Never underestimate yourself

Introduce yourself in a few sentences..

My name is Iordan Ginev, I am 41 years old. An entrepreneur with over 15 years of international experience in managing organizations in the IT sector and the outsourcing sector. Currently, I am the Chief Operating Officer of the technology group DIGITALL and managing director for Bulgaria. In addition, I am also one of the co-founders of BULPROS, one of the two predecessor companies of DIGITALL. Since 2022, I have been a member of the board of the Association for Innovations, business services, and technologies (AIBEST), and since last year I took over its chairmanship.

What did you dream of becoming in your childhood?

As a child, I was split between participating in math olympiads and athletics competitions – running 800 meters. At that time, however, my dreams were more related to sports. I really wanted to become an Olympic champion or at least a participant in the Olympics one day. Although that did not happen, sports gave me strong self-esteem and taught me perseverance and discipline – very important qualities in my professional path ahead.

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

This happened in my student years. While studying at university, I worked quite a few different jobs – from a student brigade in the USA to a sports journalist in a newspaper and television. I believe that this accumulated diverse experience turned out to be very valuable for me and broadened my horizons.

I have always wanted to travel and be independent. I made tremendous efforts in the USA with one single goal – to earn money and buy my own car. After 4 months of working 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, I was finally a proud owner of a Golf 3.

The peak of my career as a sports journalist was commenting on the London Marathon on Eurosport television. The commentary was recorded at 00:00 at night and out of nervousness, I missed noting one of the top finishes of a Bulgarian athlete – Milka Mihailova, who appeared on screen for more than 2 minutes. At the last moment, I recognized her, but I still feel that I owe her an apology for that.

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?

Factors that shape us as individuals at an early age are often a combination of the environment we grow up in, the challenges we face, and the discipline we manage to build ourselves. In my development, a key role was played by the combination of two seemingly completely different fields – mathematics and athletics.

As a student at the Mathematical High School in Kazanlak, I trained intensively in running 800 and 1500 meters – almost at a professional level. This required not only physical endurance but also a great deal of self-discipline and perseverance. Combining intensive training with serious academic preparation in the field of mathematics was a real challenge. My day often started at 5:00 in the morning and ended around 20:00 in the evening – even then I realized that commitment does not recognize time.

This combination taught me that curiosity and a sustainable desire for development come from constant efforts to expand our personal boundaries – physically and intellectually. My inspiration then came from the strong examples around me – coaches, teachers, teammates – and from the feeling that every small achievement is the result of something bigger: belief in oneself and purposeful work.

My recipe for curiosity at that stage was simple: maximum curiosity about the world around me – and a willingness to learn from every encounter, every book, every victory, and every defeat. It is this mindset that brings inspiration even today.

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

I wouldn't say that there has been a change in age, but rather I have supplemented these perceptions. I continue to believe that the desire for development, self-improvement, and learning new things is vital for a person and that does not stop throughout their life. I have a constant hunger for meeting new people and learning new things. Currently, I am extremely curious about the world of music – something very different and distant from me. I am also trying to touch a new language – the Greek.

Even if indirectly related to daily activities, these side interests provoke the most important motivation for me to do or not do something –  the desire and ambition to succeed combined with interest and love for everything you do. An important element is also the feeling and understanding that you should never give up and finish everything you started. An interesting confirmation of this fact is that I never watch series because I cannot accept the thought that I won't finish them, and very often I don't have the time for that. That's why I don't start something in which I have doubts that I will finish.

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

The decision to study at the National Sports Academy was personally mine and if I have to be honest it surprised my family and classmates quite a bit. I have never regretted taking this direction, even though I did not realize professionally in it. The ambition for victory that sports instilled in me helps a lot in my current role. I think this is a completely correct decision that I made back then.

However, I also had no concerns later about pursuing a master's degree at Sofia University.

