Follow your passions and be authentic

Introduce yourself in a few sentences..

My name is Zornitsa Bankina and I am one of the two executive directors of the Collection Agency (ACV), one of the leading non-banking financial institutions in Bulgaria. I am also a member of the board of directors of ACV. My mission - mine and that of my colleagues at ACV, is to help people and businesses - the former to overcome their temporary financial difficulties and become good payers, and the latter - to successfully manage their receivables, ensuring their liquidity from them.

Outside of my corporate position, I also strive to dedicate time and resources to contribute to the good development of our sector and business in Bulgaria as a whole. I am a member of the management board (MB) of the Association for the Management of Receivables (AMR) - an organization that unites companies from the sector that operate under strict rules and ethical norms and whose mission is the dissemination and establishment of good practices in the industry.

What did you dream of becoming in your childhood?

I grew up in a family with a military father - a man of honor, dignity, justice, order, and discipline. Logically, I also dreamed of carrying this spirit as a child. So I imagined myself as a detective. I even tried to apply to the Ministry of Interior academy in Simeonovo, but at the same time, I was offered a job at one of the mobile operators and decided to postpone my application.  

It didn't turn out exactly as I had envisioned in childhood, but today I am engaged with order and discipline in finance and receivables management. Moreover, we help people with financial difficulties find a way out of this situation, to settle their overdue obligations and organize their personal finances. We also assist businesses in achieving the same effects and results regarding their uncollected receivables. From this perspective, it can be accepted that my childhood dream has been somewhat fulfilled - it has found realization in the projects I am engaged in today.   

At what age did you earn your first money? Tell us some curious incident?

That was the first summer when my parents agreed to let me go to the sea without them. The condition was to earn the money I needed myself. I was 16. And so I started working at the reception of a gym - I issued and validated cards, sold dietary supplements… I worked tirelessly for two months to spend the money for a week in Sunny Beach, not a very wise decision from the perspective of good personal finance management, but a good lesson that one should go through sometimes to appreciate the value of work and money. This was also a useful and valuable experience as it introduced me to various people with diverse professions and activities.  

What are the main factors and examples that shape us as individuals at an early age and form our interests? What is your recipe for curiosity, sources, and wells of information and inspiration in this stage of our human development?

I believe, at least from my experience and path, that first and foremost, the example and factor is family - mainly parents, who can provide us with a supportive and secure environment. Family is like a gene that determines how an organism will grow, how healthy it will be, what its strengths and vulnerabilities are, etc. The family environment also shapes and determines values, attitudes, and interests, at least up to a certain point. All of them are subject to change and can develop in motion, unless you are endowed with a certain talent - to sing, dance, draw, etc., which would be structurally defining as it implies a strong competitive advantage.

I am grateful to my parents and my grandparents - they are the ones who raised me and instilled in me important human values of timeless significance, which still help me to be resilient and grounded, to be who I am, to respect the dignity of those around me, and to treat every human being with respect. At the same time, I have received enough freedom to follow the path I have chosen to develop.

Of course, the gene and family situation do not mean that our fate is predetermined. What gene we have and what risks we are predisposed to does not mean that our health and physical existence is predetermined. Each of us is a living organism that develops and can build its capacity, skills, and talents at any moment, as long as one wishes and has the will to do so.   

Next, important in early, teenage, and youth age, at least from my practice, are the teachers and coaches who teach and train us in school, sports, or clubs of interest. At least I was from that generation in which this was valid and in some places still is. Teachers and coaches play the role of our natural initial mentors and inspiring figures outside of the family at an early age. Often they have even greater significance for the way we will develop in life because family usually supports us always and at every moment, regardless of how well you are doing in life, profession, and the external environment.

No less significance from my perspective is the surrounding environment - classmates, colleagues, friends, and neighbors with whom one spends time. Often in youth, we are inclined to disregard norms and habits from the family, just to fit in with our peers and integrate into the external environment. It is no coincidence that they say: “You become like those you associate with.” Here, again from my experience, I believe that if you have a healthy and supportive family environment, you build reflexes on how to protect and preserve yourself from harmful influences.   

Today, teachers and coaches have somewhat been replaced by so-called influencers and stars on social media - TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, etc. This is a double-edged sword - on the one hand, these influential personalities and people expand the horizons and worldviews of today's youth, which helps them believe in themselves and not limit themselves in the scale of their audacity and inspiration. On the other hand, however, the same TikTokers and social media stars can permanently damage the perceptions of young people about how to develop and in what world you want to live. It is no coincidence that the creators of these social media - I mean people like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, either limit the time their children spend on these media or outright take away their access to them. This is not coincidental because who knows an environment better than its own creator. If the founders of social media do this for their own children, there is probably a reason.

Regarding the recipe for curiosity, sources of information and inspiration, my way is the same as before - reading. I am a fan of books. They are what inspires me even today. I love to read and try to pass on the love for words to my child with the clear awareness that times are different and the new generation perceives the world in a completely different way. Regardless of that, I still do not give up trying to share with my daughter my special relationship with the book. Yes, the environment and platforms for reading are changing - instead of on paper, it happens on a screen, but I still believe that reading encourages curiosity. In the same way, as when I need to remember something and I write it down.

