5-Minutes With: Petia Dimitrova

 
1. Why did you decide to join the Endeavor Bulgaria network, and what impact do you hope to have in your role?
It is a great pleasure to be part of Endeavor Bulgaria! To be among the people who change the economic environment and encourage others to develop their talent is a privilege, responsibility and inspiration. The bold business ideas are the future and that is why I am happy to be part of the board of the organization that invests in them. As a committed mentor and partner, we at Postbank are eager to invest our expertise in helping the participants develop their strategies and conquer new heights. We believe that the innovative approach of the Dare2Scale growth program will add significant value to their business ideas and be a key part of their success journey. We, the representatives of the business, are the people who support their plans for growth and help them navigate their future in the best possible way. With great pleasure I devote my time, knowledge and heart for the development of the young talents in our country.
With each passing year, we meet more and more motivated companies that impress us with their ambitious growth strategies and the desire to build on what they have achieved. This is exactly where our role is because I believe that as their mentor and partner, we can pass on invaluable expertise to them, with which we practically invest in the environment and increase the development opportunities of all participants in it. The success of this program is based on the unique combination between the ambition of the young companies and the experience of big business.
 
2. What do you believe is the most critical factor in scaling a business sustainably?
More than one, I believe. Knowledge is one of the most important keys to sustainable growth. Enthusiasm and fresh energy also drive growth, altogether with the eagerness to elevate one’s skills.
Entrepreneurs need to find out, understand and overcome many key challenges and to seize business opportunities. Young people today are much more adaptable, looking for new trends, following different businesses, attend international conferences, travel a lot, which gives them a serious advantage over previous generations of entrepreneurs. A good business plan and a good financial partner are also key factors for sustainable business scaling – knowing where you want to go, how to achieve it, how quickly and with which partner.
 
3. What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?
Maybe that “Experience is not transferable”. If a person believes in his abilities and does not wait for the right moment, but acts now, if he loves what he does and develops himself, success is 100% certain. There is no universal business advice, there are lessons. Every day brings us a new lesson – success lies in recognizing it and learning it quickly. In business, the time is now. It is an advantage to “catch the wave”, everything else is achieved with great effort. Always draw inspiration from challenges and aim to move at the right pace. And of course, you should never forget that life is not just a career, and that a career is not “just a job.”
 
4. What’s one book, podcast, or resource you’re currently reading or listening to that you’d recommend to others?
My day is dynamic, and I don’t have much free time, so I like to listen to podcasts, dedicated to innovation in fintech and financial services, while commuting to the office or to a business meeting. I admire strong individuals who have innovative ideas, positive energy and manage to foresee the trends of tomorrow – they are the visionaries who drag people behind them and make the world move forward. I like to follow innovators who live more in the future than in the present.
 
5. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
My favorite one: Louis Pasteur’s quote “Chance favors the prepared mind”. Only prepared and motivated people can see the opportunity and take advantage of it, which in the eyes of the outside observer looks like a coincidence. The companies that will succeed and be the leaders both in local and international markets are the ones that provide next-generation experiences for customers. The aspiring entrepreneurs should strive for this.
My aspiration is towards constant acquisition of knowledge and transformation of the financial sector. During all the years in the field, I have not stopped changing and developing – I am constantly learning and acquiring new knowledge. I’m a strong believer in personal example. As a leader in the bank, I insist and demand that those working in it acquire knowledge needed to meet the challenges of modern life. We are the only one to have an exclusive partnership with INSEAD University to train all our employees. The program has been active for two years and is extremely well received. Our managers can be trained at campuses in the US, France and Singapore through the most innovative programs in various fields. For me, the most important thing is hard work and being persistent.