People should have goals that match their experience and a pace at which to achieve them

Introduce yourself in a few sentences..

Hello, my name is Ivan Panteleev, partner and Chief Dynamics Officer at the digital agency Xplora. For 15  years, I have been involved in managing and developing communication projects in the digital sphere. I teach at several universities and educational programs for digital marketing. In the last 5 years, my specialization has been in Strategic Planning and building processes for digitalization in businesses. I have a keen interest in corporate culture, team effectiveness, working with people, and proper communication management. 

Outside of work - with my wonderful wife Lili, we have two lovely daughters, Ana and Lina. 

What did you dream of becoming in your childhood? 

At home, we joke that my parents stopped me from becoming a football player. I love football - both watching and playing. Outside of this “unrealized” dream, I actually work in what I wanted since 11th grade - to manage projects and be in the field of communications. I remember how, when I was preparing to apply for university, I looked at different professions and project manager was what impressed me a lot. I have been under this “hat” for 14 years. 

At what age did you earn your first money? Share an interesting story with us?

I started working at 14 years old at the seaside in Golden Sands. I couldn't stay at home during the summer vacation and asked my brother to let me know if he heard of any work - and by luck, I got my first paycheck. In the next 6 summer vacations, I continued to work, but already as a sports animator and leader of children's groups at a camp in Albena. Working with children and the responsibility I had for them was the path that led me to become a project manager.

What are the main factors and examples that shape us as individuals at an early age and form our interests? What is your recipe for curiosity, sources and wells of information and inspiration at this stage of our human development?

Family, friends, contacts, and stepping outside my comfort zone. I remember how at 14 I had a clash (not me, but my then-employer) with the labor office and economic police. You see good and bad practices. You draw conclusions and draw values from your family and choose how and with what ethics you want to work. As a leader, I often balanced between rules and creating positive emotions for the children when they reached the edge of what was allowed. Because of this, one must have a rich culture, create the premise to manage situations without suspecting what they are. And values and ethics are what guide us. 

And if we talk about a recipe - one must learn to be a professional. This means to repeat one thing so often that you perfect it completely — without getting bored. And without asking questions. But also to leave room for innovation, adaptation, and improvements that build on the already professional skills you have developed. If we are not consistent in something, we will never be perceived as professionals. 

Has there been any significant difference in your perceptions in a more mature age about what motivates you to do or not do something? 

I understand that over time, our energy and focus change, but I strive to maintain awareness and the desire for valuable things that move me forward. I believe that motivation comes from different sources – personal values, family, friends, the desire to perform my job well. And when I meet someone older than me who continues to act with inspiration and strength – that strongly impresses me and motivates me.

Whose decision was it where to pursue higher education and what to study? Was this decision correct, looking at it from today’s perspective?

My parents are wonderful and have always given me the freedom to choose what and how to do. I love to explore and make informed decisions. Once I make a decision, I don’t think about whether it’s the most correct, but I try to get the most out of it. That’s how it was with the university - I wanted to study Business Management at Sofia University and applied only there. There I met wonderful people and the environment was truly a dream for me. During this period, I met Lili (my wife) and the fact that I stayed in Bulgaria is one of my best decisions. 

Share more about your interests, knowledge, skills, and hobbies?

I am curious about many topics and often have new "fads" (as my wife jokes) – I blame YouTube for that. I love to travel and experience the culture of different countries - mainly through their food and environment. That’s why I also love to cook. I love to play sports, and football is my favorite sport. I love coffee as a culture and a way of preparing the drink. That’s why I am learning different coffee extractions. I love listening to music and can’t live without it. Rock, electronic music, and thanks to my two daughters, all the soundtracks of Disney movies. But my greatest passion remains sport fishing for carp. With friends, we travel to different countries and document everything on our YouTube channel. Very often, people stop me and talk to me about carp instead of digital marketing. ;)

Would you change your profession today and which fields of activity capture your interest?

I would rather not, but definitely tourism and the hospitality business is a field that interests me and I respect the people who work in it. But I appreciate the luck I have to work and develop in such a dynamic and evolving environment, like digital marketing. 

They say that the personal brand is everything that people say about you when you are not with them in a room. What would you like to hear today?

I would be happy to hear a nice and positive feedback about the team around me. About the environment that has surrounded me, and the results that have been achieved. Building good partnerships and being able to talk about a person through a situation - I find it the best and most credible story. And the more sustainable partnerships there are, the better the example given. 

Emotional intelligence, adaptability, and flexibility, as well as our soft skills are key conditions for success in recent years. How do you cope with the daily challenges of life to stay in good shape and mood?

I listen to music all the time. It gives me a sense of rhythm. Additionally, I try to slow down the situations I am in and my daily life. Sometimes we move very quickly and I don’t find that right. That’s why I try to balance between work and personal occasions. I try to find ways to say “no” to specific projects and tasks without killing the momentum. And to be there for my family, because they are the biggest source of energy and motivation. 

What are the most important conclusions you have made so far about maintaining the right communication considering the different characters of the people you meet daily  – colleagues, friends, close ones? 

To listen wisely, selectively, and to manage your ego according to the situation. And always to have information about a situation from different people and “angles”. Only then can decisions be made that are in the interest of the team, not the individual. 

What do you think about money? What is their influence on your life? What is your advice to people who often ask themselves questions related to money and how sufficient they are?

They are a means for a person to achieve goals. They are important, but never sufficient and because of that, happiness, success, and satisfaction come from other sources. A person should create the premise to seek more opportunities for development through money and to create a premise for new and different positive moments - through family, sport, nature, good food, pleasant meetings with friends, etc. 

What is the most valuable career advice you would give to people?

People should have goals that correspond to their age and most importantly experience. They should find a pace at which they can achieve these goals. And to surround themselves with people who have similar values to them, to have a better chance of achieving them. And always to have a mentor, a person with more experience and similar values, because this way they will learn and draw knowledge faster and more qualitatively. But they should be respectful and humble, without that hindering their motivation.