The world will not give you answers, but it will ask you better questions

Introduce yourself in a few words..

An advocate for the development of science, technology and innovative businesses in Bulgaria. Founder of a technology association, member of the board of one of the largest business organizations in our country.

For you, traveling the world is?

The most fun way to learn. Emil Zola said it: “Nothing develops the mind like travel.” Every country is a new word, every city is a new sentence, and every new experience while traveling leaves lessons for a lifetime.

How many different countries have you seen so far? Share an interesting story or highlights from your travels?

I am not one of those collectors of countries who count visas like trophies. But in every place I have visited – from the hot nights in the UAE, through the fog over the Thames, from the tall skyscrapers of New York to the quiet shores of Montenegro. Everywhere I have left something of myself and taken something that has shaped me.

We were in a business meeting in London with a Finnish company. I was the only Bulgarian in the room. When it came to the question of where I am from and I said “Bulgaria,” one of the Finnish colleagues said: “I know that country very well, my uncle was the Prime Minister of Bulgaria!”. It turned out that the person is a relative of Yohan Kazimir Ernrot.

Do you like to repeat destinations? Give examples and motivation “for” or “against”?

I am one of those people who love to repeat destinations. The first visit is like a surface meeting. It is difficult for a person to go beyond the tourist layer. In my opinion, the first time you discover, the second time you understand, the third time you create connections. Repeating is not going back, but a deeper immersion into the local culture, mentality, and creating new friendships.

What was your first trip that truly changed you as a professional and can be said to have changed your thinking?

London. Not because of the architecture or the pace, but the colorful palette of people I met. I learned a lot about world finance, how the best universities in the world are built, how business etiquette is enforced in the city. There I learned that improvement requires change, and perfection – constant change. I realized that culture is not just cuisine and music, but a system of invisible, yet powerful mechanisms: how we learn, how we fail, how we succeed. All of this significantly changed my thinking.

What do you learn about yourself and your professional skills when you are in a new cultural environment?

I learn that the new activates me. It makes me more alert, more flexible, more attentive. In a world that changes with every sunrise, the ability to adapt is gold. That is why I love both travel and technology - both keep you in a state of (eternal) evolution.

Have you met people or ideas during your travels that have influenced your career path?

Yes. A Greek financier in London told me about his journey and how “Alexis Zorbas” changed his life. Not a university, not a business book, but a classic novel. How knowledge about the structure of ships from the ports of Thessaloniki turns into a master's degree, and from there – business for financing ship assets in the City of London. In Kazantzakis's novel, there is a nice quote: “The only truth is to live. Not to talk about life.” The Greek financier practiced it with many bold decisions. Until I met him, I thought that some of the ideas from the Balkans are difficult to apply in the rest of Europe, America, and Asia. He taught me that exactly the transfer of ideas between cultures is perhaps the most powerful capital.

Do you think that traveling helps you expand your professional network? How?

It helps everyone, perhaps one of the main ways is that it removes prejudices. Traveling means discovering that everyone is wrong about other countries. When you communicate face to face, distances melt away and only trust remains. Trust is the foundation upon which every professional network is built.

What skills do you develop the most when you travel, and how do they affect your work?

Writing skills, because I want to chronicle everything. Language intuition for all kinds of languages – from Arabic to Mandarin. Strategic thinking, because I often ask myself, “If the UAE created and developed this industry in 10 years, why not in our country?” There is a saying: “A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” Perhaps it synthesizes best this collection of acquired skills.

Is there a city or country that has inspired you to start a new business or project?

Not one specific place, rather the palette of things. From the UAE I learned about vision, from China – about scale, from Italy – about aesthetics.

When you are in an unfamiliar country, do you feel more motivated or more distracted? Why?

Both. Motivated because everything is new. The new country pulls a person out of routine, comfort zone, and the familiar. This is often a stimulus for learning and thinking outside the box. However, in global megacities like New York, London, and Shanghai, excessive novelty can also be distracting. There is always another museum, park, panoramic bar, or bookstore to visit. However, despite that, balance comes with experience.

Are there destinations that act as a “restart” for your creativity and ambition?

There are many. In the small villages near Volos or among the cypress trees of Nea Anchialos, I learned that creativity is often suffocated by noise. In Italy, especially in Tuscany, the restart comes through aesthetics. There, even the farmers' market looks like part of an art installation. Beauty is not a backdrop, but an active part of everyday life. In Bulgaria, sometimes the simplest forests, paths, and reservoirs give me the deepest restart.

How do you manage the balance between work and pleasure when you travel?

With a clear framework – structure: morning meetings, afternoon walks, evening work.

How have travels changed the way you perceive the value of money?

They showed me that money can create realities, turning sand into a metropolis. However, money alone does not build. They build when they are in the hands of a dreamer with a vision, an engineer with an idea, or a builder with patience. Then they draw new horizons. Right there, travels changed my perception of money - not as a tool for accumulation, but as a means to accelerate change, as long as you know where you are headed.

What lessons about financial independence have you learned from different economies and cultures?

In China, I learned that financial independence is neither a sudden victory nor an individual sport. It is a sum of small, consistent steps. There, you can see how entire families and generations work together with a thought for 50 years ahead, not just for tomorrow. Also in Asia, I learned about Buddhist economics and why consumption should not exceed your peace of mind. I was surprised that entrepreneurs find time for meditation every day because they believe that without inner peace, the outer is not sustainable.

Do you think it is better to spend on experiences rather than material possessions?

Yes, because experiences do not depreciate. On the contrary, over time they become more valuable and more vivid. Unlike them, things age.

How do you see the future of digital nomadic life?

It will become the norm for many professions. At the moment, countries are competing to attract digital nomads. Even in Bulgaria, such legislation has been adopted. One of the greatest minds said that the future belongs to those who are independent of their location. I tend to agree.

Are there specific countries that are more favorable for work and investments?

The countries that are leading in the ranking Doing business of the World Bank are such. The combination of capital, talent, and legal security, which they have makes them a magnet for capital from all over the world. Currently, these are New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Denmark, South Korea, America.

If you could choose one place in the world to develop your next big idea, where would it be and why?

In Bulgaria. Here I am connected to the people, with the land, with the language. Moreover, when I feel the change around me, it turns into fuel for even more momentum. I feel the progress in every project in Bulgaria as a much greater reward than if it were realized abroad.

What are the destinations you would definitely recommend to be visited and why?

China for the clash between the ancient and modern, UAE for the touch of the future, America for the meeting between talent and opportunities.

What is the career advice you would give based on what you have seen around the world?

The world will not give you answers, but it will ask you better questions. And it is in them that growth is born. Work hard. Travel harder.