Never go through inertia, but invest heart and soul

Introduce yourself in a few sentences..

My name is Ralitsa Sharkova – an explorer at heart, a fan of mathematical jokes, and an admirer of ventures with added value. My path began in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, passed through the big corporate IT world, and I am currently a Senior People Manager at Telerik Academy School.

What did you dream of becoming in your childhood?

Since I was little, I looked at the stars with huge eyes and even bigger questions. I was completely obsessed with space, planets, black holes, all this mystery acted on me like a magnet. I dreamed of being an astronaut, to explore the unknown and discover worlds that no one had seen. I think that feeling of searching for something greater and beyond the obvious – remains to this day.

At what age did you earn your first money? Tell us an interesting story? 

Now, thinking back, the entrepreneurial spark appeared early, they just didn’t call it that then. I was about 9-10 years old when my friends from the block and I decided to organize quizzes for passersby. We took pens and small toys from home, composed questions, and selected “clients” – mainly parents with children who, for a ticket and a correct answer, won a prize. There was real enthusiasm and marketing (or at least shouting).

Later in school, I sold posters that were a real hit at the time – one lev for a single-sided, two leva for a double-sided. Besides students, my clients were also teachers – and if that’s not serious business?! :D

For the official record - I earned my first money under a contract at the age of 19 in the journalism industry.

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 at this stage of our human development?

The building of personality happens between the lines of books, between the pauses of family conversations, and in the eyes of people who believed in you before you believed in yourself. Curiosity is nurtured with space for mistakes, for play, and with answers you didn’t expect.

Since I was little, I love to observe, to ask “why,” to change the angle from which I look, to understand “how things work” and to do them in a new way. For me, that’s where the magic is.

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

My motivator has always been a bit deeper than “achieve” – it has been “contribute.” For me, it’s important to know why you do what you do and how you contribute to something greater than yourself. My motivation comes from the feeling of meaning and the idea that every day you can leave a mark – even a small one, but one that carries soul.

Whose decision was it where to pursue higher education and what to study? Was that decision correct, looking back today?

The choice was entirely mine. I had two great loves in school – mathematics and French. I decided to take the path that seemed more flexible in the long run – and that was mathematics. Thus, I found myself at SU, majoring in “Mathematics and Computer Science” - only without having studied in a mathematical high school and with exactly 3 hours of mathematics per week. It was a real cultural shock. But that shock turned me around and gave me a push. It wasn’t easy, but it was the right decision. And today, without hesitation, I would do it again.

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

I adore Queen and Freddie Mercury, I give my all for a game of “canasta” or board games, I love to read books, discover new destinations, innovate in the approaches to routine tasks, and confront new fields for me.

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

I am not one of those who cling to titles and chase “a career for the sake of a career.” I believe that a profession is a living system. For me, it’s important that what I do creates value, that I can learn, give, and be inspired. So if one day I find myself in a new field – as long as it attracts me and I see meaning – I would accept it as a natural continuation, not as a “change.”

They say that personal branding 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 would like them to say that I bring soul into everything I engage in – in ideas, in work, in relationships, that I am a person who invests meaning, heart, and nuance, that I do not go “through inertia,” but with open eyes and thought.

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?

1) I have learned to say “no” when I need to say “no”.

2) I enjoy the sunny rays and take time for walks in nature

3) I set a clear boundary between the workday and personal time. Of course, there are periods when work requires more effort, and family – more attention, but it’s important, if you can, after a certain hour to disconnect from the work process and isolate all work tasks, emails, notifications.

What are the most important conclusions you have made so far about maintaining proper communication considering the different characters of the people you meet daily – colleagues, friends, relatives?  

There is no universal language – each person comes with their own setting, pace, and need to be understood in their own way. Active listening and observing the reactions and emotions of people are the most powerful tools we have. Communication is not just about words, but about presence, empathy, and the desire to reach the other person, even when they are different from you.

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?

Money is a tool that can provide peace, freedom, opportunities – but not direction. They are not a measure of success, happiness, or value. How “sufficient” they are depends not so much on the amount as on what you want to do with them. Therefore, my advice is: do not ask yourself how much is sufficient, but what would be “sufficiently full” for you. From there on, the numbers take on a completely different meaning.

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

Choose directions in which you can grow not only as professionals but also as people. A career is not a straight line, but a personal trajectory – do not be afraid to change course if you feel that something inside you is already elsewhere.