The Inspiring Career Transformation of Zdravka Dzhaleva from Paysafe

From civil engineering to technology - how motivation, mentorship and community can

change our career paths.

Last week in the cozy space of SOHO Sofia, a motivational meeting took place,

organized jointly by Paysafe and Women Who Grow - Sofia. The event brought together

professionals from the technology sector, united by a common goal - to learn from

experience and grow their careers with support and shared knowledge.

Zdravka Djaleva, Engineering Manager at Paysafe, was the special guest at the event,

sharing her personal and professional story within the topic "Navigating Career

Transitions."

Her journey is an example of courage and perseverance - from a Master's degree in Civil Engineering and a quick experience in the construction industry, through her love of

programming, to her role today as a successful engineering team leader.

"Moving to a product company, was one of my best decisions. At Paysafe, I came across

a close-knit team, and we grew together. Thanks to my great manager and his proper

guidance, as well as relevant courses, I was able to make a successful career

transformation from software engineer to engineering manager," says Zdravka.

The discussion also focused on topics such as sustained motivation during a transition,

building confidence, the importance of mentoring and how not to get lost along the way

when challenges test you.

“When you're around people who are prepared and inspired by the work, and you start

giving 100% of yourself,” she said.

One of the topics that sparked the most interest among attendees was Imposter

Syndrome - the feeling that you are not good enough despite objective achievements.

Zdravka said that this feeling was not alien to her, especially at the beginning of her

transition to a managerial role. “Overcoming such inner doubts often requires the support

from mentors, perseverance and reminders of the value you add,” she added.

Zdravka also stressed the link between personal and professional motivation,

“Sometimes I imagine the end result - what I want success to look like - and try to evoke

that feeling of satisfaction that I have already experienced in other situations.”

At the end of the event, she shared some of her most important life and professional

lessons that sum up her philosophy of growth and sustainability:

● Love what you do.

● It's easy to be motivated when everything is going well - it's really important to stay

disciplined and persistent when it's hard.

● Surround yourself with supportive and inspiring people.

● Take care of your body and soul - this is how you'll maintain work-life balance; any

hobby that “turns your mind off” is key to combating professional burnout.

Her personal growth strategies include attending events and conferences, including

forums such as PMI Summit and Women of Silicon Roundabout, where she finds

inspiration and grows her professional network. A course in public speaking, on the other

hand, has helped her get out of her comfort zone and hone her presentation skills.

She also recommended several books, including “The Lean Startup: How Today's

Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses” -

Eric Ries, “The Phoenix Project” - Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, George Spafford, “Team

Topologies” - Matthew Skelton, Manuel Pais, “Scrum mastery: From good to great

Servant-Leadership” - Geoff Watts.

Her impactful presentation was followed by a lively Q&A session where attendees had

the opportunity to ask questions, share personal stories and exchange ideas and advice.

The event ended with an informal networking session, in the spirit of shared growth and

community building.