Some careers are built step by step. Others are shaped by the ability to see far beyond boundaries. For Ana Pepeljugoska, Partner at Pepeljugoski Law Office in Skopje, it has been both. From a double LL.M. in Strasbourg to a PhD in Skopje, from local cases to cross-border arbitration, her journey reflects a balance of ambition, resilience, and a commitment to advancing thoughtful legal solutions.
The lesson that has stayed with her is deceptively simple: “Do not leave for tomorrow what you can finish today.”
It’s an outlook that doesn’t leave much room for procrastination — or for lingering too long on rejection.
“I am not a person who accepts NOs (just kidding). I have faced and I am sure I will face in the future ‘hard no’. But I don’t see them as failures anymore”, she reflects. Instead, she reframes rejection as guidance. “The key to moving forward from any unpleasant situation is to learn to let go, accept, and prepare better for the next challenge.”
Leadership research echoes this mindset: Harvard Business Review’s 2024 study found that adaptive leaders — those who can anticipate, absorb, and pivot after rejection — consistently outperform.
Ana admits that her definition of success has evolved. “I will always be ambitious and never settle for less,” she says. “But with experience, I realised success isn’t only about big projects or material outcomes. It’s also the small daily tasks, the balance between work and life, the discipline to keep going.”
If she could go back to the start of her career, Ana knows exactly what she’d say:
“Be braver and take risks.”
For Ana, discipline is the anchor in challenging times. She focuses on long-term goals rather than short-term frustrations. But when self-doubt does creep in, she turns to her mother.
“She always says, ‘Trust the process, it takes time, but you will get there.’ That reminder helps me silence the noise of overthinking.”
At Pepeljugoski Law Office, gender equality is not an aspiration — it is a reality. “My name stands among the name partners, and the majority of our colleagues are women,” Ana explains. “But advancement is always based on merit, never gender.”
The firm was one of the first in North Macedonia to embed ESG and CSR principles into daily practice, from pro-bono services to scholarships and mentorships. “We believe equal opportunity creates stronger teams, and stronger teams create better outcomes — not just for clients, but for society.”
About the Meet WOBA Members Series
Meet WOBA Members is a storytelling initiative by Women on Boards Adria. Through first-person reflections, we highlight the professional journeys, values, and voices of women in leadership across the region. Stay with us as we continue building visibility and connection across the WOBA network.
