In one of our first interviews with HR industry leaders, we are bringing you an interview with Nadja (Nikolic) Ndayara, founder of Kesler Agency and a dedicated professional with a passion for coaching and personal development.
With her background in psychology and years of experience, she has honed her skills in helping individuals unlock their potential and achieve their goals.
Nadja has spent her career helping many clients, from business leaders to people seeking personal growth. She believes everyone can change, overcome challenges, and succeed with proper support. She creates a safe and encouraging space to help her clients face their struggles and discover ways to move forward.
Nadja believes in lifelong learning and constantly seeks new ways to improve her coaching. She focuses not only on helping others but also on growing as a coach herself. Her commitment to personal and professional growth makes her a standout in the coaching community. In this interview, we’ll explore her insights, experiences, and the philosophy behind her work.
Can you tell us about your career journey in HR?
My HR journey began nearly a decade ago, during a pivotal moment as I wrapped up my student exchange program and Bachelor’s degree. While there was an expectation to pursue a Master’s degree, I realized I needed clarity about my career path first. That decision led me to explore freelancing, which soon opened doors to unexpected opportunities.
A friend referred me for an EA role at a remote U.S.-based startup, where I was fortunate to work with an incredible team and manager who encouraged me to explore beyond my role. From event planning and marketing to recruitment, I discovered my passion for HR.
This passion evolved as I took on responsibilities in talent acquisition, interviews, onboarding, offboarding, and career transitions. Over time, I naturally gravitated toward career coaching, helping individuals navigate their professional growth. Today, I continue to support clients by combining my expertise in hiring, team management, and coaching to help them thrive.
What inspired you to pursue a career in HR?
I’ve always had a knack for identifying the ideal candidate and the perfect fit for them, as well as designing and implementing efficient, easy-to-follow processes. This passion naturally evolved into finding my place in Human Resources. Nowadays, I offer a higher-level support by consulting clients on their HR strategies, or helping individuals land their dream job, combining my expertise in recruitment and process design with career coaching.
In your opinion, what are the most critical elements that contribute to a positive workplace culture today?
The most critical elements contributing to a positive workplace culture today include good people leadership, flexibility and genuine inclusivity. Flexibility, especially in terms of work-life balance and hybrid work options, has become crucial as it supports employee well-being and overall satisfaction.
Strong leadership that leads by example, shows empathy, and actively supports the growth of individuals within the organization, is fundamental to maintaining a positive culture. Many leaders might come from different management roles, but managing a project, product and a person, are very different things.
Finally, real inclusivity that is not just for show, but actually embraces the difference of opinions, ways of working, and backgrounds, is what makes any workplace a more competitive one.
What role do you believe feedback plays in a positive workplace culture?
I learned something from an old boss of mine: feedback is only useful if it’s actionable, clear, and oriented towards something, not someone. He would tell me, “If someone took the time to give you feedback, that means they actually care.” I would add to that, “And what you do with it is totally up to you.”
Feedback sharing is a skill that improves with practice, and to truly learn from feedback, you need to dissect it, analyze it, and ask questions.
People leaders are responsible for not just encouraging a culture of feedback sharing, but also teaching people how to share and how to listen.
Where do you see the future of human resources heading, especially with technological advances?
I love the automation and AI, and whoever does not resist it, will keep their place in HR. The ultimate goal is to HR professionals to focus more on strategic initiatives and people development. With that said, I am curious to see how ATS develops as I am not seeing such systems actually being able to surface the best candidates.
How do you celebrate team successes and individual achievements?
Call it out! Hosting a virtual or in-person celebration, and acknowledging contributions publicly, it’s about making the team feel seen and valued. A culture of celebration not only boosts morale but also reinforces the behaviors and efforts that drive success, and teaches others to celebrate their peers and leaders as well!
And then, there are so many ways a company can design their benefits and rewards systems, but what matters most is people celebrating success, no matter how big or small!
What practices do you recommend to support employee well-being and work-life balance?
Understand life happens – we can’t be at our 100% every day, we can’t be equally productive every day, and what matters is consistency. What makes people more productive is the freedom to put in the effort when they feel most like it – so give people the freedom to work whenever they want wherever they want. Worried about letting go of the control over people’s work? It all starts with hiring the right person for the job.
Remember to check in and promote the culture of sharing – what I’ve learned over the years is that we spend so much time in our “place” of work but share so little with our managers and team. Sharing can help others understand what’s going on, provide the needed support, helping people really maintain their well-being and work-life balance.
Ultimately, allow employee’s to set their boundaries – not responding to emails after 5 PM, not working weekends, and so much more. Unless you work in the ER, it’s not urgent! Remember, when people feel in control, they produce more and more efficiently.
What advice would you give organizations looking to improve their workplace culture?
My advice to organizations looking to improve their workplace culture is to invest in a coach or an HR professional specializing in learning and development. These experts can provide tailored strategies to foster employee growth, enhance leadership skills, and align team dynamics with organizational goals.
A strong workplace culture starts with intentional effort and a clear vision, and having the right expertise onboard ensures those efforts are both effective and sustainable. And, it’s wonderful to see so many organizations worldwide are recognizing the value of coaching.
What role does mental health play in workplace culture, and how can companies better support their employees?
Mental health is a cornerstone of workplace culture, and companies need to take intentional steps to support it. This starts with hiring people leaders who genuinely prioritize employee well-being. It’s about fostering a culture of sharing, setting boundaries, and promoting work-life balance—not just in theory, but in practice.
For example, managers should actively encourage employees to log off when they’re overworking, ensure they take time off, and back these efforts with tangible benefits like PTO. It’s about recognizing that you’re playing the long game: a healthy, balanced team is more engaged, productive, and loyal.
Ultimately, focus on the people before the numbers, and the results will follow.
Looking back at your career, what has been your proudest moment related to fostering a positive workplace culture?
My proudest moments have been when people told me I made them feel better and inspired them to take action—whether it was asking for a raise, learning to set boundaries, or overcoming a conflict. Knowing I was able to make a positive impact and truly make a difference in someone’s life is incredibly fulfilling and reinforces why I do what I do.
We are all human after all, and I love supporting people in a way that they enjoy the process, accept the good and the bad, and celebrate every success.
Conclusion
Nadja’s story is a testament to the power of personal growth and the impact of thoughtful coaching. Her dedication to helping others overcome challenges and unlock their potential is inspiring. Whether you’re a business leader or someone striving for personal development, Nadja’s approach offers valuable lessons and encouragement.
If you’d like to connect with Nadja, check out her LinkedIn profile or explore her work on Upwork and through the Kesler Agency.