A strong community can promote new ideas and ensure accountability. It can also act as motivation, support, and even provide a little friendly competition. The power of community is undeniable and the Okanagan tech community is no exception.

Our community is strong and growing with record speed and maintaining a connection through a period of growth like this can be a challenge. Nobody panic, we’ve got a plan.

We are #OKGNtech is a showcase of Okanagan tech entrepreneurs, partners, supporters, and cheerleaders designed to fuel more connection, more growth, and more excitement. Follow along on the blog and on Instagram @OKGNtech to learn more about our growing community and what makes them awesome.

Meet Majda. Majda Stojanovic is the Founder of Live Love Laugh Marketing. When she’s not growing businesses with her marketing expertise, you’ll find Majda reading everything to do with neurodiversity and autism, practicing pilates, or singing along to her favourite songs.

Where are you from? 

I grew up in Bosnia and moved to Canada in 1994 because of the war. I remember landing in Edmonton, driving from the airport and only seeing fields. That year was the first time I ever saw snow on my birthday. Once I got a marketing diploma from NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) and a Bachelors of Marketing from the University of Lethbridge, I moved to Vancouver.

Why did you choose the Okanagan to call home? 

I started working as the Marketing Manager for Boston Pizza International and the Okanagan was one of the territories I was overseeing. Those visits to the region were my introduction to the Okanagan and I always extended my stays when I came out. I eventually moved here to work with The Walt Disney Company as their Global Marketing Manager. The Okanagan has been my home ever since.

Where do you work in the Okanagan? 

I’m the founder of Live Love Laugh Marketing (or, 3L Marketing) and its only employee. I work with a handful of core clients who have been with me since 2014 and some others that I’ve taken on just for special projects. I also support my husband’s family business, BC Fasteners and Tools, with their marketing. I really enjoy what I do, and I know that I will always be doing something in marketing, but I’m still working towards Freedom 45.

What do you enjoy most about your role? 

Being the only person working at 3L gives me the ability to make my own schedule. When I’m not on our acreage or spending time with kids, I can put on my accounting hat to balance finances, then my project manager hat to organize clients and then my creative hat to design posters. I have a lot of fun being able to do all those aspects of 3L on my own time. Sometimes I think that I’m lucky to have this life, but I don’t know how much luck had to do with it. I worked hard to get here and I’m very happy with what I’ve accomplished.

How did you get into this kind of work?

I played basketball through high school and I even got to practice with the University of Alberta’s Pandas basketball team. There was some interest to see me practice with a handful of other girls, but I realized that I was never going to play on a professional level. I went into NAIT’s diploma program because it offered two years of hands-on studies—which was right up my alley. I went through their marketing program and realized that I really wanted to help businesses grow through promotions and explore how analytics could improve that impact.

What advice would you give to someone interested in a job like yours? 

I believe people come into your life for a reason so it’s important to treat people equally. Everyone is important—we’re all somebody’s someone, after all. If you can put people first and see where those relationships grow, without treating them as numbers, you can create some lasting connections. I’m glad that we’re getting back to in-person events because I don’t find anything as effective as meeting someone and giving them your business card to establish that relationship.

How were you first introduced to the OKGNtech community?

During my time at Disney, I worked closely with Deanna Kent. She introduced me to Joanna Schlosser—who was working with Accelerate Okanagan at the time—who then encouraged me to get involved with the community. I was amazed at how big the tech community was while still having a feeling of being small. I could see Disney’s presence in the community had created a network that connected everyone, whether you had worked there or not.

Do you think there is anything missing from the community here?

It would be great to see more marketing workshops for small business owners happening in the Okanagan. Whether they’re designed for someone like myself to freshen up on current marketing trends, or larger workshops that give small businesses an opportunity to learn some marketing basics in a group of their peers, these training sessions can make a big difference.

Is there something you want to be remembered for? 

I’d like to be remembered as a good mom, wife, and friend; a catalyst for positivity in life and business. I’d also like to be seen as someone who is punctual and follows through on their commitments—I don’t overpromise, but I do enjoy overdelivering and creating surprise-and-delight moments.

Connect with Majda. Learn more about Live Love Laugh Marketing. Ready for more? Meet Justin.