Carry less baggage on your back in business and in life

1. Introduce yourself in a few words..
My name is Katya Dimitrova – a communicator by profession and a traveler at heart. Wife of a banker, mother of twins, guest lecturer at two universities, with a dream to become a professor of communications who travels and teaches around the world.
I manage the communication group of “Interpartners”, which includes the creative agency Interpartners, the PR and corporate communications agency InterImage, and the new digital brand The Digitarians. With us, brands and companies “travel” towards their market success.

2. For you, traveling the world is...?
Traveling is recharging, a dream, a movie in which you participate, an open book that you can't wait to flip through. I love discovering unknown destinations, getting to know people, feeling cities, and exploring cultures.

3. How many different countries have you visited? Tell us an interesting story from your travels.
We have been to more than 40 countries. The most impressive was my first trip to Sri Lanka in the 90s – we traveled around the country for 14 days. I remember how a lizard appeared on the wall in a hotel room in Kandy. We called room service, and the employee came in with a broom and respectfully began to “sweep” it from one wall to the other. It was a sacred animal. The next day I held a beautiful sea creature – it turned out to be a sea urchin...

4. Do you like to repeat destinations?
Not really. I only repeat for work or cultural events. London is an exception – a favorite city that we often visit for musicals and concerts, including Adele and ABBA The Voyage.

5. Which trip changed you as a professional?
My first business trip – a conference in Belgium, back when I was a student. I was impressed by the program, the location, and the attitude of Western business people towards me. Since then, I pay attention to cultural differences on every trip.

6. What do you learn about yourself and your professional skills in a new cultural environment?
I put my skills in context. I compare and often discover that in many respects Bulgaria is ahead – intellect, digital skills, flexibility.

7. Do travels help expand your professional network?
Definitely. Even on the plane – I met Madalena Chipriani, then a cosmetics trader, now a coach and author. We keep in touch to this day.

8. What skills do you develop the most while traveling and how do they affect your work?
Prioritization. I like the principle of "travel lightly" – it applies in both life and business. Focusing on what matters.

9. Is there a city or country that inspired you for a new business or project?
Yes – Paris, from where we adapted the TVLowCost model for a successful campaign in our country. Brussels is also an inspiring center for business ideas.

10. Which destinations act as a “restart” for your creativity?
Cuba with its music, Bali with its tranquility, Singapore with its cosmopolitanism, Mexico with its mystique – each of these places gives me a new perspective.

11. In an unfamiliar country – more motivated or distracted?
More motivated. I want to feel everything in a short time, not to miss anything. This focuses me.

12. How do you balance work and pleasure while traveling?
At first, I tried to combine them, but it didn't work out. Now I travel consciously and am fully present. With good organization and without a big time difference – everything is possible.

13. How have travels changed your attitude towards money?
Cuba showed me that not everything is about money. Sometimes people need things that can't even be bought. This changed my perception.

14. Do you travel with the aim of finding new ways to earn?
No. We go for experiences. Ideas come naturally, often when we are not looking for them.

15. What lessons about financial independence have you learned from other cultures?
I learned on my own, through practice. I believe that financial transparency in the family is important, as well as everyone having the freedom to invest in something that brings them joy.

16. Is it better to spend on experiences than on things?
Yes. Experiences last forever, create memories, and keep the spirit young.

17. How do you see the future of digital nomads?
They are already the present. They will contribute to the development of less populated areas, including in Bulgaria – without leading to overcrowding.

18. Which countries are most favorable for work and investments?
It depends on the business. Bulgarian products are in demand in Spain, France. For real estate – Dubai, Monaco, the French Riviera.

19. If you could choose one place for your next idea, what would it be and why?
Bulgaria. A perfect place to test ideas with limited risk and the possibility of expanding abroad.

20. Which destinations would you definitely recommend?
There is no universal “must”. Visit what brings you joy. For some, it’s the Great Wall of China, for others – a neighboring city.

21. What is the career advice you would give based on your travels?
Be open and curious. Don’t seek ideas at all costs – knowledge accumulates and gives birth to innovations later. Don’t stop learning. And don’t stop traveling – the two are connected!