We are excited to feature Goran Rukavina, Head of Data Platform Department at Trade Republic, in our Speaker Interview series. As a Data Demystified Summit Berlin speaker, Goran brings extensive expertise in building scalable data platforms, AI-driven decision-making, and MLOps. At the summit, he will join the Panel Discussion | [Data Strategy Buy-In] How to Gain Data and Analytics Buy-in from Key Stakeholders, where he will share strategies for enhancing data literacy across organisations, aligning data initiatives with business goals, and using small pilot projects to demonstrate value and secure stakeholder support.
About Trade Republic
Trade Republic is a leading European neobroker that offers commission-free investing in stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Berlin, the company aims to make investing accessible and affordable for everyone. By leveraging advanced technology and a data-driven approach, Trade Republic provides a seamless, transparent, and secure trading experience.
Quick Q&A with Goran Rukavina
Could you please give us a quick introduction of yourself?
I’m Goran Rukavina, Head of Data Platform at Trade Republic, where I focus on building a scalable, secure, and cost-efficient data platform. Our mission is to empower teams with self-service analytics, real-time data processing, and MLOps—ensuring data is not just available but actionable.
I bring extensive experience in building machine learning platforms, deploying ML models at scale, and enabling AI-driven decision-making. Before Trade Republic, I worked at Revolut, where I helped shape the company’s ML infrastructure and data-driven automation strategies. My expertise lies in merging ML, data engineering, and business alignment to drive measurable impact.
Why did you choose to participate in this summit?
The Data Demystified Summit is a great platform to discuss how companies can move beyond treating data as just a technical asset and start using it as a core business enabler. At Trade Republic, we’re navigating the challenges of scaling a data-driven organisation while ensuring governance, performance, and cost-efficiency. I’m excited to exchange ideas with peers on gaining stakeholder buy-in, breaking data silos, and driving impact through data strategy.
What common barriers do companies face when aligning data initiatives with business objectives?
One major barrier is data as an afterthought—many companies treat data as a reporting function rather than integrating it into strategic decision-making. Another challenge is low data literacy among stakeholders, making it hard to drive adoption. Finally, siloed ownership and misaligned incentives often prevent companies from fully leveraging their data. The key is to embed data into business processes, make its impact measurable, and ensure cross-functional collaboration from day one.
Can you provide any good examples or effective ways to improve data literacy across an organisation?
At Trade Republic, we focus on hands-on learning and embedded data culture rather than just training sessions. The goal is to make data fluency a core skill across all teams, not just a specialised function.
What upcoming developments in your industry are you most eager to explore?
I’m particularly excited about the evolution of real-time analytics, AI-driven decision-making, and Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) in finance. As markets become more complex, faster, smarter, and more scalable data platforms will be key to delivering personalised experiences and optimising operations. Additionally, cost-efficient MLOps and automated data governance will be crucial for maintaining trust and scalability in highly regulated industries like fintech.
A huge thank you to Goran Rukavina for sharing his expertise! His insights into data strategy, AI adoption, and real-time analytics highlight the evolving role of data in fintech. Don’t miss his session at Data Demystified Summit Berlin, where he will dive deeper into securing stakeholder buy-in, driving business impact with data, and the future of AI-powered decision-making.
Join Us Now!
We are looking forward to meeting you In Berlin on 4 March 2025!
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