Beyond Scholarships: How Investing in Young Talent Builds the Future

Beyond Scholarships: how investing in young talent builds the future

Simona Yoyinski, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at Paysafe, shares why support for young talent should begin during their education and how businesses can help them achieve a successful professional start.

 

What specific problem does the scholarship program of Paysafe aim to solve and why does the company choose to invest in students before they become part of the workforce?

The scholarship program at Paysafe was created with the idea of supporting motivated and talented students at a key stage of their development. We want to help them focus on their studies, unlock their potential, and have more opportunities to prepare confidently for their professional realization.

We invest in students during their education because that is when the interests, confidence, and career directions of young people are formed. However, for us, the program does not end with providing financial support. We strive to stay in touch with the scholars, invite them to company events, connect them with business experts, and show them what a real work environment looks like. Our goal is to be helpful not only as an employer but also as a partner in their development, creating a bridge between education and business and helping them take their first professional steps with more confidence.

Besides the scholarship program, what other initiatives does Paysafe develop in support of education and the connection between universities and businesses?

Support for education is a long-term commitment for us. We combine our efforts in this direction under the initiative Paysafe Academy, which includes various programs aimed at students and pupils - scholarships, mentoring programs, guest lectures, practical training, hackathons, and competitions like Paysafe Fintech Challenge.

We actively work with both universities and schools because we believe that support for young talent should begin even before their first professional steps. Together with our partners from educational institutions and experts from the company, we create opportunities for real knowledge exchange, practical experience, and meetings with people from the business.

Our goal is not just to present the industry to young people, but to build a sustainable bridge between education and business and to help the next generation of talent develop confidently and informed.

 

What do you think a young person should gain from such a program beyond financial support?

Financial support is important, but the real value of such programs lies in the practical skills, contacts, and confidence that young people acquire along the way.

I hope that every student who interacts with us leaves with a clearer understanding of the opportunities ahead of them, with access to a network of professionals, and with the inspiration to develop their potential. Meetings with business experts, mentoring support, and the opportunity to engage with real professional cases provide a perspective that is hard to gain solely in university/school.

Where do you see the biggest difference between what students learn at university and the skills they need when they take their first steps in the technology and fintech sector?

Universities provide a very good theoretical foundation, which is extremely important. The challenge usually comes when applying this knowledge in a dynamic business environment.

In addition to technical competencies, young professionals need to develop skills such as teamwork, communication, adaptability, critical thinking, and the ability to solve real problems. That is why I believe that contact with the business during their education is so valuable - it helps students understand how classroom knowledge translates into real solutions, products, and services, and prepares them more confidently for their first professional steps.

 

What is the role of business in developing the next generation of talent in Bulgaria – and how far do you think this commitment should go?

In my opinion, business plays a key role. Companies have the expertise, practical knowledge, and insight into future trends in the labor market. Therefore, it is important for them to actively participate in preparing young people, rather than only getting involved when they are looking for new employees.

This engagement should be long-term and consistent - through partnerships with educational institutions, mentorship, internship programs, practical projects, and skills development initiatives. When universities and businesses work together, everyone wins - students, companies, and society as a whole. This is how we can create an environment where more young talents choose to develop their careers in Bulgaria.