Sonja Šmuc

Director of HRM and Strategic Projects
Sonja Šmuc has been committed to supporting and developing the Slovenian economy throughout her career. In recent years, she has focused her attention to strategic HRM at Dewesoft, one of the best Slovenian high-tech companies.

In April 2022, she joined Dewesoft, one of the most successful Slovenian high-tech companies. A month later, she took on the position of general manager of Blueberry DAQ, a start-up joint venture company equally owned by German-English HBK and Dewesoft, both leading global manufacturers of data acquisition systems (DAQs). Based in Slovenia, the mission of this new company is to create an open data acquisition (DAQ) system platform that will transform the Test & Measurement Industry.

In February 2023, she also became a Director of HRM and Strategic Projects. With over 175 employees in Slovenia and 400 globally, the role of HR is becoming increasingly important in Dewesoft, including securing transparent and rapid HR procedures, fostering career development of individuals, employer branding among target groups, and preserving a unique culture as the company grows. In March 2023, Dewesoft was awarded the Best Employer of the Year 2022.

Previously, she was the CEO of the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce (2017-2021), CEO of SBC -Slovenian Business Club (2021-2022), and the Manager Association (2005-2017). Under her leadership, all organizations have strengthened their role in society, increased revenues, and developed new services.

She started her career in publishing as a business journalist and editor, including Manager magazine. She has written over 700 articles related to entrepreneurship, management, and leadership and is a co-author of a book on export risk management (1997) and a co-recipient of the Bronze Award for Innovation in Publishing (2006, GZS).

She is the Honorary Consul of Iceland to Slovenia and a member of different working groups at the Ministry of Economy, Tourism, and Sports. She has served on various national and international expert committees, such as the Board of Directors of NLB Bank Podgorica, the Advisory Committee for Equal Opportunities at the European Commission, the Accreditation Committee of the BAMC, the Strategic Council for Competitiveness at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, the Board of Directors of the Summit100 of Business Leaders of SE Europe, etc. She has also been a member of several business award committees (Manager of the Year, Gazelle - for the fastest-growing companies, Golden Thread - for the best employers, etc.).

She holds a Master's degree in Entrepreneurship from the Faculty of Economics in Ljubljana and has also received training at Stanford University in California, Wirtschaftsuniversität in Vienna, and the IEDC - Bled Business School. She is a recipient of the 2018 Artemida award for women in management awarded by the Managers’ Association of Slovenia and a co-recipient of the Bronze Award for Innovation in Publishing by the Slovene Chamber of Commerce and Industry (2006).