Home > CTO Trainer Spotlight – Gordana Marinkovic

CTO Trainer Spotlight – Gordana Marinkovic

Gordana Marinkovic

CTO Microsoft Trainer

The products or topics I currently train with CTO include…Microsoft 365 across the ecosystem — Excel (beginner to advanced), Power BI, Power Automate, Power Apps, SharePoint, Teams, Access, and Project. I specialise in workflow automation and scalable systems that help teams move from manual, spreadsheet-heavy processes to smarter, sustainable solutions.

My favourite product or topic to train is… Power BI, Excel and MS Project. There’s something powerful about turning raw, messy data into a clear story people can act on — or automating a task that used to take hours. Those “lightbulb moments” are the best.

What I enjoy most about helping clients learn is… seeing the moment when everything clicks. Many people start by saying “I’m not technical,” and leave designing dashboards, flows, and solutions independently. Watching someone go from overwhelmed to confident — and then teach others — is the most rewarding part of my job.

One of the biggest challenges for learning in 2026 is… the challenge isn’t access to knowledge—it’s decision fatigue or joining the gap. With constant updates and shifting platforms, learners need clarity and prioritization more than ever. My role is to simplify the noise and help people build systems that are practical and sustainable, not just trendy.

When I’m not training with CTO I’m… design custom solutions, mentor Power BI and SharePoint users, and support teams with process improvements. I love translating “this feels messy” into clear, teachable systems that save time and money.

Outside of work, I’m family-focused — spending time with my husband, three kids, and our dog, cheering on my sons at football, baking with my daughter, and getting outdoors whenever I can.
My greatest professional achievement is… Helping hundreds of learners become confident problem-solvers — and building solutions that last. I’m proudest when what we create together becomes part of daily operations, not just a one-off training.

When it comes to caffeine… Coffee — strong and frequent on training days. Occasionally herbal tea when I’m slowing things down.

I try to relax by… Walking, travelling, and unplugging from screens. Travel keeps me curious and reminds me there’s always a new way to see things.

I don’t understand why… Organisations still spend hours on manual tasks when technology can do it faster and more accurately. Teachable systems create confidence — quick fixes don’t.

I’ve always wanted to travel to… I’ve been lucky enough to explore 35+ countries across Europe so far, but my curiosity never slows down. Japan is next on my list.

For anyone needing to upskill in my area of expertise this year, one piece of advice I’d give would be… start with real problems, not features. Automate one repetitive task first. Confidence doesn’t come from knowing everything — it comes from knowing how to apply and teach what you know.