Stanislav Pavlov (EMBA’20): The AUBG EMBA Program ‘attracts only the best and the brightest people’
The students from the AUBG EMBA Cohort '18 have just completed their 16-month educational journey with a thesis defense as part of their social entrepreneurship class. We talked to Stanislav Pavlov, one of the graduating students and Program Scheduling Manager at bTV Media Group, to hear more about his experience with the EMBA Program.
How did your thesis defense go? What was the topic, and why did you choose it?
Considering the challenges created by COVID-19, I would say that the defense went very well. We are living in an age of technological wonders from which education should take advantage. Still, I rather miss the excitement of a face-to-face defense.
As my topic, I worked on the creation of a CSR program, focused on post-grad education in business and development of entrepreneurial skills. Traditional Bulgarian education stays further from modern trends, and even the word 'business' is considered negative. I believe Bulgarians are smart and have an enterprising spirit, but many of them lack soft or technical skills. Having more entrepreneurs will increase the competition and improve the quality of local production, making the country more attractive to foreign direct investments. All these things are incredibly beneficial for society.
Looking back at the start of this journey, why did you decide to enroll in an EMBA program?
I was considering an EMBA for quite some time before I enrolled. Today's world is changing rapidly, and if I may quote Lewis Carroll: "We must run as fast as we can, just to stay in place. And if you wish to go anywhere, you must run twice as fast as that." For me, the EMBA program was the perfect accelerator.
What are the highlights of your EMBA experience? What did you find most beneficial about the program – both personally and professionally?
I am genuinely impressed with how up-to-date the program is. It organically became a part of my life.
I think the program attracts only the best and the brightest people, and I am glad I was able to share this experience with them. Having exceptional colleagues helps you to challenge yourself constantly.
I liked the pace of the program. It keeps you at full throttle the whole time, and at the same time, helps you define your goals and find the work/life balance that best suits your personality.
Now that you have completed the program, do you think your EMBA degree will have an impact on your career development, and in what ways?
The EMBA is a great platform that shows countless new possibilities in front of you. Its benefits are both tangible and intangible. It broadens your perspective and helps you see the opportunities hidden behind every problem. You can see everything from the organizational vantage point and act in its best interest.
And, in purely practical terms, because of its excellent alumni network, those four letters behind your name can have magical power.
Could you please tell me a bit about yourself and your career path?
I have been inquisitive all my life with a preference for math, mechanics, and science. Therefore, not surprisingly, I graduated Geology from [Sofia] University. However, life had a different plan for me. In 2007, I started at bTV's Programming department as an intern for the summer. During the following years, I had different roles within the department, as I have never been afraid to try new things. In that time, my functions shifted from project-based to strictly operational.
I consider myself a Renaissance man. I follow the Roman principle "Expand or die" and always try to push myself outside of my comfort zone - both physically and intellectually, with the EMBA being one of my greatest challenges so far.