Jahonoro Veselinova

How have your professional goals evolved before, during, and after COTRUGLI Business School?
Before COTRUGLI, I was focused on execution and results, proving capability and delivering impact. During the program, my perspective expanded. I began to see leadership as shaping organizations, not just managing tasks.

Today, my focus is on building environments where people and businesses can grow sustainably, especially across international and complex structures.

What does your leadership journey look like today?
Today, I lead People Operations across multiple countries, where leadership means navigating complexity, different cultures, markets, and expectations.
In a world of constant change, mergers, and global integration, the challenge is to create alignment, trust, and performance across borders. My greatest achievement is not a project, but the leaders I have developed.

What should COTRUGLI further develop to prepare future leaders?
Leadership today is global by default. I believe there should be even stronger focus on:
Managing international and cross-cultural teams;
Leading through mergers, integration, and transformation;
Decision-making in uncertainty;
These are critical capabilities for the reality leaders face today.

Do you see yourself as a mentor?
Yes, mentoring is part of my leadership approach. I am also actively involved as a mentor at Mentor the Young Bulgaria, where I support the next generation in stepping with confidence into their first professional roles. I believe as leader we have a responsibility to support others, especially in moments of doubt. I would be proud to contribute as a mentor within the COTRUGLI community.

What has shaped you as a leader?
Key moments of growth came from stepping into uncertainty, moving across countries, building teams from scratch, and leading without having all the answers.
These experiences taught me that leadership is about trust, adaptability, and resilience.

What career lesson would you share?
You don’t need to feel ready to lead, you need the courage to take responsibility and grow into it.
And don’t stay where your values are not aligned, time is too valuable to be spent in the wrong environment.

What does being a successful leader mean to you today?
Success is not defined by title, but by impact.
A successful leader builds strong teams, develops people, and creates lasting value, while navigating complexity with clarity and humanity.