Remove your ego and listen to your inner voice more often

Introduce yourself in a few sentences..

My name is Desislava Nikolova and I am a financial analyst for almost 18 years on the financial platform www.MoitePari.bg . My expertise is mainly in the banking sector, where I analyze key economic trends – from savings and investments to the dynamics of the credit market and inflation.

My work is also dedicated to helping people make informed decisions about their personal finances through analyses and advice. I believe that financial literacy is the key to prosperity not only for the individual but also for every  society.

Outside my professional role, I am also a proud mother of a 14-year-old daughter – a girl who reminds me every day what it means to be brave, persistent, and not to give up.

What did you dream of becoming in your childhood?

It may sound unusual, but as a child, I dreamed of being a model or an actress. I was completely captivated by the world of fashion, theater, and cinema – I watched fashion shows for hours and admired the beauty and grace with which the models moved. I loved to imagine myself standing on stage, dressed in a beautiful dress, and telling a story through every movement. Today my life has taken a different path, but this dream gave me something valuable – a sense of aesthetics and a desire to express myself, even in the world of numbers and analyses.

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

I earned my first money when I was the same age as my daughter – around 14 years old. I helped my parents during the summer vacations and this taught me something invaluable – that hard work builds character. My parents have always been business-oriented and believed that the earlier you develop work habits, the easier it will be to find your way later. I received compensation for my work and – I admit – part of the money went for small pleasures, but I always set aside something for savings. At that time, I also learned a truth: when a budget is too strict, it is harder for a person to stick to it.

An interesting story I remember was when I was in 3rd grade I spent the whole week saving my pocket money and didn’t buy food to save up. Then I visited the school shop and bought gummy bears with all the money, and of course, my parents punished me afterwards.

What are the factors that shaped you as a person at an early age?

Family. Parents are the foundation upon which every person is built, and for me, they are the key factor that shaped me as a person. They have always encouraged and supported me in absolutely everything. They determined my education, and I trusted them completely – I knew that their experience and wisdom would guide me in the right direction.

I believe that a person's environment is very important for their formation as a person, not only in early childhood.

Has there been any significant change in your perceptions in later age about what motivates you to do or not do something?

Of course! On a personal level, perceptions change a lot when a person becomes a parent. This teaches responsibility and I began to understand my own parents more.

What has always motivated me are the results, that I have done well with a given task or project. In earlier ages in school and university, and subsequently in work matters.

Whose decision was it where to pursue higher education and what to study? Was that decision correct, looking back today?

My decision was entirely my parents'. In the tenth grade, they decided that I would study finance because my friend – from a friendly family (very dear and still to this day) enrolled to study finance at UNSS. I started to attend classes (at that time the entrance exams were in geography, mathematics, and history), I scored 5.9 on the exam and was immediately accepted to study the major. It was very difficult for me at first because I had to make a leap from French language (my secondary education) to finance, but I surprisingly did well. Later, I also completed a master's degree in the same field. Through the lens of the present moment, I consider that the decision to study finance was correct and I am happy that I have had the opportunity to work for so many years in my field.

What are your interests and hobbies?

Besides finance, I really love to read topics related to emotional intelligence. In this regard, I recommend “Emotional Intelligence” by Daniel Goleman.

My main hobby, which I have been practicing for almost 6 years, is folk dances. I love mountain hikes and I cannot compare the feeling that the mountain gives me with anything. Last but not least, I love to travel.

Would you change your profession today?

No. The truth is that I love what I do. My work is interesting, diverse, and challenges me every day to grow. I cannot imagine soon engaging in something else, nor do I feel the need to change anything in my current professional world.

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

I think that too many people today are entirely focused on their personal brand. What I notice is that in order to be liked or gain approval, people often are not themselves. However, this escape from oneself has an opposite effect because it often seems unnatural. I think a person should be who they are.

Honestly, I have never been interested in people's opinions, except for those close to me. I think that excessive focus on what people think can hinder a person from developing, because there is a risk of focusing on that. Of course, everyone should accept criticism because each of us has imperfections. I love to hear about myself that I am a good professional.  

How do you handle daily challenges?

With a good team of professionals at work and parents who are always ready to help me in case of need. I am a very happy and positive person because I am surrounded by really great people around me, whom I can trust, as they can trust me. I think that trust is one of the most valuable currencies today.

What lessons did you learn about communication with different people?

I am a person who takes something from communication with everyone, regardless of the level in the hierarchy of the specific person. From everyone, you can learn something that you can apply and use for yourself and be beneficial later. If you don’t like something about yourself, just change it. I even learn something new from my daughter every day. A different angle can always be only beneficial for everyone. For myself, I can say that I am a person who loves to listen and speaks less. I only speak when someone requires it from me, both personally and professionally.

What do you think about money?

I like the phrase: “Money is a means, not an end.”. I don’t think a person should focus too much on them, nor should they be neglected. I can definitely say that the lack of financial literacy and wrong financial decisions can literally ruin a person's life and I see it almost every day. It is precisely for this reason that a major part of my efforts is directed towards it.

I recommend the book “The Psychology of Investing,” which is short and useful in the field of behavioral finance, but provides many answers to how we view money from a psychological perspective, which I consider very useful.

What is the most valuable career advice you would give?

To believe in yourself and to be who you are. Do not be afraid to be different, to experiment, to fail, because that is the path to self-improvement. Surround yourself with people from whom there is something to learn, be persistent and consistent. Never lose faith. Remove your ego and listen to your inner voice more often.