The most unexpected situations, people, and places give rise to the most interesting solutions

Introduce yourself in a few words..
My name is Bisera Ivanova. I graduated in "Economics and Management of Industry" at UNSS, and later – "Labor-Organizational Psychology" at SU "St. Kliment Ohridski". I have been working in the field of corporate real estate for over 25 years.

I am the founder of the first Bulgarian company for facility management with national coverage and have held leadership positions in the energy and financial sectors.

Currently, I am the Head of the "Building Fund and OSH" department at "Festo Bulgaria" EOOD and I teach in the master's program in facility management at the Faculty of Economics of Sofia University.

How would you describe your career in a few words?

I have had and continue to have incredible luck to find myself in the right and best companies for me, I have learned and continue to learn from all the professionals along my path, while at the same time I had the incredible opportunity to create trends in the industry in which I work. Throughout my professional journey, I have been on all sides of the participants in the process of managing corporate real estate, and this gives me both a more accurate and clear understanding in different situations, as well as the right direction of action, more flexibility, and adaptability. I am happy that I started my career at a time when we learned from each other and in this way we created the core of facility management professionals in Bulgaria.

What was the most important choice that shaped your path?

I was born in Varna, I love my hometown and I have always wanted to complete my higher education and live there. By a chance turn of events, I came to Sofia for an entrance exam, which I perceived only as a "dress rehearsal". But this "dress rehearsal" turned out to be the first step that led to the most important choice in my professional path, namely completing my higher education in Sofia and starting my career in this city.

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

I would point out that it is the skill and strength to say "no" when necessary. I learned over time that the right decision in a given situation sometimes includes a well-considered and motivated response of "no" or "not at this stage".

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

I think that above all it is an inner feeling, aspiration, and strong motivation. The most important thing for me is that each of us likes what we do and listens to our inner voice, and when this is the case, being a professional every day is easy. There are many examples around us that show that at a certain stage of their professional path, a person can make a change – in some cases significant, as it involves a complete change of profession and development in a completely new field, while in others we are talking about a slight shift in focus and direction in a different direction.

Which skills do you think will be key in the next 10 years?

The time is already completely new, different, everything is developing extremely quickly, the dynamics are great, the changes too, so I believe that flexibility, adaptability, and proactivity are the most valuable qualities in changing times. Each of us needs to find our personal way to synchronize with the pace, speed, and wealth of information of the new time.

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

For me, a smile, good attitude, and integrity are the only ways to build contacts and "bridges" that we can cross again and again. Let’s not forget the famous saying that "we never have a second chance to make a first impression".

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

I cannot point to any specific mistake in my career and define it as the biggest; certainly, like everyone, I have made and continue to make mistakes, but as an old wisdom says, "he who does not work, does not err". Still, I think that one of the most significant mistakes that each of us could make professionally is to believe that we know everything, that there is nothing new to learn from our colleagues and team.

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

When I feel too much tension, lack of honesty and accountability, unclear goals, absence of support and trust, lack of easy and open communication in the work environment - all these signs for me are indications that the time for change has come. The company we work for, the team we are part of, the environment that surrounds us, the office, and the working conditions we have - all of this is crucial for us to feel a sense of satisfaction, fulfillment, and comfort.

What would you do differently if you could start over?

Let’s start with courage – perhaps much earlier and to a much greater extent I would have shown courage and firmness in my profession. Time and experience taught me that balanced risk combined with courage, enthusiasm, and curiosity can actually lead you to unexpected discoveries, new, unconventional ideas, and improvements both in daily work and in the profession as a whole.

How to maintain our motivation in times of stagnation?

The recipe that I apply in such moments includes unceasing curiosity, continuous search for new, unexplored horizons, and discovering something different and exciting every day.

How to achieve a balance between professional and personal life?

The balance between professional and personal life is something very personal and something very significant. Everyone discovers it within themselves, walking their own path of awareness with persistence and discipline, seeking their personal boundary between these two worlds and finding the desired balance.

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

This is a very personal moment and a feeling of necessity for something new and different.

I would define it as an internal change, awareness, and a new attitude towards expectations and results. We must listen to our inner voice when it tells us that we need to seek a new challenge or feel uncomfortable and unsatisfied in our current profession.

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

To learn to listen, to hear and understand, not just to respond, and to explore everything that happens around them, because I believe that interesting ideas and solutions can be found everywhere, even in the most unexpected situations, people, and places.

What is your definition of a "successful career"?

To be healthy, to truly like the work you have chosen, and to maintain your professionalism in every work situation, to have time for your loved ones, for your hobbies, and for your inner growth, harmony, and balance between professional and personal life – this is my definition of a successful career!