AUBG Executive MBA graduates reunited with their colleagues and professors June 9 in a first of its kind EMBA Alumni Dinner in Sofia. All agreed the event featured a cheerful mood and inspiring presentations celebrating the EMBA program at Elieff Center.
AUBG Executive MBA graduates reunited with their colleagues and professors June 9 in a first of its kind EMBA Alumni Dinner in Sofia. All agreed the event featured a cheerful mood and inspiring presentations celebrating the EMBA program at Elieff Center.
“We believe that tonight’s event is going to set the start of an initiative that every one of us was waiting for with anticipation,” said EMBA alumna Dimitrina Dobreva (2015), corporate sales manager at Toyota Balkans and host of the event. “And we believe it is going to evolve into a successful, long-term tradition.” Dobreva introduced AUBG President Kevin Aspegren, who stressed the importance of involving the EMBA graduates in the university community. He said the EMBA program plays a significant role in the AUBG family. “It is great to see people here from the very first class all the way to some current students,” Aspegren said.
“Tonight is the first step in extending the ‘welcome mat’ to you. Welcome and I look forward to interacting with you in the years to come.” Lucia Miree, AUBG dean of faculty and a professor of business, signaled her delight about the event. “I remember interviewing for the very first cohort as a faculty member,” she said. “I am committed to directing the program and to interacting with you.”
Executive coach and EMBA professor Vladimir Borachev discussed the importance of leadership on innovation in business. “Don’t be afraid to open a door which is unknown to you,” he said. The acceptance of change as a means of improvement, practicing constantly and empowering employees by living and preaching one’s beliefs is what makes a person a leader that can drive progress, Borachev said. After AUBG’s faculty and administration, it was EMBA graduates’ turn to talk about the significance of the program.
Slaveyko Djambazov (2010), co-founder of a number of healthcare companies and startups, gave a talk titled “How AUBG Woke Up My Brain.” Having graduated medicine, Djambazov began his career in a very hierarchical organization. Despite the fact that at the age of 28 he was promoted to CEO of a company that grew to be a multimillion-leva business, Djambazov was not satisfied with the values of the company. “The most valued thing was profit,” Djambazov said. “I decided that I need something else. I didn’t feel comfortable with it. So I joined AUBG.” Djambazov said he underestimated the importance of the program at first. “But at AUBG, for the first time I learned about teamwork,” he said. “I also got a lot of friends. And we are still family friends and even we have common businesses with some of my co-students.” In addition, AUBG left him “a vault of not only textbooks but also concepts on how to get knowledge or how to get an advice,” Djambazov said. “I also changed my values. So on the top of my values is my family and health, and after that comes sharing and helping people.” Graduates of the bachelor program at AUBG also did not miss the chance to say a few words about the importance of the EMBA program. Eftim Eftimov (2008), treasurer of the AUBG Alumni Association (AAA), said AAA has been continuously working on getting the EMBA graduates more involved with the AUBG community and has recently invited EMBA graduates Georgi Malchev (2004) and Nina Thong (2014) to the board of the alumni association. Malchev, a business expert and college professor, and Thong, trade manager at Tehra Ltd, were also part of the program. They organized an entertaining game in which the guests answered questions related to the EMBA program and shared their most valuable memories from the time spent at AUBG. The festive dinner concluded with a cocktail for all at the Elieff Center garden. Story by Dimana Doneva Photography by Dimana Doneva
