My journey at ProductDock: Taking risks and leading with purpose

We proudly continue the “ProductDock’s career reflections” interview series. Discussing with our unit lead, Miroslav Ožegović, about his journey at ProductDock, we honored his commitment to our company.

Miroslav Ožegović, our Unit Lead, started as a junior developer. We needed his continuous effort, commitment, and willingness to learn and help others from the beginning.

What do you like most about your role?

The role of a Unit Lead is complex yet rewarding, offering numerous opportunities for learning and advancement. By working closely with employees and clients, I continually improve my organizational and communication skills. This position also requires mastering tactics for fast and efficient implementation, especially with new projects, rotations on existing ones, or during hiring.

What I appreciate most is the opportunity for ongoing progress and learning. Each day is different; without a set pattern, we often need to adapt to the situation. This demands a doer mentality and pragmatic thinking. While it can be challenging and sometimes stressful, it also provides an adrenaline rush that keeps me motivated.

What is your biggest challenge as a Unit Lead at ProductDock?

There are various challenges. In a dynamic environment like ours, there’s always something new and different to tackle. Usually, you need to keep the clients happy while ensuring that our engineers are satisfied and fulfilled in their jobs. Constantly balancing these two priorities is often the biggest challenge.

How did you grow at ProductDock?

I joined ProductDock (then codecentric) as a junior developer with some freelance experience about eleven years ago. One of the most important people in my codecentric career was Markus Amsel, my team lead and mentor at that time. He recognized my willingness to take responsibility and not shy away from risky situations. He was the one who pushed me into new and unknown roles, which ultimately led to my becoming a unit lead at ProductDock.

What is your best ProductDock memory?

I’ll highlight something I miss, which isn’t tied to a specific event but rather to the old days. :) Back when I worked as a developer, our team consisted of three or four, sometimes even five members. We were in the old offices, which didn’t have as much space as we do now. Those small offices were about 10 or 12 square meters—three people could work comfortably, four made it crowded, and five meant it was cramped.
As the team expanded, it didn’t make sense for three people to sit in one office while one or two were in another; it was important for us to all be in the same place. We learned a lot through casual conversations, which is why we wanted to stick together.
We insisted on being in one office, and it was like Tetris—moving desks around to make it somewhat functional. But it had its charm, and many ideas emerged from that. I miss those times. COVID disrupted all that significantly. New people who joined after or during the pandemic didn’t have the chance to experience what it’s like to always be with the team, engage in casual conversations, and then go for a beer after work.

What is the secret of staying in the same company for more than 10 years? 

First of all, I have to reflect on the environment in which I live. ProductDock in the city of Doboj is like Google in this area. There are no conditions like this anywhere else—not just financially, but also in terms of the benefits and flexibility we enjoy.
Additionally, I would highlight the people I work with—the healthy work atmosphere and the strong relationships that have existed from the beginning. There’s a genuine appreciation for hard work—dedication and effort are recognized and valued. There are many positive aspects here that I don’t believe I could find anywhere else. I have worked in other companies, but nowhere has it been as good as here.

Advice for the younger self just starting to work.

I would tell myself to be more open to change. I would offer the same advice to my younger colleagues. We people in the Balkans tend to resist change—a mindset I’ve been guilty of as well, and I’m not sure if I’ve completely overcome it yet. We need to accept that changes are coming; we shouldn’t reject them immediately. Instead, we should try, test, and then evaluate. In short, I believe we should be more open to new experiences.

What is the one thing that still fascinates you about your job?

Success motivates me. I don’t just mean personal but also team success, location success, and global company success. 
One of the challenges in our job is that you often have to wait for the results of your work for months, or even a year or more. This waiting can be very frustrating, as time can either work for you or against you, and the final outcomes can be good or bad. Patience is essential; you must wait and see.

Can you tell us something about your hometown?

I was born and raised in Doboj. It’s a small town, and although I had the opportunity, I didn’t want to move. While the town may be small, its size is just right for me. Besides the famous fortress “Gradina” and the good old “Ćiro” train, we have beautiful surroundings, such as Mount Ozren and Goransko Lake—places where you can enjoy nature and various activities like swimming and volleyball, and where we usually organize our team-building events.

What was the best concert you ever attended?

Metallica – June 15, 2004 – Belgrade. The concert was excellent – there were no mobile phones, only people full of energy jumping around and enjoying the moment. All in all, it was a great atmosphere and an unforgettable experience.

Three things you like the most at ProductDock.  

People, transparency and atmosphere.

What do you do besides work?

I enjoy cooking in my free time. I’m not particularly talented, but I’m persistent. I’ve been trying for the last 20 years. In the beginning, a lot ended up in the trash, or my wife would finish it. Now I cook on weekends, and I like to experiment with dishes from different world cuisines.
What I love to make the most are burgers. I mince the meat, make and bake the buns, and prepare the sauce—all by myself. It’s a dream of mine to have my own burger shop with a few tables where I can make burgers all day.

If you were not a programmer, what would you be?

Now, I’d say a chef in a burger shop or a small restaurant, but in the past, I wanted to play the guitar in a band. I used to play it, but I never had a band. I even recently bought a guitar that I wanted in my teenage years, and now it’s just collecting dust. :)

EuroLeague or UEFA Champion League?

I support Zvezda, so considering the fact that we qualified in both competitions, it’s hard to decide. But because of the history, I would say UEFA Champions League.

What is your favorite video game?

I used to play video games more often before. Most of the time, I spent playing football managers or strategy games. It is hard to pick just one, but I would highlight the Civilization game.
Another game worth mentioning is eFootball (ex PES). Every year we organize a company tournament.