Work on yourself and for yourself

Introduce yourself in a few sentences..

In a professional sense - a marketer and advertiser with over 25 years of experience in the field. In recent years, my focus has been on sustainable business models and women's entrepreneurship, and my personal challenge with the advent of digitalization and artificial intelligence in work processes is related to the communication of balance, both among internal and external audiences.

What did you dream of becoming in your childhood?

Princess, archaeologist, orthopedic surgeon... and all of this is due to the sagas “Star Wars”, “Indiana Jones” and “Hospital at the End of the City”.

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

I was 7-8 years old when the first folding bicycles “Balkan” appeared, I really wanted to have one, not the “Shkolnik” that I was riding. My parents gave me the green light, but said that I had to earn the amount of 75 BGN myself, which was a challenge, first, because the amount was not small - more than half of the standard salary for those years, and second – the job options for a child of that age were not many. So, I spent the whole summer with relatives in the village, where tobacco was harvested and “strung”. We got up at 5 and worked until 15-16 o'clock, but by the end of the summer I had a “Balkanche”, and working with tobacco and sticky tar completely turned me off from thoughts of “cigarettes” forever.

What are the main factors and examples that shape us as individuals at an earlier 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?

For me, it was family, school, and my circle of friends. The sources of information are determined by technologies. My childhood was influenced by traditional media, and books and cinema were a major source of inspiration for me, as well as the environment in which I grew up. Being a child of a mixed marriage, I could touch upon several cultures, not only because of my maternal relatives but also because we lived in a block populated with children whose parents were also representatives of other languages and cultures. And not least – school, believe me, this  is a factor in shaping a worldview that should not be underestimated. I am grateful to all my teachers, even  to those in mathematics 😊

Did any significant difference occur in your perceptions in a more mature age regarding what motivates you to do or not do something?

Definitely yes, with age and accumulated experience I became “more precise” in my “battles”. Especially after “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” by Pirsig, from where I have many favorite moments, the main one being “You can't have much of a conversation on a moving motorcycle unless you like to shout. Instead, time is spent in sensing things and reflecting on them... you ponder things in complete calm, at length and in detail, without rushing and without the feeling that you are wasting your time.”

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

I made the decision unilaterally and if I say it wasn't  correct, I will have to admit that my parents' advice was better. Outside the circle of jokes – to this day I still think I was right.

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

I graduated in “Marketing, Advertising and Business Administration” at UNSS, specialized in Women Making History at Harvard University, Integrated Marketing Communications at Delaware University, Design Thinking at  Emeritus Institute of Management, and Sustainable Business Management at  University of Cambridge.

On a personal level – a mother of a grown and successful son, a lover of art, travel, skiing, and snowboarding. A fan of the Star Wars saga, London weather, Depeche Mode and mini American bullies.

My hobbies lately – recognizing paintings by famous artists that have appeared in films of the American film industry and visiting their exhibitions.

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

Maybe, yes, and with some craft.

They say that your 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 am not sure that I am ready for the truth...Years ago, a lady I interviewed but did not hire for a position in my department wrote a negative review online, where she compared me to Naomi Campbell. I went to inform my direct supervisor - the CEO of the company, so that this negative post would not affect our employer brand. While telling him about the review, I mentioned that I was compared to Naomi Campbell, his reaction was “So beautiful?”, while the truth was “So brazen”. So whatever I hear, let there be room for at least two interpretations, please.

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?

I find it hard to lose enthusiasm and that is one of my positive traits. Like every extrovert – I share, analyze, and make decisions quickly /not to say that I always make the right ones/. Otherwise, sports help me with bad moods. My son, when he was a student, always understood that something bad had happened at parent meetings because when I got home, I first went up for half an hour on the “treadmill” and “cross trainer”, and only then did we talk. In fact, I have a ritual for years – every morning I “go through” my 40-minute workouts, that way I ensure that I will show up in front of my team in a good mood.

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 daily – colleagues, friends, relatives?

I try to “put myself in the other person's shoes”, even though I am a demanding person and the rule of reciprocal communication is valid 100% for me.

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?

The rule for me is one – money is not an end in itself, but a means to achieve goals. Invest in yourself, your goals, your children, in education and personal causes.

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

Work on yourself and for yourself. If you can avoid making compromises – don't make them. If you have already made a compromise – try your best to use the situation to learn something new that will be useful for your future development. Take advantage of every circumstance that enriches you. Don't lose enthusiasm.