I would like my children to be proud of me and to be able to be an example for them

Introduce yourself – what do you do, which areas of activity are of interest to you?

My name is Metodi Georgiev and I am the founder and manager of Integrity Enterprise, a boutique IT company. Our goal is to create and manage products and projects related to the development of AI, for which we collaborate with professors from Bulgaria and abroad. We have established a close partnership with the Faculty of Economics at Sofia University “Kliment Ohridski”. Before founding the company, I had over 25 years of experience in multinational companies in Bulgaria and the USA, with 20 of them related to outsourcing and the IT sector in Bulgaria. I have always been interested in education and its role in business and the development of society. For this reason, I also teach at Sofia University “Kliment Ohridski”.

When did you realizeyou wantedto be an entrepreneur, not just an employee?

There are people born entrepreneurs and others who become so over time. I would like to believe that although I have not started my own business, I have been an entrepreneur in spirit, in the companies I have worked for, and I have brought not only the corporate approach but also that unconventional perspective that has helped us, along with the teams, to be successful. Otherwise, the decision to step out of the corporate world and engage in my own business was “ripening” with the accumulation of experience, confidence, and knowledge.

What were the most defining moments in your professional career so far?

I completed my higher education in Bulgaria (NAA and UNSS) in 1997, during probably the biggest crisis in our recent history. It was very hard for a young specialist to find a job, but those 2-3 years built in me and our generation skills for survival and seeking opportunities. The big change and chance for me was winning a Green Card for the USA and my departure. This is the first critically important moment in my development. The opportunity to graduate from one of the prestigious universities in the USA, as well as to work in their business environment, is the next such event. My return, along with my family, to Bulgaria gave me the opportunity to leverage the accumulated experience, knowledge, and skills in my realization here. Of course, there are other events and decisions made, but these are the foundational ones.

Was there a turning point that changed your vision of success?

The vision of success is not something constant. It changes as we achieve goals along the way, so it is probably difficult to pinpoint a specific moment. But for me, the process is more important. We can, with a great deal of confidence, say that at the beginning of career development, success is mainly identified with material measures - earning money, purchasing more expensive items, etc. With the achievement of the material, more and more specialists associate and seek success in career development, achieving significant results not only for yourself, but also for different groups of people, supporting the development of others around you, leaving a mark.

How has your role changed over time in business – from creator to leader?

I was fortunate to walk my path and to be an executor in different roles - from entirely executive and low-profile to more expert and related to project and team management. Here is the place to say that the term leader has somewhat devalued in recent years - we call every manager, supervisor, and head “leader”. It seems we equated the word “leader” to the definition of “manager”, which distances us from its true and meaning. And the meaning is a person who inspires. So in this sense, I hope that I am and have been a leader over the years, when you carry more and more responsibilities for achieving results, but also for the development of the team. It is a huge satisfaction for me when I look at the development of different people I have worked with over the years and see how successful they are..

Where do the ideas come from – intuition, market, need?

The market is decisive, but we must also carry the intuition within us. But intuition is based on experience, so… Experience and unencumbered thinking (which often hinder each other) are the answer to market needs.

How do you understandwhen an idea has value and potential, and not just sounds good?

First, I always share my ideas with experts in the field and business, but also with unbiased people. This way I can orient myself to what the potential is. The value of an idea can only be measured by the results achieved. Unfortunately, not all ideas with potential guarantee success.

How do you approachthe creative process – do you have rituals, methods, or do you relyon “the moment”?

I am probably not the most creative person on the planet, and for this reason, I rely on a structured approach and turn to the processes in each area. This means that I approach every idea critically.

What inspiresyou outside of business – art, people, travel?

I avoid creating idols, but I am inspired by the stories of different people. The path to success is different for everyone. I don’t think that it necessarily has to be motivational speakers, but people from different walks of life. Travel is another thing that energizes me. The opportunity to touch other cultures, history, and ways of life gives us different perspectives.

What are your unchanging principles in work and life?

Loyalty and honesty. Regardless of whether in business or personal life, it is essential to be loyal to the people and causes we work with. Although it may sound a bit naive, do no harm.

What does the word“success” mean toyou today – and is it different from five years ago?

Certainly, the word “success” has a different meaning for me today than it did five years ago due to the fact that it was at that time that I decided to step out of the corporate world. Back then, success for me was related to achieving corporate goals, the success and development of the team, creating a positive work environment and developing over 1200 people in Bulgaria. Now, success is related to setting goals for a much smaller company, achieving them, and creating an identity.

What place does ethicshave in entrepreneurship according toyou?

For me, it is of great importance how we approach the development of business, opportunities, problems, working with people, partners, and competitors. And I believe that we must maintain an ethical approach. The candid answer here, however, must be that we still see many companies, business people who have no scruples about how to do business.

Do you believein the balance between personal and professional life or do you acceptthat it is an illusion?

For me, it is essential. Of course, at different periods, the balance is different, but we must always find time for what energizes us. I believe it is better to be successful and happy than unhappy and unsuccessful.

What is the most valuable lesson you havelearned “the hard way”?

That you must always contribute value in everything you do or communication/partnership you have.

How do you motivateyourself in moments of doubt or failure?

I set goals for myself. I strive to achieve them. I mark their achievement.

What legacy do you wantto leave behind you – as an entrepreneur, but also as a person?

I do not live with the goal of leaving a legacy. Everything we do, both personally and professionally, leaves a mark behind us. But a specific answer: I would like my children to be proud of me and to be able to be an example for them.