George B. Thomas
We kicked off this episode in two time zones and one shared energy. I’m sipping coffee stateside while Jasna is easing into a Slovenian weekend, smiling as she tells me, “I’m really happy the weekend is starting and this is my intro into the weekend.” — Jasna Suhadolc.
That warmth is her leadership style in a nutshell. It is also why this conversation matters right now. We need more stories of women who build agencies on their terms, deliver real outcomes, and still make space to be human.
Origin to Ops
Jasna grew up professionally in Slovenia, saying yes to digital PR before it was cool, then opening her own shop at 25. What started as a “maybe we could” moment became Actuado, a women-owned, women-led HubSpot agency. Ten years into the partnership journey, Actuado reached Diamond Solutions Partner status, the only one in Slovenia.
As Jasna put it, “My agency is a Diamond Solutions partner, the only one in Slovenia.” — Jasna Suhadolc. She didn’t force a rapid climb. She built a small, innovative team and partnered with others when projects required more resources. That choice gave her international reach without losing a human touch.
A Cost Paid
Success has edges. Jasna candidly shared a season where personal and business lines blurred. She and her then-husband merged their companies, later divorced, and still ran the business together for years while raising their child. The real cost was the lack of boundaries. It is easy to assume that change equals chaos. She proved it doesn’t.
Change can be chosen, organized, and steady. The lesson for operators is simple. If you mix family and business, define the lanes early, revisit them often, and protect your peace.
The Ops Crucible
There was a moment that knocked the wind out of her. She stepped in to build and lead an internal agency for a major client while continuing to run her own. It stretched her time, her energy, and her identity as a single mom. When she decided to step away, enthusiasm turned to criticism. That stung.
After a brief winter, an international opportunity arose and helped Actuado become the global agency from Slovenia it is today. Doors close. Better ones open when you create the space.
Empowerment in Practice
For Jasna, empowerment is not the absence of emotion. It refuses to linger in self-doubt. She experiences imposter syndrome like the rest of us, then gets back to work.
She mentors younger professionals, names her own biases when she spots them, and leads by example. Her team of eight carries absolute ownership. They often know specific HubSpot functions more deeply than she does, which is by design. That is how you scale excellence without losing your soul.
Looking Ahead with HubSpot
Jasna has been to Inbound since 2015. This year re-energized her, especially around AI inside HubSpot. She is testing features that meaningfully speed up the work.
She called out Remix, translation improvements, and meeting notes paired with Fireflies that “work like magic.” The operator’s play here is to reassess your stack regularly. When HubSpot gives you native horsepower, consolidate tools and redirect that budget toward strategy and storytelling.
A Word to Women in Tech
Jasna has sat in rooms where a male voice got more airtime on HubSpot topics she lives with daily. Her response is practical and principled. Sometimes she brings a male teammate because it changes the room dynamic. Every time, she brings expertise.
She also checks herself. When she caught her own bias in delegating “note-taking” to a woman on her team, she made a change. That is leadership. Advocate for your seat, earn it every day, and help others hold theirs.
Why It Matters:
If you are a Super Admin, owner, or ops leader, this story is a reminder that excellence is a daily practice. Protect boundaries. Choose small and mighty if that is your path. Use AI to buy back time. Build a team that loves the work and the humans it serves. That is how you flourish and help your company do the same.
