I built a name based on hard work, honesty, and trust

Introduce yourself in a few sentences – who are you today as a person, professional, and woman?

My name is Adv. Bilyana Toncheva and I am a procurator at the consulting company "Eko Globe" Ltd since its establishment in 2012. My professional career is related to consulting, preparation, and implementation of European projects in both the public and private sectors, as well as projects in the field of energy efficiency.

"Eko Globe" Ltd is engaged in consulting, preparation, and management of projects funded by European funds. It has a portfolio of nearly 1300 successful projects with over 2000 clients from various fields of business. The company also provides consulting services for the preparation of projects funded by financial instruments. At the same time, I feel wonderful as a woman and mother.

How does a lady entrepreneur feel when the Day of the Woman Entrepreneur arrives? What does this day mean for you personally and professionally?

Madeleine Albright says, "There is a special place in hell for women who do not support other women.".  I would say that in our modern times, more and more women are stopping to pay attention to the expectations imposed on them for centuries and boldly taking on new tasks and challenges. Over the years, the number of women entrepreneurs has indeed increased. It is a pleasure to work with ladies who have proven themselves in their fields. More and more organizations and associations of women in business are emerging. More and more events are being organized where women help women present and develop their businesses. I have the honor to be a member of many of them and to support women entrepreneurs.

What did you dream of as a child? Is there something from those dreams that still drives you forward?

My childhood dream was to become a Princess. Well, of course, that didn't happen because that's not something you can achieve alone. However, in return, I am now a Queen! That's how I feel in my family with my beloved husband and my wonderful daughter, and in business with so many established trusted friendships with my clients. I can responsibly state that dreams always come true! You just have to work for them.

At what age did you earn your first money and what was the feeling? Share a funny or educational story.

I was 8 years old when my grandmother – a teacher by profession retired and started dealing with goods confiscated at customs in Vidin. I was her courier and delivered the goods to people's homes. That’s when I started receiving my first rewards, which were in the form of books. This memory has remained permanently imprinted with the emotion that "earned" it, not just given or handed.

How did your entrepreneurial journey begin? Do you remember your first steps, the emotions, and the difficulties back then?

Every beginning is said to be difficult. I would call my beginning rather interesting. After I started my practice as a lawyer, I met many different people engaged in various businesses. That’s why the beginning of my journey was interesting but also quite challenging. I had to respond to problems and cases related to all aspects of business. Thus, after University, I continued to learn and improve myself. I found that good preparation, the solid foundation you build for yourself, is very important for any endeavor.

What challenges did you face at the beginning and which taught you the most?

The beginning in business is like the first grade in school. Just as its goal is not so much to teach us to write and calculate, but to teach us to learn, so the initial steps in business are to teach us how to react to our mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes. There is no person who has not made mistakes. The important thing is to be well prepared – through our education, through work, through listening to those more experienced than us, to reduce the number and fatality of those mistakes. And once they happen, to handle the situation correctly and calmly. It is very important to be able to take a step back, to humble ourselves, and when we have realized the future measures, to continue.

What is the most difficult moment in your career or business and how did you manage to overcome it?

The most difficult moment in my career was... the birth of my daughter. Until that moment, I was used to working around the clock. The moment I saw my little girl, I experienced the greatest possible happiness, but the very next day I had to find the balance between many meetings with clients and being a mother. To this day, I can firmly state that I have managed more than well – I have a wonderful 13-year-old daughter who already speaks 5 languages fluently and has been accepted to study at a very prestigious international college, and my career is on a constant rise, placing me among the leaders in business, and the company I manage is number one in the field of projects with European funding.

And what is your greatest success so far – that moment when you said to yourself, "It was worth it"?

My company "Eko Globe" Ltd is the only consulting company that has licenses for the inspection of buildings, industrial systems, and street lighting. Obtaining this license cost us a lot of hard work and effort, but we succeeded and for years we have been helping our clients with this challenge. And I said "It was worth it" literally a few days ago when I received the Award from the Chamber of Energy Auditors for the fact that "Eko Globe" is number one in energy projects.

What is your greatest lesson as an entrepreneur and as a woman leader?

The fear of failure as an entrepreneur can be a very strong motivator. After all, everyone is afraid. Every person at one point or another in their life has experienced fear of failure – whether in what they work on or in their personal relationships. And in the end, everyone has failed. The important thing is how you will react. The important thing is to get up and keep trying. For me, the words of Estée Lauder apply with absolute force - "I never dreamed of success. I worked for it." And what is success? It is to do the job you have taken on well. Sometimes there are sleepless nights, endless travels, meetings, and conversations, but the satisfaction that fills you after every well-executed project, I call – Success!

Which people or experiences from your childhood have had the greatest influence on who you are today?

I was lucky to grow up in an exceptional family. I already mentioned my grandmother, who was a teacher and taught me to love books. My grandfather, who graduated in history and philosophy taught me to look at things from different perspectives. My mother and father are still actively working and showed me that love and dedication to family not only do not hinder but greatly help the development of a career.

How do you maintain your curiosity and inspiration – what are your sources of energy, knowledge, and new ideas?

My work. I already said that everyone defines me as a "workaholic". I constantly travel around Bulgaria and meet many people daily. I explain the technology of projects funded by European funds, we find mutual solutions for every business, for every company, whether it is a large enterprise in Sofia or a small farm in a distant village. Of course, I receive enormous support from my family and friends, many of whom are also my partners in business.

Has your perception of what motivates you and how you measure your success changed over the years?

