This weekend marked the final session of the Sofascore Product Management Academy – an internal knowledge-sharing initiative aimed at leveling up the next generation of product thinkers inside our platform. Over the past weeks, the program brought together top minds from across Sofascore to share real-life insights on building world-class digital products. The closing session didn’t disappoint.
On stage this time:
- Marko Basuga, Product Team Lead
- Dejan Vasko, Chief Product Officer
- Ivan Bešlić, Sofascore Co-founder, with a final keynote that wrapped it all up
“Product is a Team Sport” – Marko Basuga
Marko Basuga opened the session with an honest take on the challenges of product work. “Product is a team sport,” he said. But not every match ends with a win.
“Not everything will always go perfectly, and there will be times when something truly doesn’t get done. When the best feature you came up with ends up being a flop, when users don’t like it, and it doesn’t earn what was expected. In those moments, take responsibility.
If the team didn’t succeed, as the PM – I’m the one responsible. All product successes are team successes. But if something fails, the PM is to blame.”
The message was clear: take ownership, even when things flop. And when things succeed? That’s a win for the whole team.
Dejan Vasko on Prioritizing the Right Things
As Chief Product Officer, Dejan Vasko brought attention to the daily balancing act every PM faces: feature requests, bugs, platform differences, and user expectations.
“If you look at the Android and iOS backlogs, it’s a list of 20–30 tasks that need to be done for users. Some smaller, some bigger. And beyond features, there’s a whole layer of bugs and errors.
The challenge is where to fix things, how to prioritize – while everything needs fixing as soon as possible.”
In short: building product means making tough calls, fast – and doing it with users in mind, always.
Ivan Bešlić: “Education is What Sets You Apart”
To close the program, Ivan Bešlić stepped up with a final keynote full of perspective and encouragement.
“I’m surprised to see the chairs still full, even at the very end. Saturday morning is a tough time slot, but you sacrificed part of your weekend to be here, working on something that could help your career.
Keep learning – that education will be the difference between keeping up with the changes in this industry, or getting stuck. Everything is changing faster than ever, and I respect every one of you for choosing to be here.”
He reminded the group that staying curious and investing in personal growth is what separates those who adapt from those who fall behind. The digital product space moves fast – and this Academy was designed to help keep up.
The Grand Finale: Food, Drinks, and Reflection
The session ended with a casual get-together – a chance to relax, exchange ideas, and celebrate the journey. No formal agenda, just a good time with good people.
What’s Next?
While this wraps up the first edition of the Sofascore Product Management Academy, it’s just the beginning for many of the participants. The experience proved that product excellence is built on communication and continuous learning – principles that are deeply embedded in how we build at Sofascore.
Stay tuned. More learning, more building, and more behind-the-scenes stories coming your way.