Beyond success: Mirjana Boznovska

Mirjana Boznovska’s name carries deep significance. "‘Mir’ means peace and ‘Jana’ represents God’s grace," she tells The CEO Magazine.

But it soon becomes clear that, for much of her life, the Founder and CEO of ONE Beyond Success has lived in tension between the two, searching for alignment between who she was and who the world expected her to be.

The roots of Boznovska’s journey in founding ONE Beyond Success can be traced back to her childhood.

"I vividly remember as a seven-year-old, dreaming of being an archeologist. I absolutely believed that was possible for my life. We had this really big oak tree in our backyard, and I’d often sit and play in the dirt patch," she says.

"I’d draw a big map of the world and mark all the places I would travel and the discoveries that I’d make. But the most important thing to me was how I would make the world a better place."

Big challenges, bigger dreams

With big dreams and sparkling eyes, young Boznovska shared her excitement with her parents, only to be met with disappointment.

"How dare you dream so big, and for something so unrealistic? How would you provide for your family?" they asked.

These harsh words weighed heavy, urging her to shrink, to settle, to be practical.

"It was really a defining moment in my life because I took it upon myself to please my parents and make them proud," she explains.

Years later, despite a thriving career in accounting and running various businesses, Boznovska looked in the mirror and no longer recognized herself.

"I had lost myself," she says. "But in that moment, I also recognized there was so much more I wanted to be, create and bring into this world."

Boznovska’s story is not unique. So many professionals navigate their careers, chasing external validation – titles, status, material success – only to find themselves feeling unfulfilled.

"I think a lot of people can recognize parts of themselves in my story because we live in a society that defines what success should look like," she says.

"Working with leaders and teams, including my personal life experiences, ignited my passion for understanding human behavior and intrinsic motivation. I found myself at the proverbial fork in the road and courageously stepped out of my comfort zone, paving a new path."

This new path led to the creation of ONE Beyond Success, a global workplace people development partner with a reputation for redefining people development and transforming workplace culture for sustainable outcomes.

"I recognized a significant gap in sustainable personal development tools in the workplace," she says, pointing out that personal development itself is not a new concept.

"Napoleon Hill, the forefather of personal development, laid the groundwork, emphasizing mindset, motivation and meaningful connection as the keys to success. The real innovation lies in how we perceive it and make it accessible in the workplace."

Through decades of experience, Boznovska has observed that the biggest workplace challenges stem from fear – fear of failure, change and vulnerability.

"I wholeheartedly believe that real change starts by addressing the whole person. At ONE Beyond Success, we do that by prioritizing people-first principles that foster courage, openness and continuous growth.

"Our mission is to inspire global change, one person at a time, building a future that is united, collaborative and impactful."

The game-changing blueprint

While her journey ultimately led to the founding of ONE Beyond Success, the real innovation lies in the ONE Blueprint, which integrates personal development into daily work, meeting the core psychological needs for autonomy, relatedness and competence to build sustainable motivation and create lasting impact. At its core is Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the leading psychological framework for understanding human motivation.

"What SDT says is that people are motivated to grow, change and be the best version of themselves when three core psychological needs are met," she explains.

"One is autonomy: that we’re captains of our own lives. The second is connection and relatedness – feeling that we connect to those around us. And the third one is competence; it’s about self-efficacy and feeling like we can do a good job in life."

ONE Blueprint, she says, has the power to transform employees into co-creators, driving innovation, purpose and sustainable impact in three ways:

• Optimize: Empowers individual growth through autonomy.
• Network: Strengthens team unity through relatedness.
• Elevate: Drives sustainable impact through competence.

"ONE Blueprint incorporates certain psychological needs, which build self-determination and intrinsic motivation – something sustainable," Boznovska explains. "External motivation is fleeting. We need to be motivated within and determined to then bring our best and most authentic self to work each day."

Measurable impact

Unlike traditional workplace training programs, ONE Blueprint is not a one-off initiative; it’s a system that becomes part of an organization’s DNA. Each month, employees engage in experiential roundtables on topics like self-awareness, redefining success and overcoming fear. Then, these discussions are supported by a steady stream of engaging prompts, articles and tools to ensure lasting impact.

"The Blueprint gets implemented in the workplace culture, so it’s internally driven, meaning there’s greater ownership," Boznovska points out.

"And through the monthly experiential roundtables we host, teams in these organizations build greater self-awareness, self-responsibility and self-leadership.

"This is the game-changing path that gets embedded in the workplace – they actually run and own this concept."

And the results speak for themselves. Boznovska highlights one client, Randstad Australia, achieved some impressive results, with the team feeling more energized, connected and better equipped to deal with challenges.

Another client, Life Fitness International, she says, saw a 37 percent rise in workplace problem-solving abilities.

"We always test for autonomy, competence and connection because those are the key drivers of self-determination," she explains. "Organizations can also track specific outcomes they want to improve, whether it’s innovation, leadership effectiveness or team cohesion."

The future of work

The workplace is evolving, and with it the traditional markers of success. As such, professional growth is no longer measured only by skills and knowledge – true success, Boznovska stresses, comes from personal development as well. Despite this, many organizations continue to focus solely on external achievements, neglecting the inner transformation needed for employees to thrive.

"At its core, the future of work is not just about what employees do – it’s about who they are," she insists. "Organizations that champion people development will shape the future, fostering courage, openness and expansive thinking for lasting impact.

"We’re expanding and redefining personal development. It’s no longer a luxury or a side project – it’s a core driver of organizational growth and essential for success in both personal and professional life."

For Boznovska, her journey has come full circle – back to that childhood dream of making the world a better place.

"My vision is a world map with organizations certified in our ONE Blueprint, representing courage, openness and expansive thinking," she says. "I see these lights connecting across the globe, where people-first principles are the foundation of success."

And while her parents may have once doubted her dreams, she believes they’d be proud today.

"Sadly, my parents have passed away. But I know they’re smiling down on me today," she reveals. "Toward the end of their lives, they began recognizing their own fears and limitations – the challenges of coming to a new country, holding onto the familiar while stepping into the unknown. They wished they’d done things differently.

"But I assured them, I am so grateful for my journey, including its challenges, because it shaped me into who I am today. And I have never been my truest, most authentic self than now. There’s great power in that."

Words of advice

Boznovska, recognized by The CEO Magazine as a Woman of Influence this International Women’s Day, has a word of advice for her fellow female leaders.

"Remember, leadership isn’t reserved for a select few – we are all leaders, whether it’s in our job description or not. We lead our own paths and, in doing so, we have the power to influence those around us," she says.

"Your authenticity is your superpower. The world doesn’t need more leaders who conform to the status quo. Trust in the value of your perspective, honor your unique voice and don’t be afraid to rewrite the rules.

"And most of all, your journey isn’t just about you – others are watching and taking note. So lead boldly with kindness, and never underestimate the power of your presence in inspiring others to do the same."