In our work, trust is key

New position – Head of the "Communications and Public Relations" department

Company – National Palace of Culture – Congress Center Sofia

Introduce yourself in a few sentences and highlight some key points from your career development so far?

My name is Vera Bancheva and I have been involved in PR and communications for 17 years. I started as an author and advertising agent in a marketing and design magazine, went through the private sector, and for nearly 13 years I have mainly been working on cultural projects.

What motivates you to take on this new role and what are your main goals in the position?

It may sound overly idealistic, but one of my main motivators is the spirit of the place where I work and the enormous potential it holds. What inspires me the most, however, are the people I work with every day and the significant events we create or help to realize. Among my main goals is to build a sustainable and even more positive image of the institution I work for and to establish it as a significant factor in the cultural and congress-event life of the country, attracting new audiences as well – both younger audiences and audiences from abroad. 

What professional or personal qualities do you think will help you succeed in your new position?

Positive thinking, responsibility, and adaptability will certainly be beneficial for me, as well as the ability to look at things from different angles. Without a doubt, I won't manage without the support of my colleagues in the team, who are great. I hope there will be new additions soon.

What challenges do you expect to face and how do you approach change management?

Literally any kind of J I certainly have a lot more to learn. My experience so far has shown that you can never really predict what awaits you around the corner. Sometimes insurmountable cases find the simplest solution, while other times seemingly easy and clear projects turn out to have many hidden pitfalls. In my opinion, the most important thing here is to be flexible, not to rush, and to listen to other viewpoints.

What is your approach to teamwork and building a strong internal culture?

I see myself as a team player and believe that original ideas and good results are achieved only through collaborative work in a cohesive and motivated team. Then the satisfaction from the completed work seems to be the greatest. However, in it, every person must feel noticed and valued to have the incentive to give their best. A friendly atmosphere combined with good organization is also important. As well as trust. It is key to our work as a whole – of the team, of the audiences, of the clients.

What would you like people to say about you in the company after a few months?

I would like people to think that I do my job well and that I can be trusted.