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

Sports is still a part of my daily life. Several times a week, my day starts with a 10-kilometer workout. I love to challenge myself and test my endurance. By pure chance, years ago I found myself at the start of the ultra marathon Vitosha 100, which I failed to finish the first 2 times. I am proud, however, that despite the lack of targeted preparation in my third participation, I overcame myself and managed to cover the distance. This was a test for me, to do something that in some way challenged me and remained on my to-do list.

I have always wanted to participate in a major sporting event and I am glad that in 2019 I participated and successfully finished the marathon in New York. The feeling of starting together with 50,000 athletes from around the world and running in front of a million-strong crowd is indescribable. After the finish, your ears ring from the encouraging cheers, as if you are coming out of a night club.

But at the same time, I am also a big music lover and have traveled thousands of kilometers to enjoy a concert of my favorite performers.

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

I would not change my profession because I love it too much and it is a part of me. Every day I experience immense pleasure from what I do.

At the same time, I have a huge interest in the music business. I have many musician friends and I enjoy showing interest and observing the process of creating music, videos, and concert activities.

I also love the sea very much and I would really like to spend more time by it. I would love to sail for months.

I have so many wishes and ideas that if the day were to become 48 hours instead of 24, it would still not be enough for me.

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 would like to hear that I am a person you can rely on – whether it is about a difficult decision, a complex project, a long marathon, or quality entertainment. A person who is not afraid of effort and believes that success comes to those who are ready to surpass themselves – both physically and mentally.

I hope to be perceived as a leader who remains curious, sincere, and consistent – a person who has built himself through hard work, discipline, and respect for the people and causes he surrounds himself with.

And, of course, I would smile if I heard that I can inspire not only with numbers, strategies, and results, but also with human relations, dedication, and the little things that leave a lasting mark.

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

For me, good condition – both physical and emotional – is a matter of habit and conscious choice. Every day starts with movement – literally. Running helps me not only to stay fit but also to create space for thought, focus, and setting up for the day. In this silence, I find solutions that I wouldn't discover behind a desk.

Over the years, I have realized that emotional intelligence is built just like muscles – with persistence and practice. I am learning to listen more, to pause before I react, and to seek the meaning behind people's behavior. I believe that leadership is not just about results, but about how you make people feel.

I cope with challenges through a combination of sports, conscious time for myself, and humor – I do not underestimate the power of a smile and a kind word, especially in tense moments. And music is my secret weapon – it is a journey through which I can always "restart" even the most stressful day.

What are the most important conclusions you have drawn so far about maintaining the right communication considering the different characters of the people you meet every day  – colleagues, friends, close ones?

One of the most important qualities for quality communication that a person should possess is the ability to listen and hear their interlocutor. The ability to put yourself in the shoes of the interlocutor, to enter their language and tone is very useful. You can achieve a lot as long as you make these genuine efforts because it does not happen naturally. Creating a sense of trust is a very delicate moment and those who can do it are truly successful in communication.  Of course, you must be sincere, honest, and who you are, without a mask.

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 an instrument – neither more nor less. They are an opportunity, not an end in themselves. They give us the freedom to make choices, to develop ideas and businesses, to support people and causes that are important to us. But at no point have I viewed them as a measure of personal value or happiness.

In my life, money has always been associated with effort and responsibility. I earned my first income as a student, far from home, with a job where it was not the money, but the lessons that were most valuable. To this day, I believe that true value comes from what you create and what value you leave behind – not just what you have accumulated.

Therefore, when it comes to money, it is good to ask yourself not "how much is sufficient", but "what do I want to achieve and why". When you have a goal or a cause in which you believe, you will find money. Moderation, discipline, and the ability to live with less when needed – these are the truly strong currencies in life.

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

Do not be afraid of effort. The path to sustainable success is not the shortest or the easiest – but it is the one where you grow the most. Don't just chase titles and promotions – seek value, meaning, and an environment where you learn every day.

And when you hesitate whether to take on something that seems difficult or unfamiliar – do it. The biggest lessons and breakthroughs come exactly at those moments.

And one more thing – do not underestimate yourself. Career success is not only in knowledge but also in who you are as a person. Honesty, perseverance, and the way you treat others leave a far more lasting mark than any CV.