The best investment is in personal development

Introduce yourself in a few words..

My name is Ralitsa Todorova-Baker. I am a marketing specialist with over 14 years of experience in brand management in international FMCG companies. Recently, I went through a significant professional and life change with my move to Toronto, Canada, where I am now adapting to a new environment and starting my own brand of handmade knits, called Knitted Clouds by Rali Baker.

How would you describe your career in a few words?

I describe my career as continuous development – I transitioned from a marketing specialist to a senior brand manager in FMCG, and now I am facing a new beginning as an entrepreneur and adapting professional in Canada.

What was the most important choice that shaped your path?

This is a great question for reflection. Although there have been many important decisions along the way, perhaps the most transformative choice that shaped my current path was the decision to move to Canada. This particular choice was different in scale and essence from previous steps, as it was not just a career decision, but a complex life choice. It wove together the deeply personal with the professional, as it was driven by the desire to be together with my husband, and at the same time required stepping out of the comfort zone – leaving an established career and familiar environment. This move literally opened a new page, placed me in front of the challenges of adaptation, but also gave me the opportunity to look at everything from a new perspective, to start a personal project and to explore new opportunities. This choice literally redrew my path.

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

Perhaps the most important thing I wish I had known at the beginning is that “The career path is not a straight line and success has many dimensions.” At first, I envisioned my career as a linear ascent, but no one told me that it is completely normal and valuable for the path to meander, with turns and even steps sideways that enrich – my move is an example of this. I also did not realize how crucial adaptability and soft skills are alongside expertise for long-term success. It is also important to understand that “success” is an individual concept that is not measured only by titles and salaries, but includes satisfaction, balance, and creating something of your own. If I had known this earlier, I would have been more relaxed and open to different opportunities. Experience, however, is the best teacher.

How can one understand which profession is suitable for them?

Understanding which profession is suitable is a process, not a one-time event, requiring a combination of approaches. First, deep self-knowledge is needed: to analyze our true interests, the skills we love to use, our core personal values, and the preferred work environment. Then comes research of the outside world: talk to people in the fields you are interested in through informational meetings, read and explore different professions, industries, and their prospects.

It is also key to experiment through action: try through internships, volunteering, side projects (as I do with my brand), analyze the experience – what you liked, what you didn’t, what skills you used. Finally, flexibility and adaptability are important – accept that careers evolve, interests change, and lifelong learning is essential. The right profession is often the intersection of passion, skills, values, and market demand.

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

Given the dynamics of the future, several groups of skills will be key. First and foremost are adaptability and flexibility, along with the ability for rapid learning (Learnability), to navigate constant changes. Next is deep digital and technological literacy, including the ability to work with data and artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool. Due to the automation of routine tasks, skills for critical thinking and complex problem-solving are becoming increasingly important. At the same time, creativity and innovation remain a uniquely human advantage for generating new ideas. Last but not least, in the technological world, the importance of emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills is growing – empathy, communication, teamwork, and relationship building. Success will depend on the combination of technological literacy with these deeply human skills.

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

To build a network of useful contacts authentically, without appearing selfishly interested, the key is to shift the focus from “What can I get?” to “What can I give/learn?”. This starts with sincere curiosity about the other person – their experience, story, excitement, by asking meaningful questions and listening actively. It is also important to seek ways to offer value first, whether it’s a shared article, contact, feedback, or just support. We need to think long-term, focusing on building trust and relationships, rather than on immediate gain – opportunities often come as a result of these connections.

At the same time, we must be authentic, sharing our own experiences and interests. When seeking informational meetings, we should be clear that we are looking for advice and perspective, not a job, be prepared, and respect the other person’s time. Maintaining contact afterward should be unobtrusive. When the approach is towards learning, sharing, and building community, the risk of appearing merely interested decreases dramatically.

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

Every career has its bumps. One of my significant mistakes, from which I learned a lot, was related to managing too many projects at once and insufficient delegation at an earlier stage. Driven by perfectionism and perhaps insufficient trust, I tried to control too many details myself, did not delegate effectively, and was hesitant to ask for help. This led to the risk of burnout and not utilizing my team’s full potential. This painful but valuable lesson taught me that leadership is not about doing everything yourself, but about building trust, delegating wisely, and empowering others to grow, while you focus on strategic priorities. I realized that asking for help is not a weakness, but maturity, and that perfectionism can be an enemy. Since then, I have consciously worked on delegation and trust, which improved both my effectiveness and balance, as well as my team’s results.

