While Macedonia and the wider region have long been established as a strong source of technical talent, the culture of building software products is still in its nascent stages. However, the country is seeing new initiatives beginning to bridge that gap. One such initiative is ProdACT – a non-profit organization established a year ago by professionals for professionals with a shared mission: to develop the product community, encourage critical thinking, and create an environment where products that users love are built.
Behind this initiative stands Olgica Strezoska, co-founder and president of ProdACT, who believes that strong products are not the result of individual talent alone, but of a healthy community, knowledge exchange, and the courage to make the right decisions. In a conversation with IT Logs, Olgica explains how ProdACT came to be, what the domestic product scene is lacking, the community’s role in creating better solutions, and where she sees this initiative in the coming years.
IT Logs: What was the main motive behind founding ProdACT, and what is your personal motivation for creating such an initiative?
Olgica Strezoska (OS): ProdACT emerged from a clear necessity. North Macedonia lacks an organized product community that builds knowledge, critical thinking, and a genuine product culture. The idea was born after an excellent product conference in Belgrade, where it became apparent just how much we were missing such an ecosystem locally. My personal motivation is simple: to grow together as professionals and to prove that products users love can indeed be built from Macedonia.
How do you view the role of the community in building better products?
OS: The community is crucial because it pulls us out of our daily routine and comfort zone. When we stay in the same environment for too long, our thinking becomes limited. Being part of a community gives us new perspectives, allows us to learn from others’ mistakes and successes, and inspires us to make better product decisions.
What is missing in our ecosystem regarding product culture – and can ProdACT be a catalyst for that change?
OS: What is missing in our ecosystem is true product autonomy. The majority of IT companies work for external clients, where strategy and the discovery process are not driven locally. This results in a lack of demand for Product Managers within companies, and teams in Macedonia often function merely as executors of client requests. With ProdACT, we teach people how to claim that product autonomy and how to make the right product decisions. Additionally, we motivate them not to wait for permission to make product decisions, but to create opportunities themselves and start building their own products or internal company products.
What is the reaction of domestic startups to ProdACT’s initiatives? Is there a growing need for professionals in product roles (Product Managers, Product Designers, Product Analysts)?
OS: That’s an interesting question. In a way, I constantly expect someone to ask whether we help build product professionals or help startups more, so I’ll use this to answer that. The answer is short and clear: we support everyone who has a passion for building products, whether they are young college students with a great app idea or established professionals.
At the end of the day, the specific role isn’t that important. Even to be the CEO of a company, you must understand how the entire product management process works. Rarely does a CEO ask, “And what user problem are we solving with this?” – yet that is the foundation of building successful products.
Macedonia is often perceived as strong in creating technical talent, but less so in cultivating a product mindset. How can this gap be bridged?
OS: Ah, yes, exactly that. People here lack a product mindset. I often tell my students that even if you open a coffee shop, you need a product mindset to define exactly who your target audience is, how you will differentiate from the competition, and what need you will satisfy for your clients/users. That is why our association organizes regular ProdACT meetups where the specific goal is developing a product mindset.
How do you collaborate with companies in the country – is there a formalized platform where businesses can post real problems and the community can work on solutions?
OS: Ah, that’s a great idea for a product! Currently, there is no formalized platform where businesses can post real problems for us to work on, but that would indeed be a fantastic opportunity. I am adding that to my goals for 2026 right away. :)
Will AI democratize the product profession, or will it make it even more complex?
OS: Although at first glance it seemed AI might replace the product profession, today I can freely say that this will not happen in the near future. The reason is that AI will never possess the emotional intelligence necessary to understand user needs and frustrations in order for us to offer the best product solutions.
Where do you see ProdACT in 3–5 years? As a regional product community for the Western Balkans or with a global presence?
OS: I would say we are not aiming for global expansion, but rather for strong regional and European cooperation. Our vision is for Macedonia to have a mature product culture, more events, conferences, and local products that are recognized beyond our borders.
What are the lessons from ProdACT’s first events and activities – and how do those experiences shape the future program?
OS: We started the first ProdACT events almost a year ago, serving to set the foundations of product management. We began with a career-focused event on how to enter and advance in the product world, then discussed Product Discovery, Product Strategy, and Product Roadmaps. We continued with topics that genuinely interest all product professionals, as well as Project Managers, UX/UI Designers, startup founders, etc. The feedback was truly excellent, motivating us to keep addressing current topics, such as AI. Our next event at the end of January will be exactly that: how AI can help us build our products.