For my child's generation, reading is hardly a way to memorize. For them, fast scrolling and watching short videos on smart devices is much more prevalent. The influence of AI and its use as a source of knowledge, information, and inspiration will continue to grow.     

Has there been any significant change in your perceptions in more mature age about what motivates you to do or not do something?

Of course, and this is completely normal. A person develops over time and accumulates experience. In the best case, he becomes more aware and learns to stand up for his values and boundaries - something that is almost impossible at an earlier age. For this, however, we must develop not only our technical skills but also ourselves as individuals.

Now I am much more balanced. I perceive things much more calmly, both in my personal and professional life. I try to look at things and challenges I face more philosophically. My family is a great motivator and most of my actions are driven by thoughts of them. I value much more living in the moment - here and now, and I appreciate the small things much more.     

Whose decision was it where to pursue higher education and what to study? Was that decision correct, viewed from today's perspective?

My path was not the well-known one for most of my peers and classmates - from school directly to the student bench. After my secondary education, I first worked and only after 4 years did I enroll in a bachelor's program. It can be said that I wandered. Initially, I studied Marketing and Quality Management. Later, I dropped out, transferred, and graduated in the field of “Automation”.  

The decision for higher education was mine, even more so. Whether it was the right one cannot be said unequivocally. I have never practiced this specialty, but it gave me a good foundation and contributed to the way I think and analyze. As a person, I have always been focused on details. After that, as a master's student, I was much more aware.

Share more about your interests, knowledge, skills, and hobbies?

I am a big fan of horror novels, thrillers, and crime stories. I like Stephen King and Chris Carter. Recently, I have been reading with great pleasure Lars Kepler - this is a Swedish family writing under a common pseudonym. In the works of all the mentioned authors, there is much dynamism, tension, anticipation, something that keeps my interest throughout the time and makes me read in one breath. Books develop the imagination and help the reader to escape for a while from reality, stepping into a different world.

Given my preferences for the genre in books, it is no surprise that I also like horror films. And here I hasten to clarify - contrary to traditional perceptions, these films can have a calming effect on some people with anxiety disorders, and this has been proven by scientists. Personally, it is exactly like that - this habit makes me more resilient to changes, more balanced, and as much as possible - more calm. Horror films can be a useful way to train the mind, and fear - a source of excitement and emotions such as relief, curiosity, and even social experience and communication, because who watches horror films alone? And perhaps you have noticed - most scary stories have a happy ending.

Would you change your profession today and which fields of activity capture your interest?

I think that almost everyone has thought about what they would do if not with what they are currently doing. Or sometimes they have dreamed out loud and had aspirations for one thing or another. It is human and normal. For example, I have always dreamed of opening a diet pastry shop. I would also work in the field of trade.

However, I like my job and the people with whom I share my professional daily life. In any case, it would be extremely difficult for me to betray the activity I am engaged in and have accepted as my mission and cause, namely - ACV and the team of the agency.

They say that the personal brand is everything that people say about you when you are not in the same room with them. What would you like to hear today?

I could not require or set demands in this regard. I do not expect everyone to like me or to shower me with superlatives. The only thing I hope for is that in a professional sense, I manage to help each one around me to be a better version of themselves.

Emotional intelligence, adaptability, and flexibility, as well as our soft skills are key conditions for success in recent years. How do you cope with the daily challenges of life to stay in good shape and mood?

Emotional intelligence is a quality and skill that undergoes development and change. Over the years, I have tried to develop it. I believe that today I am a much more aware and calm person. Of course, not every day can be sunny, but I try to seek solutions instead of focusing on the problem. There are no irreparable things outside of fatal consequences.  

What are the most important conclusions you have drawn so far about maintaining proper communication considering the different characters of the people you meet daily - colleagues, friends, close ones?

I would highlight two things - first, people are inherently good beings. Everyone has their dark sides; the important thing is to discover the good ones and encourage them. Next, there are no inappropriate people, there are only people who are not in their right place. If everyone finds their place or is helped to find their place, the world would look like a perfect chessboard in the phase of the game before the game has even started, with all the pieces in their place.  

What do you think about money? What is their influence on your life? What is your advice to people who often ask themselves questions related to money and how sufficient they are?

We live in a material world, and to say that money is not important would be false. I strongly believe, however, that a person's focus should not be on money, but on how to earn it. In the field in which I work, I often encounter various human stories, some of which are not good examples - for example, loans taken for wrong purposes. If you manage to master the skill of managing your finances wisely and live within your means, I believe that money will be completely sufficient for you.

What is the most valuable career advice you would give to people?

The most valuable career advice I would give to people is to be authentic and follow their passions. When you work in a field that inspires you and in which you believe, you will not only grow professionally but also be happier and more motivated. Do not be afraid to take risks and step outside your comfort zone - that is where the opportunities for growth and new challenges lie. Also, build valuable relationships in your network of contacts, as they can open doors and offer you new perspectives. Learn to listen and receive feedback, as it is a key factor for personal and professional development. Ultimately, strive to be the best version of yourself, and success will come naturally.