Dynamic Duos

Mihela Hladin & Ina Kukovic

In a country where environmental protection comes in second to profit, educating Chinese people about the merits of sustainable business practices is a long and hard road, but that hasn’t stopped Mihela Hladin and Ina Kukovic from trying. The Slovenian sisters behind Greenovate, a “green” consulting firm, have thrown their heart, souls and lifelong passion for the environment into reaching out to businesses and youth across China.

Growing up in Velenje, a small coal-mining town in Slovenia, Mihela and Ina witnessed the effects of pollution first-hand. Their mother started an environmental engineering company to combat the degradation and enlisted her daughters’ help in the fight, inspiring their zeal for sustainable practices. “Mum is definitely our role model,” says Ina. “She taught us to fight for what we believe in.”

Now, the sisters have translated their combined experience and shared passion into a practical business that also manages not one, but two non-profits. They acknowledge that their differing personalities are a boon to the office, as Ina’s diplomatic demeanor balances out Mihela’s frank nature, and their long-gone sibling rivalry gives them perspective on the other’s strengths.

Not just colleagues, the sisters also call the same apartment home – an arrangement they enjoy, but they do admit that there is a downside to being coworkers and roommates. It’s difficult for them to leave their work at the office, but they make an effort to take Sundays off completely, agreeing not to mention Greenovate at home. And all that togetherness has started to create a mind meld that can be helpful at times and exceedingly annoying at others. “Sometimes we end up buying matching clothes, even when we’re on different continents!” Mihela says.

When they’re not accidentally dressing up like twins in different time zones, Mihela and Ina plan on keeping their family tradition of environmental protection alive as Greenovate kicks off its fourth year of promoting corporate sustainability.

Greenovate. Web: www.greenovate.net