Balance does not mean equality, but synchronization

Introduce yourself in a few words..

My name is Kolyo Kolev and I am the director of the Institute for the Preservation of Cultural and Historical Heritage – an organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Bulgarian culture and identity. I have over 30 years of experience in building sustainable initiatives in different sectors – from business and education to culture and social entrepreneurship.

How would you describe your career in a few words?

Multilayered, purposeful and always driven by mission. Every stage has been focused on building – on value, on cause, on long-term effect.

What was the most important choice that shaped your path?

To follow a mission, not just a position or income. The choice to give up short-term gains in the name of a long-term vision helped me create projects with value beyond personal success.

What would you like to know at the beginning of your career that no one told you?

That truly important things do not happen quickly. Resilience and patience are more valuable than enthusiasm if you want to leave a mark.

How can a person understand which profession is suitable for them?
Through conscious observation of what makes them lose track of time. The calling is at the intersection of talent, passion, and societal need.

What skills do you think will be key in the next 10 years?

• Adaptability and lifelong learning
• Intercultural communication
• Critical thinking and systematic planning
• Emotional intelligence
• Skills for creating and managing communities

How to build a network of useful contacts without appearing interested?

By genuinely caring about others. People sense authenticity. Do not start with “what will I get,” but with “what can I give.”

What is the biggest mistake you have made in your career, and what did you learn from it?

I underestimated the importance of building a team culture in the early stages of the project. I learned that strategy without the people behind it is just an idea – not a reality.

How to recognize a toxic work environment and when is it time to leave?

A toxic environment is recognized by the fact that it destroys self-respect, not just time. If you regularly suppress yourself to “survive” – it’s time to leave.

What would you do differently if you could start over?

I would invest more in building internal discipline early in my years – it is the foundation of everything else.

How to maintain our motivation in times of stagnation?

By reminding ourselves “why” we started. Motivation comes not from momentary results, but from the meaning behind them. Small victories and the connection to the mission restore direction.

How to achieve balance between professional and personal life?

By not separating them, but integrating them. Balance does not mean equality, but synchronization. If work does not conflict with our values, it can enrich personal life – and vice versa.

When is it time to change our career, not just the job?

When we lose the sense of contribution and meaning. Changing jobs is logistical, but changing careers is philosophical – it comes when we realize that we want to build another world.

If you had to give just one piece of advice to people seeking success, what would it be?

Do not chase success – chase value. Success is a byproduct of something deeper – of contribution.

What is your definition of “successful career”?

A career in which a person succeeds in being themselves, living with integrity, and leaving something behind that transcends their personal biography.