As co-founder and Professor of Directing at the Performing Arts Academy in Sarajevo and a professor at the IEDC - Bled School of Management, Pašović explains his approach to training business leaders through some great movies. As a leading cultural and public figure in the Balkans for decades, he raises some challenges for Slovenia and the world, which need to be considered in a broader sense. 

In 2005, you established the East West Center in your hometown, Sarajevo. How does the name reflect your raison d'être in terms of your profession?

The East West Center is a true example of "from zero to hero." In 2005, everything around me was unproductive; too uninventive; too slow. I did not want to get entangled in any institution and I formed an independent cultural organisation - the East West Center. I started with zero money, zero space and zero people. Nevertheless, I had the idea to create a multicultural platform for arts and culture. Now, more than 1,000 artists from 23 countries have played in East West Center projects; we have performed in 17 countries on three continents; taken part in some of the biggest world art festivals; and played in over 40 small Bosnian towns where theatre never goes. We have been working 14 hours a day along the way; often without weekends, often without holidays. Yet, love and excitement has never left our work, even for a moment.

As an IEDC professor, you are used to teaching (business) people to lead through the lens of art; showing them movies. What virtues do you share in your approach?

Professor Danica Purg, the Head of IEDC Bled School of Management and I developed a particular strand in the Arts and Leadership program in which I approach leadership from an unexpected side. I connect the experiences of business leaders with the characters and actions in some great movies. This approach creates a new discourse in which a leader sees himself/herself from a new perspective. Yet, the bottom line is to examine leadership principles, methodologies and styles.

In 2002, you directed Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" in Sarajevo about a Muslim Romeo and a Christian Juliet. From the global perspective of today's conflicts and consequently migration, it seems that we have learnt nothing from history...

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," says Juliet, referring to the world in which names and origins define our fates. In the global world, when someone prioritises a nation, religion, race, gender or sexual orientation, it becomes tribalism. Everything in our industries, business, and technology is so cosmopolitan and yet we often stick with xenophobia, which is a complete atavism. We will either get rid of these ancient feelings or otherwise we will be doomed to perish.

One of the biggest co-productions the East West Center made was with Slovenia's Mladinsko Theatre. What was the main reason and how do you perceive Slovenian actors?

I have had lots of connections with Slovenian artists for many years. It is one of the most talented artistic scenes in Europe. It is unfortunate that they experience many hardships regarding cultural funding which prevents them from putting Slovenia more significantly on the world cultural map. Both Slovenian artists and Slovenia itself deserve it dearly.

This year, Slovenia marks its 25 years of independence. Recently you said "In Yugoslavia, Slovenes were the champions, but when they got what they wanted they lost the vision of progress..." Can you be more precise?

Slovenia was a leader in many fields in Yugoslavia. For example, the Slovenian record in human rights was enlightening. Today, in this independent democratic country, the barbed wire fences have been built to prevent the people escaping the war and famine and seeking refuge; the Roma people experience troubles at their Slovenian homes; the immigrant workers are treated little short of slaves; culture and arts are marginalised. There is certainly a problem with the vision of progress in Slovenia.