BUILDING MENTAL STRENGTH IN SPORT

Katarina Ilic’s professional journey has always been closely connected to sport, people, education and turning ideas into something meaningful.

Coming from the world of sport and handball, for the past 10 years she has focused on developing and managing international and Erasmus+ projects, particularly in sport, youth, and education. She works across the whole project cycle – from shaping the initial idea and bringing the right partners together to implementation and reporting.

What she enjoys most is turning an idea into something real and useful – a programme, methodology, workshop, game, or a new approach that can create meaningful impact.

In short, her work brings together sport, international cooperation, project management, and creativity – a combination she truly enjoys.

Professional Volleyball Career

Sanja Malagurski is a former professional volleyball player, Olympian (Beijing 2008), and European Champion with the Serbian National Team (2011).

She began her professional career at the age of 16, signing her first contract in Slovenia, where she won two national championship and cup titles, as well as the Inter League. Her international journey continued across Romania, Italy, Brazil, Poland, and Turkey, earning multiple national trophies and European achievements.

As a member of all Serbian national team selections from 2004 to 2018, Sanja won three European League titles, three FIVB World Grand Prix bronze medals, competed at the Olympic Games, and became European Champion in 2011.

Education & Professional Development

After retiring from professional sport, Sanja dedicated herself to developing skills that connect sports, leadership, and communication. She completed a Marketing & Brand Management program and continued her education through various leadership and organizational development trainings.

Her academic and professional development includes:

• Athlete Career Transition Course in Sport Ethics and Integrity (ACTSI) – KU Leuven, Belgium
• FIVB Beyond the Court Program – Lausanne, Switzerland
• Design Thinking & Upshift Workshop – UNICEF & Youth Achievements Serbia
• Additional certifications in marketing, communication, and leadership

Programs & Projects

Sanja is the co-creator of the GAME MIND project, an international initiative focused on integrating mental preparation into sports clubs across Europe.

She is an active speaker at conferences and forums, sharing her personal journey and insights on leadership, transformation, and life beyond professional sport. Her speaking engagements include:

• SAM Forum of Managers – “Life Beyond the Spotlight: After a Sports Career”
• The Beauty of a Woman Conference – “How to Overcome Challenges in Career and Life”
• National Teachers’ Conference – “Teamwork in the Classroom”

Current Engagements

Today, Sanja combines her passion for volleyball, event organization, and athlete support through collaborations with leading global volleyball institutions. Her current roles include:

• FIVB Technical Delegate
• Volleyball World Event Operations Supervisor
• PR Manager, Volleyball Nations League Belgrade – overseeing PR strategy, media relations, athlete branding, sponsor activations, and public communication

She is also a TEDx Sarajevo 2026 Speaker, sharing her story of resilience, transition, and personal transformation.

Mission & Vision

Guided by her own experience, Sanja is committed to becoming the person she once needed during her athletic career, transition, and life after sport. Through mentorship, education, event organization, and storytelling, she empowers athletes to build confidence, navigate change, and write the next chapter of their lives with clarity and purpose.

Nikolina Lutovac is a former professional athlete, athlete representative, and mental preparation coach dedicated to helping athletes unlock their full potential.

She studied Literature at the University of Belgrade while pursuing her passion for sport from an early age through swimming and handball. From 2007 to 2023, she built a successful professional handball career in France and also represented the Serbian National Beach Handball Team.

Alongside her professional playing career, Nikolina was actively involved in athlete development as a youth team coach from 2008 to 2020, working with young athletes and gaining valuable experience in player development, education, and long-term progression.

Alongside her sporting career, Nikolina continued her education in France, earning qualifications in Marketing and Communication before completing a State Diploma in Sports Development and Management (DEJEPS) at CREPS de Talence, Bordeaux. Inspired by her own experience as a high-level athlete and her interest in the psychological aspects of performance, she later obtained a university certification in Athlete Mental Preparation and Performance in Paris.

Since 2021, she has also worked as an athlete representative in handball, supporting athletes throughout their careers, from professional development to international transfers and major career transitions.

Over the past five years, Nikolina has coached and mentored more than 250 professional athletes across 11 different sports, while also collaborating with over 120 clubs and sports organizations. Through individual coaching, team workshops, and performance programs, she helps athletes develop confidence, resilience, focus, emotional regulation, and the ability to perform consistently under pressure.

Today, Nikolina combines firsthand elite sporting experience, athlete development expertise, sports management knowledge, and evidence-based mental preparation methods to help athletes strengthen their mindset, maximize their potential, and build sustainable success both on and off the field.