#3. Nevena Lučić. The story about coworking spaces & inclusive communities. Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦
- Алла Ждань
- Apr 2
- 8 min read
Updated: 12 hours ago
Nevena Lučić is a Community Manager from Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦, with a strong passion for building meaningful connections within the coworking space and community management fields.
Currently, Nevena is a Community Manager at tershouse, the largest coworking space in the region, where she oversees a vibrant community of over 300 active members from various industries. This role has offered her the unique opportunity to engage with a diverse group of professionals and nurture a thriving ecosystem.
Nevena joined The Community Media project as one of the Community Managers from 42 European countries who shared their experiences with me. It was so nice to “visit” Bosnia and Herzegovina through her story!
Check out our conversation below!
Alla: Hi Nevena, happy to see you at Community Managers’ Stories, I’ll be happy to help you to tell your story too! Tell a bit about your Community Management experience: how did you become a Community Manager?
Nevena: My journey as a Community Manager wasn't something I had planned for, but rather, it unfolded quite organically. Three years ago, through a wonderful program designed to empower young women stepping into their first job, I found myself in an internship at tershouse coworking space. This was my first real encounter with community management and coworking spaces, and I couldn’t be happier with how everything came together. From the very start, I felt a connection to the role. I quickly developed a deep interest in this field.
Alla: Tell a bit more about your experience with this or other communities?
Nevena: At the moment, my experience is mainly focused on working within coworking spaces. I’m currently working in the largest coworking space in the region, where our community includes over 300 active members from a wide range of industries. This role has provided me with an amazing opportunity to engage with a diverse group of professionals.
Alla: In The Community Media we are celebrating victories of Community Managers! What was the latest awesome achievement of your community that you helped to gain?
Nevena: One of the biggest achievements for our community has been the successful relocation from a smaller space of under 500m² to a much larger facility of over 2000m², which is still growing. We transitioned from a space that could hold fewer than 100 members to one that accommodates more than double that number. Despite these significant changes in terms of community size, structure, and the space itself, we’ve managed to retain the same strong community spirit, which has been our core strength throughout the process.
Alla: Congrats! I can imagine how huge this project was! ;) What were your responsibilities within this relocation project as a Community Manager?
Nevena: During our office relocation to a larger space, as a Community Manager I was responsible for communicating all essential information:
the moving schedule
timelines
amenities, and
functionalities of the new workspace
This proved especially challenging due to repeated construction delays, which led to growing impatience. It was vital to maintain open, honest, and transparent communication throughout the process. At the same time, we were onboarding new members who needed to be welcomed, given tours, and introduced to the existing community. Balancing clear communication was a central part of my role.
Alla: Since expanding the space, have you noticed any changes in community engagement dynamics? If so, how have you adapted your approach?
Nevena: Yes, the new space has brought a completely new dynamic. A lot of new people have arrived, and the structure and diversity of the community have significantly changed. This has allowed us to introduce new activities, connect different people, and improve some of the existing things. The new space is also full of content we didn’t have before.
Alla: Awesome! Aside of the moving period and your job connected with smooth transition, what are your core responsibilities as a Community Manager?
Nevena: As a Community Manager, my core responsibilities revolve around building and nurturing a strong and engaged community. This includes organizing events and activities, fostering communication between members, and ensuring a welcoming and inclusive environment. I also handle member inquiries and support, actively work to create networking opportunities, and collaborate with other teams to align community initiatives. Additionally, I track community feedback and use it to improve experiences, ensuring that our community continues to grow.
Alla: Could you please elaborate more about the inclusive environment within your community?
Nevena: An inclusive community environment is one where everyone feels valued, respected, and has equal access to opportunities. It involves promoting diversity, ensuring safety, and fostering respect among members. Accessibility is also key, ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, can participate. Empowering members to engage and contribute is crucial, as is ongoing education about diversity and inclusion.
Celebrating differences helps reinforce a sense of belonging for all.
Alla: What’s your process for welcoming and integrating new members into the coworking community?
Nevena: At tershouse, we begin by giving new members a tour of the space to help them feel comfortable with their surroundings. We take the opportunity to personally introduce ourselves and share the community’s purpose and ongoing activities. Once the tour is complete, we add them to our communication channels to ensure they stay connected and well-informed. We then make a effort to introduce them to other members, helping to make meaningful connections and encourage active participation within the community.
Alla: While doing all those awesome things, what soft skills are important for a community manager, in your opinion?
Nevena: The most important soft skills for a Community Manager include:
communication,
quick problem-solving,
active listening,
patience,
understanding people’s needs,
creativity, and
time management.
