PETOŠEVIĆ PEOPLE: Q&A with Tatjana Nakevska Kedijoska

Trademark and Patent Paralegal Tatjana Nakevska Kedijoska has been part of PETOŠEVIĆ for 14 years. Out of our Skopje office, Tatjana handles regional coordination and maintenance of foreign patent, trademark and design renewals and recordations. We asked Tatjana about her work, her pastimes, her favorite food, and much more.

1. How did you start your career in IP?

   I applied for a job back in 2007. I was interviewed in English and French and attended a one-month traineeship in our Brussels office. I was employed once the local North Macedonia office was set up in 2008.

2. What is the most challenging aspect of your work?

   It is challenging to check on developments regarding applications or registered rights for which we are not representatives on record, because in most jurisdictions there isn’t a publicly available register. Explaining how various IPOs work can also be challenging, because things can get stalled for months or years due to leadership or personnel changes or if the responsible officer is on leave. We then have to file urgent requests and contact people to try to get things moving. This is how we drive or embrace change which is our firm’s motto.

3. What do you most enjoy doing at work?

   I love working with people from different backgrounds — we are a highly diverse firm.

4. What would you be working in, if you weren’t working in IP?

   I would be an interpreter in the EU integration process.

5. What was the first job you’ve ever had?

   Teaching English.

6. What is your favorite thing to do when you are not working?

   I like travelling a lot, then mountain climbing, jogging, having coffee with friends, playing volleyball and many other things.

7. What book did you read last?

   “Parce que je t’aime” (translated into English as “Lost and Found”) by Guillaume Musso.

8. What is your favorite song/music at the moment?

   The current hit on the radio.

9. What is your favorite dish of all time?

   Lasagna!

10. If you could meet anyone in the world, from the past or present, who would it be and why?

    Someone I recently lost – my mom.

11. What was your favorite subject in school and why?

    Biology, because we had a great teacher who was passionate about the subject and made learning fun.

12. What did you want to be when growing up?

    A doctor. Didn’t most people?

13. Tell us three things most people don’t know about you.

    One thing is that I can play chess and win. Another thing is something I learned because we had a sewing machine at home – I can design, make patterns, sew and create all types of garments. I haven’t done this since high school though. The third thing would be that my hair is curly and that I’m not naturally blonde.

14. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

    I’m still learning to ski the hard ski runs, so that would be it.

15. What is your biggest frustration about the world around you?

    Lies, littering, talking while eating…

16. What is the most important thing you have learned in the last five years?

    We recently lived through a pandemic and were locked down for a long period of time, but during this time I got married and had a child, so I learned a lot, but mostly not to sweat the small stuff.

17. What do you wish you could have told yourself at age 13?

    Hard work always pays off, whatever you do.

18. What cities/countries have you lived in?

    I lived in Stip in North Macedonia in my childhood and in Skopje since university. I also spent one year in Warsaw during my postgraduate studies.

19. If you could live in another country of the 30+ countries where PETOŠEVIĆ operates, which would you pick and why?

    I would pick the Zagreb office, because Croatia has beautiful islands and beaches and I have family there.

20. If someone came to your city for 24 hours, where would you take them?

    I would take them to Matka Canyon on Mount Vodno for a coffee and to a tavern in the Debar Maalo street for some local specialties. I would also take them to the fortress and the main square, for a walk along the Vardar river, and to the Old Bazaar for souvenirs.