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Kristina-Jazinka Nikolic
Innovation, system thinking and creating change | Head of Experimentation at #UNDPAcceleratorLab
Kristina-Jazinka Nikolic is the Head of Experimentation at UNDP Accelerator Lab in Serbia.13 She is an innovation and systems thinking professional focused on creating change.1 Nikolic holds an MSc in Computing in Social Sciences from the University of Belgrade.1
In her role at UNDP, Nikolic is responsible for:
- Designing and running a portfolio of experiments to address emerging development challenges.2
- Breaking down complex issues into smaller, testable hypotheses.2
- Collaborating with grassroots communities to develop locally sourced solutions.2
- Working with UNDP units and external partners to maximize impact and promote a holistic approach to problem-solving.2
Prior to her current position, Nikolic was co-owner and Business Development Manager at Strawberry Energy, a startup that develops intelligent technology for public areas.4
Nikolic is actively involved in various UNDP initiatives, including foresight and strategic planning.5 She contributes to the UNDP Accelerator Labs Network, which is the world's largest and fastest learning network on sustainable development challenges.6
Highlights
🇧🇹 🐉 Exciting Journey of Innovation and Experimentation in Bhutan! 🐉 🇧🇹
As the Head of Experimentation at UNDP Accelerator Labs, I had the privilege of joining 59 brilliant minds from 57 nationalities at the recent UNDP Accelerator Labs Codification Fest for Heads of Experimentation held in the beautiful Thimphu, Bhutan. This event brought us together to document and share our R&D and innovation practices for sustainable development. From Pecha Kucha presentations to serendipity group discussions, the exchange of ideas was nothing short of transformative.
A big thank you to Gina Lucarelli, Bas Leurs, Eduardo Gustale Gill, Cristhian Parra, Kunzang Wangmo, and the entire UNDP Bhutan CO team. Your support made this event a success. Special thanks to all the global AccLab team members and fellow AccLabers who participated – your experiences, insights, and hands-on collaboration were invaluable. On a personal note, meeting many of you in person after 4-5 years of working together was uplifting! 🤗
During this incredibly intense week (let’s not forget that Thimphu is the 6th highest capital in the world, ranging from 2,248m to 2,648m), we had the honor of meeting Bhutan’s Prime Minister, Mr Tshering Tobgay, in addition to our planned R&D and Fest activities. His words resonated deeply with us:
“Innovation is what separates the developed world from the so-called undeveloped world. The beauty of the Accelerator Lab Network is that it fosters and nurtures innovation at the local level, letting locals know that they already have the knowledge they need. Our countries must innovate, not just experiment, but scale these innovations to meet the Sustainable Development Goals."
For us, this message encapsulates the spirit of our work, emphasizing the importance of local knowledge, grassroots innovation, and user innovation (thank you Prof #EricVonHippel, for all the innovation management lessons 🤓 ).
So dear peers, together, we are not just experimenting; we are catalysing and scaling up solutions that have the real potential to transform lives and communities. Here’s to continued collaboration and making a lasting impact!
Looking forward to our new chapter! KN
Lorena Moscovich Lazar Pop Ivanov Javier (Javo) Brolo Juan David Martin Luis Fernando Cervantes Garcia Rulfo Berna Mugema-Turyagyenda (MBA. BSC.ELEC. CCNA. CCFFS) Shunsuke Ichihara Vrouyr Joubanian Betty Chemier Diego Suarez Korakot TANSERI Noor Alkamoosi Yrika Vanessa Maritz (She / her) Francis "Kapi" Capistrano Klariska Moodley Muhammad Hanana Abdurhman Abdurhman Albasir, Ph.D and many more :) UNDP Serbia
As somebody with a circular migration experience, supporting Tačka Povratka from the start in helping Serbians reconnect with Serbia was as meaningful as it was challenging.
Here is a story of how we used innovation methods as well as pure and simple honesty to enable many brilliant people to once again contribute to their country.
https://lnkd.in/et2Xb_K8
UNDP Serbia
UNDP Accelerator Labs
Tačka Povratka
Uros Zivkovic Irena Cerovic Jelena Manic Petronikolos Aleksandra Urosev Ivan Brkljač
