The future is a hybrid between the new and the eternal

Introduce yourself in a few words..

My name is Elena Brusarska and I am the owner of a communication agency HIBRID, which is not a typical marketing agency, but one that combines modern digital strategies with ecological progressive approaches.

In the last few years, I have focused my attention on sustainability, which is entering both my daily life and my work with full force.

I am an ambassador for the European Climate Pact to the European Commission and the creator of the initiative “Green Child,” which aims to inform and educate children aged 10-14 on environmental protection topics, providing examples of sustainable practices they can apply.

How would you describe your career in a few words?

Dynamic. The best part is that if you have the desire, every day is an opportunity to learn something new and to improve yourself. And the most important thing – everything happens with love J

What was the most important choice that shaped your path In?

Definitely the choice to build a career in the marketing and communications field independently. To create an agency, that combines meaningful communication, sustainability, and creativity. And the choice to combine professionalism with my personal cause for a greener and more conscious world – brings me true satisfaction.

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

At the beginning, I believed that to be successful, you had to be flawless and know everything. Then I realized that you need to trust the people you work with and the competencies of your team. I would have liked someone to tell me that you don’t have to fight alone – that partnerships, trust, and open communication are no less important than skills. And, that vulnerability can be a strength when you accept it with maturity.

How can a person understand which profession is suitable for them?

In my opinion, it is a feeling based on character and innate qualities of the personality. Certainly, one must love what they do, it should bring them satisfaction, and they should go to work with eagerness and desire. If these feelings are absent, then it is good to consider whether the profession they have chosen is suitable for them. There is nothing better than achieving success in combination with thrill, pleasure, and ease.

Which skills according to Inwill be key in the next 10 years?

Digitalization, artificial intelligence, and automation are rewriting the rules by which we live and work. But the more technology advances, the more valuable the skills that make us human become.

I believe that in the next 10 years, creativity, emotional intelligence, and flexible thinking will be key – because they cannot be artificially reproduced.

At the same time, responsibility, honesty, integrity, and the pursuit of continuous improvement remain timeless. These are values that do not go out of style, regardless of the era, and are at the core of trust and true leadership.

The future is a hybrid between the new and the eternal. It is in this balance that I see meaning and direction.

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

It is not important who you know, but how you connect with people and what impressions you leave on them. Returning to the previous question, I will repeat that humanity and emotional intelligence are key even in building a network of contacts. I do not like arrogant people  with confidence, who think that they are superior, even if they have better education, are more popular, have more experience, have more successes, or more financial means. When you approach with an intrusive confidence and bring an intrusive “I” to the forefront, it shows, and in most cases, your interaction with the other person is doomed to failure.

Approach with interest towards the person and their values, and do not immediately seek benefit from them. Always give more than you promised, because this is valued by the adequate people in front of you.

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

I have interacted with people without doing my research on them. Unfortunately, when you find yourself in such a situation and react naively, the results are disastrous. I learned to think through my decisions and consult competent people when I have doubts.

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

The simplest answer is that a toxic environment makes you unhappy and out of place. You leave the moment you feel disregarded, unethical behavior, or neglect towards your efforts in this environment.  This is not something I have discovered. Even Google would answer you the same way.J Just trust yourself and your intuition. Learn to know yourself, this way you will quickly reach the answers “what is toxic” and “when to leave”.

What would you do differently if you could start over?

I do not look back. Every mistake is experience. If I start to think about what I should have done differently, I will live in the past.

I am grateful that I have reached an exceptional balance between work and personal life. I am happy with the people I am surrounded by.

How to keep our motivation in times of stagnation?

For me, “With persistence towards progress” works and I keep repeating it to myself in moments of stagnation. Even if I lack desire and motivation, I force myself and step out of my comfort zone. Then I am satisfied with my decision.

How to achieve balance between professional and personal life?

With love J Love for family and work. 100% guarantee that you will find balance when you appreciate the significance of both. This way, you will easily discern when to prioritize one, so that the other does not suffer.

When is it time to change our career, and not just the job?

It is strictly individual. Sometimes circumstances necessitate a change. Imagine that you have a health problem that does not allow you to perform physical labor, and your profession is exactly that.

Or you decide to live in another country where you cannot practice your profession.

Or you simply no longer feel happy and satisfied with the nature of your work, it brings stress, even if it is at its peak.

Here it is again important to know yourself and to be emotionally and life-wise mature enough to make the best decision for yourself.

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

If you do not stop fighting for what you want to achieve, are consistent and persistent in your attempts, then sooner or later the results will come. Believe me – there is no mistake in this rule.

What is Inyour definition of “successful career”?

Recently, when I reflect on this question, I come to the conclusion that neither financial successes, nor being a respected professional or being satisfied are important. The most valuable thing about a “successful career” is in the end to leave a lasting legacy behind you. I chose to do this through my causes for a greener and cleaner planet. And I hope to pass it on to the generations after me.