: one can only truly rely on oneself, one's innovation, and one's abilities. A good team can certainly help, and Lukić has one. And he's winning. On the evaluation criteria and members of the commission for the Manager of the Year award. What criteria did the commission members follow?  They considered the company's financial performance over the past three years, the candidate's leadership competencies, their contribution to the company's success, and their focus on the future. They also conducted personal interviews, listened to the candidates' visions and strategies, and then forwarded their recommendations to the MAS Management Board for the final decision.

The commission members for this year's Manager of the Year award were: commission chair Aleksander Zalaznik, Tomaž Berločnik, Boštjan Gorjup, Petra Juvančič, Tjaša Kolenc Filipčič, Medeja Lončar, Aleša Mižigoj, and Sabina Sobočan.