The Economic Forum 2025 was organized by the Bosnian Academic Society in Austria (BADA), and this year again, as stated by BADA, it brought together prominent experts in the fields of psychology, economics, management, and education.
In addition to entrepreneurs from Austria, representatives of the economy from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) also participated in the forum. On behalf of the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) of BiH, Dr. Maida Becirovic attended this now traditional event.
Participants, speaking on the topic “Strategies and Challenges of Business in Times of Crisis,” discussed how individuals and companies can adapt to an increasingly dynamic and uncertain global environment. The forum was opened by Edita Mayr, a clinical and health psychologist from Graz, with a lecture on “The Psychology of Crisis: People, Society, and (In)visible Consequences.”
She cited numerous examples from practice to point out that psychological resilience is a key factor not only for individuals but also for organizations that want to survive in the long term.
This was followed by Panel 1: “Leadership and Human Resources as a Response to Crisis,” with participants Almina Besic (JKU Linz), Aldina Salihodzic (Team23, Vienna), and Azra Bekic(Adriatic Group, Vienna). The panelists spoke about the challenges of leading teams in uncertain times, the importance of empathy in leadership, and the role of human resources in strengthening organizational resilience.
After a short break, Aida Sivro Rahimic from Steiermarkische Sparkasse Graz gave, as stated by the organizers, a notable presentation on “Risk Management as Preparation for Crisis,” emphasizing the importance of a strategic approach to risks and proactive planning.
At Panel 2, participants discussed business and financial strategies in times of crisis. The panelists were Edin Salihodzic (Team23), founder and tax consultant from Vienna, and Mirsad Durmic(DMDE, Doboj Istok), a successful entrepreneur from BiH. Salihodzic and Durmic shared practical experiences on how companies can survive and grow despite market challenges.
The forum concluded with an inspiring lecture by Dr. Fikret Basic(Graz University of Technology) on the topic “Education Through Crisis,” highlighting the role of knowledge and lifelong learning as the most important tool in overcoming social and economic turbulence.
After the official part, networking followed, which was an opportunity to connect representatives of academia, business, and institutions. As the organizers noted, the BADA Economic Forum once again confirmed the importance of dialogue between science and practice and showed that it is precisely in times of crisis that the most important ideas for sustainable development and cooperation are born, Klix.ba writes.