I have been a leader in my field for many years. At this stage, motivation and success require primarily conscious management of emotional and professional well-being. A very important part of my professional success is my team, which I built with trust and above all personal example. I am a member of many organizations, most of which have charitable initiatives in which I participate. For several years now, I have also been organizing events like the upcoming Christmas Charity Lunch. The children and causes we have already helped make me feel useful and motivated to continue. It is an exceptional honor for me that for this activity of mine this year I was awarded First Place by the Council of Women in Business in Bulgaria – a very serious and working organization.

How did you decide where and what to study? If you could go back, would you choose the same?

I grew up in a family of a doctor and an engineer. From high school, I knew that I would not be good in these two professions. I felt confident and "in my place" in school debates and when I had to defend a student initiative. Thus, I logically came to the decision to study law.

After I started my legal practice, I was faced with various challenges often not related to law. I had to quickly resolve purely financial and economic cases. I was already aware that to develop, you need to have a solid foundation. Therefore, alongside my work as a lawyer, I continued my education by becoming a master's in finance, and later in health management.

What helped you the most in the transition from education to entrepreneurship?

I have graduated in law, finance, and health management. During these studies, I met people with authority in their fields. Even while finishing my higher education, I was grabbing handfuls of wisdom and experience from these people. After receiving my diplomas, in my work, I met daily and continue to meet many different people. This gave me new experience, new cases that contributed to enriching my development. Early in my career, I was a member and continue to be part of many different organizations, which is also very important for the career development of a young person.

How do you maintain your personal brand and how would you like people to talk about you when you are not in the room?

I am a proponent of the motto that if you manage to build a good name in business, then the name will work for you. With a lot of hard work, I managed to build the brand "Eko Globe" and I continue to enhance it. I believe that when you are open with your clients, when you complete a project and continue to work for their trust, you will inevitably achieve success. I approach every project and every client individually. I strive to find a solution for everyone. I constantly inform myself about the process of preparing projects so that I can inform all interested parties. I want that when I leave the room, it is heard – "Adv. Toncheva is number one. She can be relied on!"

Women's leadership is often associated with empathy and resilience. How do you balance strength and softness in managing people and processes?

Being a leader in business is not just a male or just a female quality. Leadership is not a badge you pin on your lapel and you are already one. You become a leader yourself. As such, you build yourself and work constantly for it. For women, it is indeed a bit more difficult, again due to societal expectations and what I would call prejudices. Many people believe that it is a matter of luck to succeed and to be a leader. Let me respond to them with the words of Oprah Winfrey – "In my opinion, luck is when preparation meets opportunity." For me, a good foundation, preparation remains a winning strategy. And when you set a goal and work with your team to achieve it, loudly or quietly, society recognizes you as a woman – a leader. Personal example is very important. When your team believes in you and trusts you, there is no need to use either a carrot or a stick. With your actions and constant communication, you manage to solve problems in the best way.

How does a lady entrepreneur maintain herself – what helps you to always be in shape, inspired, and confident?

I am known among my business partners and friends as a "workaholic".          It is a fact that women in general, like me, perform excellently under high pressure. We have proven over time that we can carry multiple responsibilities while excelling in our chosen fields. Here I immediately recall the words of a great woman – Eleanor Roosevelt: "A woman is like a teabag. You never know how strong she is until she is in hot water." But it is very important to find the balance between hot and cold water. Between tension and rest. Even machines under constant pressure burn out - it is important to provide ourselves with moments of relief. For me, this turned out to be another thing I learned to do. I love to travel with girlfriends in Italy, for example. To indulge ourselves in small feminine pleasures for a day or two. Shopping, ice cream cones, light conversations, and lots of laughter.

What are your rituals or practices for emotional intelligence, balance, and harmony in a busy daily life?

Unfortunately, there is no recipe. There is no manual for Life. You cannot find the specific situation you are in, go to the corresponding page, and read how to deal with it. Everything is based – again – on upbringing, education, experience. And above all, the desire and will to find that balance. And the balance between professional and personal life is in good organization and the understanding and support of the family.

What place do money occupy in your perception of success? What is your personal principle regarding financial independence and satisfaction?

For me, money is a means, not an end. An extremely important principle for me is to invest. For many years now, I have been leading my team on the difficult path of projects and procedures with European funding. I am convinced that the best investment is in people. Professionally, this is the constant maintenance of the living flame in "my" people. And it is not just about material incentives. To build and especially to keep your business successful, you need to have a healthy, responsible, and believing team. This applies to all professional fields, but for us – consultants, it is particularly important. Just as clients trust me personally, they should be able to trust each member of my team. I invest in my own development and self-improvement to be an inspiration for my people, to show them that nothing is impossible. I am guided by the words of Eleanor Roosevelt: "Nothing is ever achieved by a person who says, 'It can't be done.'" Personally, I will continue to invest in time for and with my family. I have a wonderful daughter and the best investment I can make there is to take care of her education.

What advice would you give to ladies considering starting their own business but are still hesitant?

I have already had the opportunity to mention how important the foundation is on which you will step to build a career. Listen to your parents, your colleagues, your friends. Do not be afraid at times to slow down or even take a step back and above all – do not stop learning and working on yourself.

What makes you feel truly successful – personal satisfaction, achievements, influence on others, or something else?

There are many factors that influence the feeling of success. I have already pointed out many of them, but I would summarize – the family that gives you upbringing and value system, the education that provides a solid foundation for your career, finding your calling – doing what you love and with which you can help. For me, my achievements in business allow me to help other people and this brings me great satisfaction.

What do you want to leave behind – in your organization, community, or in the world?

I have built a very good name. This Name is a symbol of much work, honesty, and trust. I am also known for the great charitable work I do. I will continue to work selflessly and help wherever and whatever is needed. I love to be first and I am happy that we are number one in the field of projects with European funding.