The hierarchy should be like a skeleton – a stable but invisible support

Introduce yourself in a few words..

My name is Maria Stoeva and I am the founder and CEO of SISTEMMA – company for organizational development and business success.
We work with companies that do not just want to survive, but to evolve – from the inside out. Our strength lies in building strategies, processes, culture, and leadership skills that create real results.
SISTEMMA is much more than a consulting project – it is a mission, a community, and a driver for change.

This is primarily a platform. It is at the core of a broader ecosystem that I am engaged with - DisruptHR Sofia, HR One, Excellevate, and soon expect another addition. This ecosystem of organizations allows us to work extremely synergistically and effectively with various organizations and people in the country and beyond, and to be truly useful in many aspects of their business.

Tell us what are the philosophy and values of the company you currently represent?

Our philosophy is categorical:
Nothing around us is the same – let’s stop acting as if it is.

The company exists to support leaders and organizations in the transition from the old to the new – from control to trust, from chaos to organized flexibility, from overload to minimalism, from unused resources to sustainable growth.

Our values are not written on any wall or in any website. They are what we live every day: we speak directly, work transparently, and never "sell solutions" that we do not believe will work. We do not settle for superficial trainings and presentations. We design experiences that create real change. We are bold and work with bold people who know that change is not always comfortable, but it is always worth it.

How long have you been developing your current company? What are the most valuable lessons that the current situation has taught you during this period?

We founded the company in the summer of 2024, but it did not come from nowhere. It was a natural evolution of everything I have done up to this point – over 10 years in the field of training, organizational development, leadership, and growth strategies.
The truth is that it stepped onto the stage with a ready vision, a clear mission, and trust from the first day, because it comes with my entire personal brand, experience, and great network of contacts.

The most important lesson – that if you put your heart into it and really know what you are doing, there is no need to “sell” your services. People sense when things are valuable and then say: “I want to work with you.”

The company is growing fast, but not chaotically. Every client comes with a recommendation, every solution is custom-made. This is not just business – this is my answer to the question: “What if we create a consulting company where there are no nonsense, copy-paste practices, wasting time, and unnecessary movements?”

We made it – it works and develops.  

If you personally had to write a job ad, how would you attract the attention of a future employee?

If you are a person who is looking for meaning – read on.

In the company, we do not promise a “comfort zone,” but a growth zone. We give freedom, expect responsibility. There is no office, hours, or micromanagement, there is micro-influence – from everyone, to everyone.

I will look for not a “position,” but a like-minded person. I do not look at CVs and do not care where someone has worked. For me the most important thing is how you think, how you communicate, and whether you are passionate about the things you do. The team – direct and indirect, is just like that and that makes me very happy every day.

What does your company do to organize a constructive and beneficial working environment for everyone? Do people in the collective need to be friends?

I believe in team maturity, not in office camaraderie.
The company has a small but extremely dedicated team – and that’s how we want it. Our main model is to work with external experts, selected according to the project, topic, and client. This allows us to be flexible, to provide the best professionals for each task, and to maintain high quality without unnecessary structure.

We do not strive for office idyl with Friday pizzas and mandatory team buildings. We strive for respect, responsibility, and clarity. We do not have an office and I have promised that I will never make anyone come to the office on certain days of the week, even if we decide to have one someday.
Should we be friends? No. But we need to hear each other, trust each other, and do our work in such a way that “control” is not necessary. It’s a bonus that we are actually friends, and good ones.

Our working environment is based on the principle: “Do you want to be here?” – if the answer is “yes,” everything else falls into place.

What makes you look forward to going to work? How do you deal with difficult and stressful moments?

My pleasure comes from the fact that every my day is different, the same applies to my colleagues – neither the day, nor the people, nor the topics repeat. This is not work, but a living organism that develops everyone in it.
And also – I see the results. When a client says “Finally something that really helped us,” that is enough fuel for us for a month ahead.

I approach difficult moments with faith – when you lose, you don’t know what you gain – if it has happened that way, it means it was meant to be. And with humor – everything is fine when we laugh.

What work model does your company adhere to – office or remote? What do you think about the possibility of giving options for flexible working hours, within which employees have greater freedom to balance their personal and work commitments?

We do not know what working hours are. We know what work meaning is.
We work according to the needs of the clients, the nature of the projects, and the nature of the tasks. There are moments, when at 1 a.m. we are writing about urgent issues and others – when on Monday at noon we are at the spa.

I believe in flexibility, but not in the absence of structure. Everyone needs a framework, but not shackles. That’s why we have created a culture where people know what needs to be done, without someone standing with a stopwatch behind their back.

I work with a small, but extremely dedicated team. I often have to remind my dear Simona – AI Evolution & Community Partner at SISTEMMA, to stop and take a break, to drink water, but not to ask her “where are you and what are you doing.” When a person loves their job, working hours can only hinder their natural cycle of creativity and productivity.  

How do the ongoing technological changes in the world affect your business?

Technologies are our big catalyst. The most effective colleagues in our team are not people 😊
We help companies that want to implement AI in their daily work, and we also work with those that are digital for clients, but analog internally – we help them synchronize this internal and external reality.

I do not believe in “either – or” between people and technologies. I believe in and – and: to use technologies to free up time for the human.

This is also our mission with HR One, and with the new platform that we will soon present to the market in our country.

How important is the hierarchy and what does it mean to you? What kind of communication do you advocate in your company?

The hierarchy should be like a skeleton – a stable but invisible support.

I believe in clear responsibility, but also in open communication. In our company, anyone can raise a question, idea, or disagreement. And this is a huge value and happiness.

What is your career advice for all people who are building a strategy for their professional development?

The career is not a straight line. And you don't have to choose a profession forever.
Choose the meaning. Grab the thread that excites you and follow it, even if you don't see the final picture. Be flexible, but also consistent. Learn constantly, but not for diplomas, but for skills and value.

And most importantly – do not copy someone else's path. Create your own. That way it is always more meaningful.