Experiences can be a 'capital' for new ideas, social contacts, and even business opportunities

Introduce yourself in a few words..

My name is Petya Stoyanova and I am a Managing Partner at a Digital agency and consulting firm Power Brand. My focus right now is on digital transformation in small and medium-sized companies - not just as online presence and sales, but also as an opportunity for automation and optimization of processes.  Five years ago, I took on a new challenge by leaving corporate life and diving into private business. Over the years, I have held various marketing positions at A1, Telenor, New Moment New Ideas Group, DHL and others.  I love what I do, I am an experimenter and an adventurer at heart, traveler, mother of two wonderful children, and a good friend.

What does traveling the world mean to you?

Every trip recharges me with different energy because every place I go carries its own charge and is a source of new experiences and ideas.

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

I haven't counted, but it should be around 40. One of my most exciting and memorable trips was, I think, Iceland. A country that is hard to forget, different, slightly unwelcoming (due to the cold and windy weather), but at the same time very magnetic. We had the incredible luck to see a pod of humpback whales in the waters of the Greenland Sea just 10-15m from our boat. The feeling of touching wild nature has always excited me.

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

Not really, but I often had to do it. I believe that life is too short and our free time is limited to repeat destinations.

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

That was certainly my master's degree in England back in 1994. In those years, very few people had the opportunity to study abroad. Access to professional information was limited in Bulgaria. During that one year I spent studying there, my worldview changed completely. I was exposed to a different way of teaching, a sea of business information, an international environment, and colleagues and professors with serious experience from whom there was much to learn. After that training, I was sure I wanted to work in marketing and create and breathe life into brands, to delve into consumer psychology and what makes them shop. This trip shaped not only my professional orientation, but also changed me as a person in many aspects.  

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

The main thing I have noticed is that the different cultural environment has forced me to quickly adapt to the new, taught me to overcome my fears of encountering the different, to be more tolerant and empathetic towards others.

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

Yes, definitely. The charm of such meetings is that they are unexpected, curious, and at the same time non-binding. Initially, you perceive it as part of  the overall experience when traveling, but  years later, you realize that they were a sign of fate, karma. I have a few people who  have given a new boost to your career after just 15 minutes of conversation and exchange of ideas.

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

Of course, part of my travels is precisely aimed at meeting new people and ideas in a purely professional sense. Conferences, certification programs, exhibitions, etc. – I always try to achieve a balance between strictly professional and personal/family travels.

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

One of the most important skills is multitasking, concentration, and good organization, so I can see and learn as much as possible in a short time.

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

I don't think I have a specific city or country. Every place I have visited has been a source of new ideas and plans.

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

I definitely feel more motivated to learn, to see, to try. My family and friends often tell me when we plan to travel: 'Let's make this trip more chill'. I always try to take the most out of every trip.

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

Every trip to the mountains, whether skiing or trekking, is something like a mental detox for me. And after that comes a new wave of creativity.

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

It's difficult, but I think I manage. I always have projects that I need to supervise while traveling. In the world of entrepreneurship, 100% rest is a rare luxury.

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

This is a topic for a whole article J Every trip for me is an investment because it enriches and changes you permanently. Money is a means of accumulating experiences and contacts. I have often found greater value in something cheap (like a cozy family hotel in the Alps or a street exhibition in Havana) than in an expensive and luxurious place with rehearsed phrases and artificial smiles.

Do you travel to find new ways to earn money?

This has never been my goal, but very often curiosity and the desire to build upon have been prerequisites for new ideas and projects.

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

The main lesson is to take nothing for granted, to invest in yourself and in the relationships with the people you care about and consider valuable, because no one can take that away from you.

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

Certainly, to spend on experiences you need material stability, a material minimum without which it will be difficult to afford and appreciate the experiences. Material things lose value, wear out, and age, while memories and experiences often 'appreciate' over time. Experiences can be 'capital' for new ideas, social contacts, and even business opportunities.

How do you see the future of digital nomadic life?

I think the model of nomadic life has gone through its romantic period. It will definitely develop because there are many prerequisites for this - the development of cloud technologies, AI  and the penetration of the internet into more isolated areas. In my opinion, people will seek a balance between periods of travel and longer-term settlement in certain places. To a large extent, this will also depend on the conditions offered by a given country for temporary residence, such as visa regimes, etc.

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

There are countries that are currently particularly favorable for work and investments such as UAE, Estonia, Portugal, and others. This is due to the stability of their economy,  low taxes, the government's support for the development of certain sectors, availability of workforce, digitalization, etc.

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

It depends on the idea. If it has potential, I would definitely develop and implement it in Bulgaria. I believe that here there are many opportunities to create and test ideas and then multiply them in other countries and cultures.

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

You must get a ticket to Peru, Singapore, Mexico, and Japan because they are recharging, enriching our knowledge, different in cultures, and are a source of unforgettable experiences.

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

Do not compromise on what you feel strong in and want to develop.

Do not accept a new job just because you have an irresistible financial offer.

Do not be afraid to start something new. Get out of your comfort zone more often.

Keep learning constantly and do not settle for mediocrity.