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

Every workplace should be a source of growth, but often systemic problems and behavioral patterns cultivate a toxic work environment with detrimental consequences – a decline in motivation and morale, stress, quiet quitting and turnover. Therefore, it is important to recognize the signals in time by paying attention to recurring patterns. Some red flags include constant poor communication and lack of transparency; disrespectful or inadequate leadership; negative culture of blame, intrigue, and high turnover; systemic disruption of work-life balance and normalizing burnout; a sense of lack of growth, respect, and recognition; a culture of fear; or a strong intuition that something is wrong.

The decision of when to leave is personal, but there are thresholds that should not be ignored: when the job systematically harms your physical or mental health; when you are systematically forced to compromise your personal values; when there are no realistic prospects for improvement despite your efforts; when negativity from work permanently affects your personal life; or when your intuition persistently tells you that you need to leave. Sometimes health and self-respect necessitate leaving even without a secure new plan.

What would you do differently if you could start over?

Although I am satisfied with my core choices, if I could start over with my current knowledge, I would probably change some approaches and attitudes. For example, I would build my professional network more purposefully and earlier, realizing the key importance of contacts for learning and support. I would also be bolder in experimenting earlier, embracing the “meandering” in my career as a valuable opportunity. Finally, I would set clearer boundaries for work-life balance earlier, realizing the importance of self-care for long-term sustainability. These are corrections in approach that come with experience.

How to maintain motivation during periods of stagnation?

Periods of stagnation are normal, but we can maintain our motivation through various strategies. It is important to remind ourselves of the initial “Why?” – the purpose and meaning behind our efforts. Breaking down large goals into micro steps and marking small victories restores the sense of progress. Stagnation periods are ideal for learning and developing new skills, which in itself is motivating. Sometimes changing the routine or environment helps, as well as seeking inspiration from successful examples or positive people. We should also remember to reflect on past successes, allow ourselves a real break when needed, and most importantly – be kind and patient with ourselves, accepting that motivation is variable.

How to achieve balance between professional and personal life?

Achieving balance is not a perfect 50/50 split, but a conscious management of time and energy according to priorities. First, we need to clearly define these priorities in both areas. Then it is crucial to set clear boundaries – temporal, spatial, and mental (to learn to “switch off” and be present).

We need to learn to say “no” to the unnecessary and delegate effectively. It is important to plan our personal time with the same seriousness as work and prioritize self-care (sleep, food, movement, hobbies), which is a necessity. We should be flexible and adaptive, periodically reviewing the balance, and communicate our needs to others. It all comes down to conscious daily choices.

When is it time to change careers, not just jobs?

The distinction of when it is time to change careers, not just jobs, is crucial. Changing jobs addresses situational problems, while a career change is a response to deeper dissatisfaction with the essence of the work. Signals for the need for a career change include constant dissatisfaction regardless of the company, loss of interest and passion for the field, misalignment with personal values, dreaming of using entirely different skills, negative impact on health, lack of inspiration for the future in this career, or constant exploration of alternatives. If several of these signals are persistent over time, a reassessment of the entire career direction is likely needed, requiring self-analysis and exploration.

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

It is difficult to choose just one, but if it has to be the most valuable for today’s world, I would say: Be adaptable and never stop learning. Careers are not static, the world is changing rapidly, skills become outdated. The ability to constantly absorb the new, adapt to changes, and view challenges as opportunities for growth is what ensures long-term relevance and satisfaction. Investing in personal development is the best investment.

What is your definition of a “successful career”?

For me, the definition is contained exactly in the quote by Albert Einstein: “Do not aim for success, but to contribute value.” I believe that a truly successful career is not measured only by titles or money. Success is in the feeling that your work has meaning and through it, you contribute something valuable – solving a problem, helping others, creating something beautiful or useful (like my brand), developing yourself and those around you. When the focus is on creating value, satisfaction and recognition (success) come more naturally and are deeper and more sustainable.