The sparkle in the eyes is the most valuable capital in a career

Introduce yourself in a few sentences.. 

My name is Silva Torlova, I am the manager and owner of the marketing agency Smarketing. By education, I am an engineer, but life quickly spun me into the field of marketing. I am dynamic, impulsive, but I am learning patience – I know that sometimes it is the most valuable quality in our work. I love beauty and believe that it has a place in everything we do – from the way we communicate to the ability to build brands. I admit – by nature, I am a perfectionist. At first, this hindered me, because I often put in more effort than necessary. Over time, however, I learned to find balance – to assess the situation from different perspectives and to seek a reasonable middle ground between quality and effort. 

 

What did you dream of becoming in your childhood? 

As a child, I wanted to become an artist. Later, I decided that architecture suited me better – still something related to art and beauty. At home, we had albums with famous masterpieces and my dad would show them to me and tell me stories. I could look at them for hours. In the end, I became an engineer, which gave me a solid foundation for thinking and problem-solving skills. And today I realize that in marketing I have combined both – creativity and structure. 

 

At what age did you earn your first money? 

Ha, to be honest, I don’t remember exactly how old I was. I only know that my first money was “earned” at home. My parents made me wash the dishes, which I hated terribly. They gave me a few leva to motivate me. And the most interesting thing was that I saved them, I didn’t spend them on anything, because they were earned with effort and had a different value for me. 

 

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? 

For me, it is a combination – family is the foundation, but the environment is also extremely important. Teachers, friends, the people we meet along the way – each one of them leaves a mark. There are people whose influence you remember for a lifetime. 

For example, in 8th grade, I had a wonderful math teacher, to whom I wanted to prove that I was a great mathematician. I studied with enthusiasm and my results were excellent. In fact, my love for mathematics appeared even earlier. I loved solving problems with my grandfather and we competed to see who would be faster. That was my favorite game. All of this shows that the right environment and motivation unlock true potential.  

And today I find inspiration in different people (some very close, and others met briefly along the way), in nature, in beauty, in travels. I love to read on various topics and I try to understand different generations and their interests – this is an endless source of knowledge and inspiration. 

 

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

Yes, definitely. As a young person, one often moves by external expectations or the desire for recognition. With time, I understood that true motivation comes from within – from the meaning we find in what we do, and from the results we leave behind us. Today, I am motivated by the desire to create value and to see how my work has a positive impact on the people in the team, clients, and projects. 

 

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

I never imagined that I wouldn’t pursue higher education – in my family, this was an established tradition. My choice of university and major was greatly influenced by my parents. I graduated with an engineering degree in the IT field and I am actually grateful for that. The engineering education taught me to think systematically, to seek solutions, and to have an analytical approach – things that help me a lot today in marketing. Of course, over time I have taken many courses and read many books on marketing. One should never stop learning and being interested and applying new methods and tools in their work and sharing with others, with whom they are in a team. 

 

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

I am curious and this leads me to different places and new perspectives. I love to travel  – I am a typical Sagittarius: if someone offers a trip, I am already ready with my luggage. Art is another passion of mine, I love to visit exhibitions, galleries, and see innovative approaches to presentation. Sometimes I also pick up a pencil and a sheet of paper to express myself. I often draw a parallel between art and marketing – in both, you need to invest imagination, courage, and leave emotion in people. I also find time to exercise - whether it’s a walk in the mountains or yoga, it will refresh and diversify me. 

 

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

Not really – I feel good and like what I do. But I would certainly engage in other things as well. I would like to use my hands, I have always felt that this brings particular pleasure and satisfaction. 

 

They say that 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 would be happy to hear that I am a person who can be trusted and relied upon, that I am tolerant and humane, and that it is easy to work with me. It would also be wonderful to hear that I have nice ideas and that the services we offer with the agency team are of high quality and real benefit to clients. 

 

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

I definitely face challenges in our fast-paced daily life. I think a lot about emotional intelligence – my own and that of the people around me. I try to approach with understanding and balance. Sports, yoga, time in nature, and meetings with close people help me stay in good shape and mood. 

 

What are the most important conclusions you have made so far about maintaining proper communication considering the different personalities of the people you meet daily – colleagues, friends, relatives? 

I learned that direct communication is the most important thing – both in projects and in personal life. A person must have principles and be consistent, but also be able to put themselves in the shoes of the other. It’s difficult, but without this, you cannot successfully realize either a project or an idea. In marketing, this applies with full force – to create value, you need to understand what the client wants and everyone involved in the process.

 

What do you think about money? What is their influence on your life? 

We live in times when money is a very important element in our lives. I don’t like this. I would prefer to enjoy the satisfaction from the work done and the results achieved rather than the reward. As an agency owner, I know that money is necessary, but if we focus only on them and set them as our only goal, we lose creativity and meaning. 

 

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

In my opinion, one of the most important things is not to set limits for ourselves and to have a “spark in our eyes” – that inner desire for work and development. There is a maxim that the more one does something, the better they become at it. Perseverance and dedication to something lead to real development – with each step we become better and more confident in what we do. In other words, we should not give up on our goals just because the path seems difficult and long.  

 

It is also valuable to communicate quality with people who can help us become better at what we do best, to accept constructive criticism and use it correctly.  

 
And, of course – to follow our dreams. This way we find ways to overcome the obstacles that life puts in front of us. To never stop seeking novelty, inspiration, and knowledge, to fill ourselves with curiosity about the world that surrounds us. And always be ready for action.