Alla: And what are top-3 soft skills, Nevena, should have as a Community Manager?
Nevena: The top three soft skills, in my opinion, are:
Communication
Creativity
Ability to resolve conflicts and solve problems
Alla: Would you be so kind as to remember the last event or activity within your coworking space where you had a chance to apply your creativity?
Nevena: Recently, we organized a variety of workshops. For example, we held a workshop on planting aromatic herbs, allowing members to engage with nature and explore their creative side in a hands-on way. Additionally, we hosted painting workshops. To add some fun, we also organized trivia quizzes, which encouraged members to think outside the box and engage in friendly competition. These activities helped build a stronger sense of community while allowing everyone to express their creativity in different ways.
Alla: And in terms of hard skills… What hard skills are important for a Community person?
Nevena: Event Planning & Management, Social Media Management, Content creation, using specialized community platforms to manage and track interactions, Copywriting.
Alla: So, a Community Manager should do a lot and possess so many skills, but is it possible to be alone in that way? Are you alone?
Nevena: Currently, our team consists of two Community Managers, and we collaborate on various initiatives, share responsibilities, and support each other in managing the community’s growth and engagement. As for other teammates, I collaborate most with the Office Manager to ensure consistent and quality communication with the community, as well as with all clients. It's important to provide timely and quality information about what our community needs.
Alla: Finally! I’m so happy to learn that you have a partner in crime, another Community Manager in your team. Can you tell me a bit the way you divide responsibilities to ensure a smooth community experience?
Nevena: Absolutely! We’re both really excited to work together as a team. To ensure a smooth community experience, we divide our responsibilities based on our strengths and areas of expertise. We make sure to communicate regularly to stay aligned on goals, and we collaborate closely to ensure that the community feels supported, valued, and informed at all times. It’s all about teamwork.
Alla: And what about collaboration with other Communities or companies in your domain?
Nevena: Yes, we collaborate with similar communities in our domain. The collaboration is usually built through joint activities, which help with mutual promotion. These are often workshops on various topics, lectures, and meetups. We also have a loyalty program with different companies that offer special deals for our community members, so in addition to providing an amazing space and community activities, we also offer them additional benefits and perks.
Alla: Is it possible to list some of the benefits to be in your coworking for community members?
Nevena: tershouse offers a variety of perks to its community members, enhancing both their professional and personal work experiences. Some of these advantages include:
High-Speed Internet
24/7 Access
Professional and friendly staff
Cleaning Services
IT Support
Snacks and Beverages
Equipment Availability
Diverse Community
Event Spaces and Studios
Community Events
Relaxation Zones
Alla: Quite a lot, sounds amazing! :) What is your source of inspiration and motivation?
Nevena: I find the most motivation in the community I build and support. When I see people connecting, sharing ideas, and growing together, it fills me up and motivates me to continue creating a positive environment. My colleagues and team are also a huge inspiration – every conversation, idea, and the support I get from them encourages me to keep developing my skills and approach. Together, we work on strengthening our space and creating an inclusive atmosphere.
Alla: And my favorite question ever! What do you like the most about being a Community Manager?
Nevena: What I love most about my work is the meaningful connections I get to make with people. One of the moments that always lights up my mood is when I see a community member express genuine gratitude after receiving support or guidance. There’s this one case I remember, where a member reached out to say how much our community helped them through a difficult time. Knowing that I played a small part in making someone's day better always reminds me why I do what I do. Another moment that stands out is when a member of our community who initially joined with little engagement becomes an active contributor. Watching that transformation, knowing I helped create a space where they felt comfortable enough to share their thoughts, ideas, and even help others, is incredibly rewarding. These are the moments that, even when things get tough, remind me of the positive impact I’m having and give me the energy to keep going.
Alla: I wish you more and more rewarding moments! Thank you for joining my project, Nevena! Also, don't miss books, tools, and podcast suggested by her for Community Managers and gathered in my digest.
The world of coworking or coliving communities is quite interesting one. I know already several people who are working or used to work in this domain. And also I stayed at a coliving hotel in Berlin (without knowing that there is actually a coliving option, so I stayed in "ordinary" part of this hotel). But I had chance to use coworking perks of my stay there. And also I know a person who is engaged with coliving options as a Marketer, so maybe she will suggest me a Community Manager who will tell the story of coliving Italian communities.
Anyway, I was happy to talk about this domain and direction and I'll be happy to go with you, my dear readers, to Albania next week and share the story from Community Manager who lives there. ;)
Learn more about my Community Managers' Strories project to gather insights from Community people from 42 European countries here.
Do you have a story, and I haven't "visited" your country yet?
Drop me a line on LinkedIn!
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